Police in New Jersey chased down a runaway horse Friday morning, then horsed around a bit themselves.
The Monroe Township Police Department posted video of the encounter on social media Friday, along with commentary about the pursuit, which occurred shortly before 8 a.m. in Williamstown.
“MTPD was dispatched to Hunter Woods for a loose horse reported to be canvassing the neighborhood in search of hay bales,” police captioned the video. “Officers quickly arrived and identified the horse as Seabiscuit, who quickly fled when confronted.”
Officer Nathan O’Lano gave chase on foot and, according to police, “officially confirmed what science has suspected for years… he cannot outrun a horse.”
In the video, O’Lano can be seen gaining little ground as the horse trots down a suburban street. With some help, he and other officers eventually corralled the animal safely and without incident.
After the story began getting attention in local media, police clarified the horse’s name isn’t actually Seabiscuit, who was one of horse racing’s greatest champions before his death in 1947.
“We altered his name to protect the identity of the horse,” cops joked.