Race horse safe after escaping Ellis Park

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - It’s not something you see every day - a race horse running down the highway.

Ellis Park officials say around the time of Saturday’s first race, the 2-year-old filly “Bold and Bossy” bucked her jockey and bolted from the race park, before taking off down the road.

Vanderburgh County dispatchers say they got the call around 12:52 p.m.

Witnesses say it was running north in the southbound lane of Highway 41.

Sue Hartig and Gerald Summers say they were able to talk to the horse and slow her down as others arrived.

Posey County Sheriff Tom Latham, who happened to be in the area, says he spotted the horse running. It was at this point when the sheriff says he got up in front of it, parked his truck and jumped a guardrail to get to her.

He says he grabbed the lead and tried to calm the horse down. Sheriff Latham says the horse was hot and had an injured back leg.

Officials say the horse was checked out by a state veterinarian. They say she’s “doing well” and has been reunited with its owner.

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