Two horses die in California collision

LOS ANGELES:Two horses died after a head-on collision during an early morning training run at Del Mar track in California, officials said Thursday, sparking calls for an investigation by state regulators.

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club spokesman Dan Smith said the two horses, three-year-old Carson Valley and two-year-old Charge a Bunch were killed after colliding at around 6.30am. The accident occurred when Charge a Bunch threw its jockey Giovanni Franco and bolted back down the track in the wrong direction.

The horse then collided with Carson Valley, trained by legendary US trainer Bob Baffert, who was heading up the track.
Carson Valley’s rider Assael Espinoza was hospitalised complaining of lower back pain. Franco was uninjured in the collision.
Triple Crown-winning trainer Baffert described the incident as a “freak accident”. – AFP