by Steve McNally said the horse galloped south down the avenue with its driver chasing behind, yelling "Whoa! whoa!" but unable to catch his cab. The young black gelding, new to the streets, fell after being hit by the vehicle. The horse "went down hard and its cab was knocked loose, spinning up onto the curb where it barely missed several pedestrians," Mr McNally said.

"I was on 55th Street, heard him coming from the north down 7th (it was loud), saw him pass with the driver running with him, heard him still as he ran out of my line of sight, heard the crowd gasp, and I heard the hit. When I got to the corner several seconds later, the horse was already crowded around and then standing again," he said.

"He didn't look good as he limped away. Though he did stand up and limp away of his own power, I'd guess adrenaline (the naturally-occurring kind) had a lot to do with that," he said.

The damaged carriage.

A representative of the Department of Health said the horse was examined by an equine vet, and surprisingly, said that although he "had inflammation, he did not sustain injuries." The horse was back to work two days after the accident.

Another accident with a carriage horse occurred on April 13 at Grand Army Plaza, involving a horse being hit by a taxi.