On Sunday night, a horse managed to escape and was spotted running along several highways close to John F. Kennedy International Airport. Drivers were understandably shocked as video footage circulated online, showing the horse galloping down the JFK Expressway and even weaving past motels before heading up an exit ramp toward the airport.
As the edgy situation unfolded, many drivers appeared to steer clear of the horse to give it some room, even as traffic began to slow near the airport terminal. It’s remarkable to think about, really—seeing something like that on the road.
The horse, identified as Sundance, somehow ended up crossing the airport grounds and sprinting south onto the Van Wick Expressway. Fortunately, Port Authority officers were able to successfully contain and capture Sundance near the entrance to JFK’s Terminal 1 around 6:30 PM.
Miraculously, Sundance was unharmed after the unexpected escapade through Queens. The horse was safely returned to Curley’s Cowboy Center, which is less than a mile from the airport, as confirmed by both the Port Authority and R.W. “Curly” Hall, the center’s founder.
There was an incident earlier that night where Sundance had briefly stalled on the Belt Parkway before dashing up an exit ramp. Interestingly, a 911 call was made, but the details of what happened afterward remain a bit unclear.
Hall explained that Sundance’s escape was simply an accident; the horse slipped through a gap in a gate that hadn’t been securely locked. “It was just an accident, that’s all,” he remarked. It’s worth noting that Sundance isn’t Hall’s horse; the actual owner was present during the incident.
The Port Authority Police Inspectors Benevolent Association recognized Lt. Calderon for his quick thinking in dealing with the situation, describing it as a display of effective leadership in an unexpected scenario. It serves as a reminder, I suppose, that chaos can strike anywhere, anytime.
This isn’t the first time a runaway horse has caused a stir in the city. Just a few months back, on September 1st, another horse tied to a buggy in Central Park got spooked, leading to a chain of events that resulted in a crash into a parked carriage. It’s funny, in a way—troubling, yes, but also just a little surreal.
