Driver suffers concussion in race at Batavia Downs

A popular Batavia Downs driver is expected to return to action in about a week after getting thrown from his seat in the clubhouse turn during a race last night and suffering a concussion.

Veteran Jack Flanigen, who missed the entire 2008 season because of an injury, came into the season with 188 career wins.

Driving Anabelle Jo, the 44-year-old reinsman said he wasn't really sure what happened.

“I sent her out of there and she just collapsed and we went down.”

Flanigen was transported to United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia where he received stitches for a facial cut.

Full press release after the jump:

Batavia, NY --- Jack Flanigen, currently the dash leading driver at Batavia Downs this season, suffered a concussion on Wednesday (Sept. 29) when the horse he was sitting behind, Annabelle Jo, went down heading into the clubhouse turn, throwing Flanigen to the ground.

“I’m not really sure what happened,” the 44-year-old reinsman said. “I sent her out of there and she just collapsed and we went down.”

Flanigen was transported to United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia where he received stitches for a facial cut.

Flanigen missed the entire 2008 Batavia racing season when he suffered a concussion on the second to last night of racing at Buffalo Raceway.

Early reports have Flanigen being sidelined for at least a week.

“We wish Jack well,” Mike Kane, vice president of live racing commented. “Not only is he a top driver but he’s also a great guy.”

Joseph Cicatello’s Nora Lee was an up in time winner in the featured $9,000 Mares Open on Wednesday night.

Getting away fourth in the weekly feature for distaffers, Nora Lee, with Jamie Dunlap in the bike, followed second over cover, tipped three deep at the top of the lane and went on to her third win of the Downs' summer-fall meet (and eighth of the season) in 1:56.1.

Mike Delano trains the 4-year-old daughter of Modern Art whose 2010 earning are just shy of $44,000.

Racing resumes on Friday night (Oct. 1). The first of 12 gets under way at 6:40.