Florida horse racer, 19, is killed 'instantly' in horror training accident trends now
An aspiring jockey has been tragically killed after his horse collided with an oncoming rider during training.
Track officials at Tampa Bay Downs identified the victim Saturday as 19-year-old Daniel Quintero, an exercise rider at the course.
Announcing the incident on social media before the days races were underway, staffers at the Tampa facility said the accident occurred at around 7am ET.
It is believed the teenager died after his horse bolted the wrong way around the track, colliding with another horse coming in the opposite direction.
Both horses and the other jockey escaped without injury, while Quintero - who was born in Venezuela and reportedly dreamed of being jockey - died instantly.
Track officials at Tampa Bay Downs identified the victim Saturday as 19-year-old Daniel Quintero (pictured), an exercise rider at the course
Detectives are now investigating the teen's death, though it does not appear foul play was involved. Jockeys were seen bowing their heads in mourning for their fellow rider during a moment of silence Saturday held in Quintero's honor, shortly before races resumed as usual for the day.
The decision to go through with the days events despite Quintero's death did not sit well with many, who took to social media to slam staff at the historic staff for seemingly making light of the tragedy.
The youngster's death is the the second fatality to hit the the US horse racing circuit in as many weeks, and has spurred discord over the dangers of the sport.
Dozens of fellow riders took to social media to offer kind words of remembrance for Quintero, while several other questioned why the track continued to hold races despite the teen's death.
Jason Beem, Tampa Bay Downs' track announcer, confirmed Saturday that two horses were involved in the accident, and that they clashed on the facility’s track shortly before 7 am.
A spokesperson for the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, the local police department, later said police were notified of an incident at 7am local time. He later confirmed that a man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Shortly thereafter, the track - which opened to the public back in 1926 - confirmed Quintero's death in a post on social media.
'The entire racetrack community expresses its condolences to his family members and friends,' the tweet from Tampa Bay Downs' official Twitter account read.
Officials further wrote that 'Quintero, 19, died as a result of a training accident this morning.'
Jockeys were seen bowing their heads in mourning for their fellow rider during a moment of silence Saturday held in Quintero's honor, shortly before races resumed as usual for the day
It added that the track would 'observe a moment of silence at 12:20 pm in honor of Quintero.'
The Racing Post, a tabloid that covers horse racing nationally, offered more detail on the teenager's death, reporting that 'the 19-year-old's horse bolted the wrong way around the track,' causing it to collide with 'an oncoming galloper.'
A moment of silence was
