Two Horses Hit by Truck after Escape from Track

FROM: The Blood Horse

BY: Staff

Two horses that escaped from the backside of River Downs Racetrack were struck and killed by a truck in the early morning hours of June 26, according to John Englehardt, director of publicity at the Cincinnati, Ohio-area oval.

According to Englehardt, the two horses, 5-year-old Eddie McGrath and 3-year-old Arrowhead Harry, were reportedly fighting outside the barn of trainer Israel Sostre, who trained Eddie McGrath, around 2:30 a.m.

Sostre, who was at the barn and witnessed the scuffle, spooked the horses when he went outside his barn to investigate. The horses ran toward a 10-foot opening near a guard shack that led directly to Kellogg Avenue.

It is not known why the two horses were out of their stalls at that time.

Eddie McGrath was owned by El Coqui Racing Stable. The unraced Arrowhead trained by Leroy Simon.

The name of the driver of the pickup truck was unavailable, but he did reportedly receive minor injuries.

Ron Mitchell contributed to this story.