Harness driver dies after he’s thrown during Pennsylvania horse race. ‘A true talent’

A harness driver with nearly 2,500 wins died after he was thrown from his cart during a Pennsylvania horse race, officials say.

Hunter Myers, 27, had been involved in a chain-reaction crash Wednesday, March 19, at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows, according to the Observer-Reporter. He fell backwards onto the track and had “what appeared to be a major head injury.”

He was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital with a brain injury and later pronounced dead, family members told WJPA.

Myers, of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, raced full-time after graduating high school in 2016, splitting his time between Pennsylvania and his home state, according to Standard Bred.

He won 2,450 races in nearly 20,000 starts, including a career-best 464 wins in 2022.

“Hunter’s work ethic, love for the sport, and kind spirit touched everyone around him. His presence on the track and in the community will be deeply missed,” according to Aces & Races, which called him “a true talent.”

The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association considered Myers “a young star.”

“The OHHA sends prayers and condolences to Hunter’s fiancée Chloe, their son Hayden, and Hunter’s family and friends,” the association said.

Racing was canceled for the rest of the week at The Meadows in Washington, about a 25-mile drive southwest from Pittsburgh.

This story was originally published March 20, 2025 at 12:03 PM with the headline "Harness driver dies after he’s thrown during Pennsylvania horse race. ‘A true talent’."