A leading racehorse trainer has spoken of his terror after a car ploughed into his stationary horsebox on a major UK road, killing a promising young racehorse inside. Denis Quinn, a trainer based in Newmarket, said he is fortunate to be alive following the collision on Saturday morning.
The Tragic Journey to Newcastle
The incident occurred on 20 December as Quinn was transporting the two-year-old filly Calypso Breeze to Newcastle for a race. The horse was due to contest a 7f handicap at Gosforth Park, for which she had been installed as the second favourite. Having raced five times, Calypso Breeze had won her fourth start at Wolverhampton back in October and was set to be ridden by jockey Darragh Keenan in the £6,000 event.
However, the journey ended in tragedy on the A1 northbound dual carriageway in Leicestershire, between Stamford and Stretton. Traffic had come to a standstill due to an accident ahead when another vehicle crashed into the back of Quinn's horsebox at high speed.
'The Filly Took the Brunt of It'
In an emotional account to Mirror Racing, Quinn described the moment of impact. "My tummy was pushed right up against the steering wheel," he said. "Unfortunately the filly took the brunt of it. The lorry was a complete write-off and we were lucky to get out alive."
He confirmed that the driver of the other car was distraught and apologetic at the scene, but noted that their remorse "doesn't bring the horse back to life." Remarkably, Quinn stated this was the first accident he had been involved in during 35 years of driving.
Emergency Response and Aftermath
Leicestershire Police were called to the three-vehicle collision at shortly before 8.40am. They confirmed that none of the people involved sustained injuries, but that the horse had died at the scene. The carriageway was closed temporarily to deal with the incident but reopened a short time later.
Quinn praised the emergency services and the kindness of strangers in the wake of the crash. "The police were there, the vets were there and a lovely guy, Sean Doyle, gave up his Christmas plans to get us home," he said. "Everyone was very shaken up but we are here to tell the tale. It's so sad but it could have been a lot worse."
The loss of Calypso Breeze is a devastating blow for Quinn's stable, cutting short the career of a horse with proven winning potential. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those transporting animals on Britain's busy road network.
