Just short of four weeks ago, the harness racing community collectively held its breath after witnessing a shocking fall during the second race at Mildura.

Four reinsmen were involved in the sickening collision, with Ryan Sanderson walking away without serious injury and fulfilling his driving duties the following day.

Trainer/driver Aaron Dunn, who was piloting Havelock at the time, sustained bad bruising and soreness which has seen him sidelined for a number of weeks.

Dunn returns to the track for the first time since the accident this Thursday at Hamilton.

“I was pretty sore after it, especially around the ribs so it has been a bit of a struggle,” Dunn said.

“I had a fair bit of bruising that has taken a while to go down, but it’ll be good to be back.”

Fellow drivers Alex Ashwood and David Smith suffered some significant injuries as a result of the fall and both required hospital stays.

Ashwood is on the slow road to recovery after he received a fractured wrist, nose and vertebrae as well as facial lacerations.

>> READ MORE: Ashwood and Smith back home after hospital stays

“I have to go back to the doctor on the 29th of August to get another x-ray on my wrist and hopefully it is right to go. They have taken the plaster off, but I still can’t lift anything which has been frustrating,” Ashwood said.

“I have had a call from the specialist and my back is stable, I just need to take it easy for another few weeks, and my lip is healing pretty well.”

With plenty of horses in work, Ashwood gave high praise to his staff for helping him through the difficult time.

“The staff have been terrific, they have really stepped up. We have moved a few horses on to make it a little bit easier, but all credit to the staff we have, they have done a tremendous job.”

If Ashwood gets the all clear from the specialist later this month, he plans on waiting a few extra weeks before returning to race track driving.

South Australian Smith told thetrots.com.au that his recovery is “going reasonably well”.

Smith still requires some pain management and is wearing his vest for back support, but is positive that his injuries are mending.

“I have a follow-up at the hospital on the 17th of August to get it all checked out. I have a referral to the fracture clinic, so I’ll know more then but it seems to be ok,” Smith said.

“It is a long haul. The GP initially put down around three months for things to get back to normality. I’ll have to do some physio and rehab, but hopefully we’ll get there.”

Smith, 64, has been overwhelmed by the support from family, the entire industry and the Mildura Harness Racing Club.

“It’s one of those things, you wish it didn’t happen, but it has so we just have to deal with it the best we can,” he said.