Maxwell Steward, six horses, and a dog were tragically killed last evening. Maxwell, aged twenty, was driving a trailer of animals from Rosethorn Racing to Stonegate Stud when the bridge they were driving across collapsed. It is believed Maxwell and two of the horses were killed upon impact, the remaining animals drowned when they could not escape the trailer. Local authorities are investigating why the bridge over Lestia River collapsed, there were no other vehicles crossing at the time. Several minutes after the accident, a local driver Michael Eigsti came upon the scene and called the police. Due to the sheer drop on the sides of the river, it took several hours for authorities to reach the accident site.

A promising jockey for the Thoroughbred racing stable Rosethorn Racing, Maxwell was the youngest of five daughters. Her family is well known in the business, as Steward Stables has prominently been on the scene for several generations of flat racing and steeplechasing. Her family has requested privacy during this time, but RR owner Isabelle Penvelyn has issued several statements over the course of the night and early morning.

Maxwell was not a normal trailer driver for the stable, but had volunteered to make a quick run of some of their stock horses from one stable to another. This is not an unusual move, and often at least one trailer goes among the triad of establishments every month. It had been a busy day of returning racers from the track, and RR was short staffed when Maxwell offered to make the run.

Isabelle and staff across REI are in shock over the loss of Maxwell, as well as one of their golden retrievers, Ann, who had been eager to go along for the ride. The stock horses lost will also be mourned, it was through their help that REI Thoroughbreds found comfort and companionship, and in part how REI functioned as a training facility. Madonna, Tasha, Deidre, Destiny, Cornwallis, and Morgan ranged from age twelve to four, and Ann was two years old, one of formally nine golden retriever siblings that roam around the REI stables.

Currently known for riding Delightful Pyne, current TTT contender Sierra, Bedazzled, and Jing Jing, Maxwell’s talents and exuberance for racing will not soon be missed. Sara DeMaria will be taking on the classics, while Brant Elkinson and Darby Serenson will each take a juvenile under their wing. A memorial bench is being planned, it’s location not yet determined. Funeral services for Maxwell will be listed once a formal obituary is published by her family, Ann and the six horses will be buried on RR property.