An Ambulance Drove Through A Horse Race At Evangeline Downs, Which Is One Of The Craziest Things I've Ever Seen At A Horse Track And Thank God Everyone Is Okay

If you haven't been to a live horse race before, then you might not know that there's an ambulance that follows the horses around the track. They do that because jockeys have what's maybe the most dangerous job in sports: riding a 1,000-lb animal at 30 MPH. Any fall is likely to need medical attention, and it follows the race, so it's right there and ready. It's a good day when the ambulance just drives around the track eight or nine times and never gets put to use. 

The ambulance is NOT supposed to do it. 

This was at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, LA, Saturday night. It's a smaller track. As Race 8 starts, the ambulance...is driving directly into the race?!?

I mean...look at this angle! The ambulance is just driving up the rail, seemingly with no idea that eight massive race horses are running as hard as they can right towards it. 

That is insane. I have watched 1000s of horse races, and I can safely say I have never seen anything like this. Ever. 

How does this even happen? Thank God no one was hurt. Like, how was no one hurt? 

Jockey Jareth Loveberry weighed in. 

So did Hall of Fame Jockey John Velazquez, who tweeted, "Thank God horses and jockeys were safe. Unbelievable 😡" 

Good for him for using 😡 instead of some graphic foul language, which would be 100% warranted given the driver's apparent stupidity here. Someone should probably be fired for this. 

"A little tight there," said track announcer Rob Tuel as the horses and jockey were dodging the oncoming vehicle.  Ya think???

They actually ran the entire race before rightfully declaring it a no-contest because, ya know, THE AMBULANCE. 

 "Little incident on the turn with the ambulance a little out of position," Tuel told his audience as the replays were being shown. I'd say so, Rob. Must have a terrible view from his booth at Evangeline. 

Tremendous job by the jockeys to avoid what would have been a tragic disaster. They really are some of the toughest guys (and gals) in sports. The job is hard enough without having to dodge oncoming traffic. 

I guess the track officials said they're looking into how the ambulance came to be on the track. Good idea. Probably want to avoid that when racing resumes there next week.