Two horses died Saturday in Del Mar, one week into the summer racing season.
A 5-year-old mare who finished third in last Saturday’s Osunitas Stakes died after suffering an injury at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, state horse racing officials confirmed Saturday.
“The 5-year-old mare Nevisian Sunrise lost her rider while exercising Friday morning at Del Mar, ran off, and sustained injuries that required euthanasia,” California Horse Racing Board spokesman Mike Marten told City News Service.
“Freak accident. She got loose from her rider, ran off and unfortunately ran into a fence post,” Del Mar spokesman McBride told CNS.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Nevisian Sunrise suffered “an inoperable shoulder injury after crashing into a barrier.”
Nevisian Sunrise had 10 career races and two first-place finishes. Her third-place finish at Del Mar last weekend was her only race of 2023. She was owned by Alpha Delta Stables. Her trainer was Michael McCarthy and her jockey was Juan J. Hernandez, according to the industry website Equibase.
Later Saturday, Ghostem, a 4-year-old filly, suffered an injury during a workout on the main track, according to statement from the club obtained by ABC 10.
“Del Mar sends its condolences to the people who owned, trained and cared for both horses,” the statement said. “We will continue to focus on the safety and welfare of horses and riders at our facility.”
They are the first two fatalities of the track’s summer meet. Del Mar saw seven total horse deaths during the 2022-23 fiscal year, according to state officials.
Updated 9:45 p.m. July 29, 2023
City News Service contributed to this article.
