Investigation underway after horse breaks loose and drowns at Ohio racetrack.

Ohio racing officials have reportedly launched an investigation after a standardbred horse running at an Ohio harness track this week drowned in an infield pond after breaking loose following a race.

The accident took place Monday night at MGM Northfield Park near Cleveland.

Alfred Hanover placed second in that night’s second race, then got away near the pond.

“While they were unhooking the horse from the race bike, the horse got loose and then took off and ran into the pond with all of his equipment on and they couldn’t get to the horse, and the horse drowned,” Freddie Hudson of the U.S. Harness Racing Alumni Association told Cleveland.com.

The remainder of Northfield’s 15-race Monday card was canceled after the second race.

The 2-year-old Alfred Hanover was trained by Ron Burke, a member of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.

According to Reuters, Hudson told Cleveland’s WKYC-TV that handlers were unhooking the horse from the sulky when a nearby tractor scared him and he ran into the pond.

“We are deeply saddened by racehorse Alfred Hanover’s passing and extend our condolences to his owner, trainer and all involved,” Northfield Park General Manager Matt Buckley said in a statement.

Marty Irby, the executive director of Animal Wellness Action, told Reuters that no fence or barrier existed between the racetrack and the pond. Irby said the track started building a fence Wednesday.

“Where else would we tolerate any athlete drowning during a sporting event without a serious investigation?” Irby told Reuters. “The authorities should investigate this incident, and MGM Northfield should elevate their standards to protect the horses at all costs.”

This was not the first time such an incident occurred at Northfield. In 2021, a horse was saved from drowning after breaking free and running into the pond before a race.

At another Ohio racetrack, Miami Valley, a harness horse drowned in an on-site pond after breaking away during a race in 2019.

On Tuesday, the Ohio State Racing Commission told WJW-TV in Cleveland that they are investigating Monday’s incident.

“We have also spoken with the management team at Northfield to better understand the circumstances of how exactly the incident occurred and what measures are being taken to prevent this type of occurrence in the future.”