When her racehorse took off last Friday, threatening injury to itself and spectators, harness racer Crystal Hackett remembered the adage that was instilled at a young age.

“Hang on as tight as you can, for as long as you can—as long as no one’s going to get hurt,” the 21-year-old who suffered only scrapes and bruises told Radio New Zealand.

Ms. Hackett’s horse, Buddy Guy, had just won the eighth race of the evening lineup at Alexandra Park in New Zealand, but it got spooked a moment later and took off—tipping Hackett from the two-wheeled sulky that trails behind horses in harness racing.

Hackett was dragged by the horse through the infield for several chaotic seconds, but she refused to let go of the reins.

If she had, the sulky could have easily gotten tangled up with the horse or even the fence. Buddy could have suffered a fatal injury to its legs and spectators could have been in danger too.

But Hackett’s determination prevented all that. Buddy Guy eventually slowed down and was corralled by race workers. Everyone involved avoided injury—even Hackett.

 

“I was a bit stiff the next day,” Hackett told Radio New Zealand. “I had a few aches and pains, but you just get moving and they’ve gone away now.

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The wild video of the ordeal has circulated on social media, firmly securing the young woman’s status as a harness-racing hero.

Even more legendary, Crystal Hackett walked over to another horse and flat out won the next race.

SHARE HER GRIT And Compassion With Horse-Lovers on Social Media…

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