Really Shocking Incident Gets a Jockey Suspended

A jockey was suspended for the rest of the season at the Oregon State Fairgrounds after a nurse treating the rider following a spill reported receiving an electric shock.

Wendy J. Ohnstad, 19, was found guilty by the Board of Stewards at the Lone Oak race track of using an electronic prodding device to try to influence the results of her race, track officials reported Monday.

Sherrie Eddy, the race track nurse, testified at a hearing Saturday, that she grabbed the jockey’s hand and received an electric shock when she went to treat Ohnstad after she was injured when her mount fell Sept. 4.

A member of the Oregon Racing Commission testified that he heard the nurse scream and observed another person removing something from Ohnstad’s possession. When that person was asked to show what he had in his hand he revealed an electrical device, the commission member testified.

The board recommended to the state commission that Ohnstad receive an additional one-year suspension along with being barred from riding horses at Lone Oak through Dec. 31.

In another weekend hearing, the board found Kenneth A. Hansen, a paddock and patrol judge, guilty of selling drugs on the track grounds Sept. 11 and also suspended him for the rest of the season. He was found to have sold medications that are restricted to the use by, or on the order of, a licensed veterinarian.