WOODSTOCK, NEW BRUNSWICK — A three-year-old child died after they were struck over the weekend by the starting gate at a horse racing track in western New Brunswick.
The child, whose identity has not been released, was hit around 1:20 p.m. Saturday afternoon as the gate was being towed by a pickup truck to start the harness race, said Mark Bennett, chief of police in Woodstock, N.B.
Harness races, which involve drivers in two-wheeled carts pulled by horses, start behind a moving gate that leads them up to the start line then accelerates away from the horses.
“The child suffered significant injuries, and tragically, despite the efforts of bystanders and emergency services, the child succumbed to their injuries,” Bennet said Monday in an interview.
The young child was pronounced dead at the Upper River Valley Hospital in Waterville, N.B. Police are treating the fatality as a "tragic accident" but continue to investigate, Bennett said.
The police chief said he is unable to say why the child was at the starting gate when the race began, adding, "that's the purpose of the investigation right now, it's to determine how this happened."
Bennett said no further details will be available until the investigation is complete.
Police are asking for videos and photos from the race that may help in their investigation, and are looking to speak to witnesses. The police chief is also encouraging anyone who attended the race to seek mental health or counselling support if needed.
"Our heart obviously, primarily, goes out to the family of this young child who lost their life, and we recognize that a number of people may have been subject to witnessing this …. We understand that just being in the vicinity of this could have some traumatic effects on individuals," he said.
The Town of Woodstock issued a statement on Facebook Monday, saying it is heartbroken following the "tragic accident" on the opening day of harness racing "that resulted in the loss of life of a young child in attendance."
"Let’s continue to come together as a community to support one another."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2025.
— By Lyndsay Armstrong in Halifax.
The Canadian Press
