Seven horses were caught up in a backstretch spill Sunday at Del Mar that forced the seventh race to be declared null and void.
Early indications were that none of the horses or riders suffered serious injuries, according to a Britney Eurton's report on TVG.
The chain reaction began with Sassy Chasey, a 3-year-old filly ridden by Hector Palma, appeared to take a misstep early in the six-furlong race for fillies and mares racing for $25,000 under maiden-claiming conditions. The Equibase chart said she "clipped heels past the seven-sixteenths pole, initiating a chain reaction."
Whiskey Blue, with jockey Kyle Frey, and Corners Up, ridden by Juan Espinoza, were the next horses to be collected in the spill. As the pan camera followed the leaders away from the accident, Phoenix Tears with Tiago Pereira, Backtoflash with Cesar Ortega, Siena Silk with Emily Ellingwood and Renegade Princess with Tyler Baze were said to have been impacted.
Most of the jockeys walked or jogged off the track on their own, drawing cheers from the spectators. TVG reported that Ortega was fitted for a neck brace, Baze had chest pain and Ellingwood shaken. All three were checked on the track by paramedics.
Eurton subsequently reported that all seven horses were back in their barns within minutes of the incident. While all the fillies and mares were being examined, Del Mar veterinarian Dr. Dana Stead told Eurton none appeared to have suffered anything worse than cuts.
Track announcer Trevor Denman provided the same information minutes later to spectators, who again cheered the news.
Bets and purse money for the seventh race were voided under California Horse Racing Board rule 1544 (b), which reads, "The stewards may declare a race no contest if mechanical failure or interference during the running of the race affects the majority of horses in such race."
Only 5 of 12 starters finished the race. The 5 1/2-length victory for Mongolian Panther (7-2) was erased as was the complete order of finish by runner-up Kind But She Lies (5-2) followed by Katie's Paradise (32-1), Scream and Shout (3-1) and Big News Coming (15-1).
Most multi-race wagers were revised to show the "all" option for every affected ticket. The exception was the 50-cent late Pick 4, which began with the seventh race. It was refunded.
Because first responders were still attending to the spill, they had to return to their posts before the ensuing eighth race could begin. It was delayed 12 minutes.
