The Caen racecourse in Calvados was the site of a dramatic incident on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, during a well-attended evening event. In the second race, several drivers, including the renowned Avranchinais, Franck Nivard, were thrown to the ground.

Driver Suffers Back Pain After Fall

The accident occurred on the final turn of the race when the trotter Grand Vent Rush, trained and driven by Yoann Saliot, suddenly faltered and collapsed, possibly due to a cardiac arrest or aneurysm rupture. An autopsy will be performed at the Ciral veterinary center in Goustranville, near Dozulé, to determine the exact cause.

“Everything is fine. More fear than harm.” – Franck Nivard

The fall of Grand Vent Rush led to a chain reaction, causing two other horses and their drivers to fall. While such incidents are rare, they highlight the inherent risks in the sport, with approximately 11,000 trotters competing annually in France.

The horses Impact Castelets and Ilaria pounds, also involved in the collision, were recovered and returned to their stables.Though, franck Nivard, a five-time winner of the prestigious Prix d’amérique, remained on the track for several minutes, suffering from severe back pain. He was attended to by the racetrack’s medical team before being transported to a hospital in Caen for further evaluation.

yoann Saliot and Guillaume Martin, the other two drivers involved, were also taken to the hospital for examinations, which revealed no meaningful injuries. Franck Nivard, contacted on Thursday, June 12, expressed reassurance, stating, “Everything is fine. More fear than harm.”

The race was declared void by officials. The subsequent six races proceeded as scheduled,with notable performances by manchois drivers Sébastien Baude and David Thomain.