A veteran Auckland harness-racing driver who was seriously injured in a race at Alexandra Park on Friday is on the mend.

Frank Cooney, who has over 40 years industry experience, was thrown from the sulky pulled behind the horse during the first race of the night about 6.30pm.

Park racing manager Kevin Smith told NZ Newswire Cooney's horse had fallen onto the track after hitting another horse.

"Frank's then been catapulted from the sulky, hit by another horse, then hit the track," he said.

"This kind of thing is very infrequent but I guess when you're racing a horse this kind of thing can happen."

Cooney was taken to Auckland City Hospital in a critical condition and was put into an induced coma.