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Fraser Valley harness racer Scott Knight killed in on-track crash
Scott Knight, 52, of Langley died after a collision while competing at Desert Park Raceway in Osoyoos on Sunday. Friends remembered him as a respected racer and a generous presence in the tight-knit harness racing community. An online fundraiser for his widow and children has raised more than $60,000.
Scott Knight was well liked off the track and deeply respected in B.C.’s tight-knit harness racing community. Friend and fellow racer Randy Rutledge called him a good driver who regularly finished near the top of the standings.
Knight was competing at Desert Park Raceway in Osoyoos on Sunday when he was involved in a fatal collision. His close friend David Hudon was racing alongside him. Hudon said he had won the race and was pulling his horse back toward the winner’s circle when a nearby driver alerted him that something had happened. He was told the horse Knight was following appeared to take a bad step and fell. “Scotty didn’t have a chance,” Hudon said.
Rutledge said people tried to revive Knight and a helicopter arrived. They were preparing to airlift him for medical care, but Knight was not moving. Rutledge said he thought everyone realized the situation was serious. Knight, a 52-year-old from Langley, died of his injuries. He leaves a wife, two sons and three stepchildren.
Rutledge’s wife, Jennifer Dodsworth, said everyone was in shock and that the loss felt like a dream or a nightmare. She described Knight as one of the good guys, always smiling, and said she had never seen him get angry. Rutledge added that Knight was always happy, ready to help people and passionate about the horse industry.
The harness racing community is now supporting Knight’s widow and children. More than $60,000 has been donated through an online fundraiser. Hudon said he felt for the family because Knight had left a young family behind.
Hudon described harness racing as a very large family. He said all the tracks in Ontario held a moment of silence for Knight on Monday. After losing a close friend while racing together, Hudon briefly wondered whether he would return to the sport he loves. He said the thought crossed his mind, but his love of the game and of racing horses brought him back. Asked whether he thought Knight would want him to keep racing, Hudon replied, “I do. I do.”