Track officials tend to Congrats Gal after the horse collapsed after the eighth horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Friday, May 17, 2019, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Lauren Helber)
May 17, 2019 - 2:13 PM
BALTIMORE - A filly collapsed and died while running at Pimlico Race Course on Friday, the day before the track hosts the second leg of the Triple Crown.
Congrats Gal faltered in the upper stretch of the Miss Preakness Stakes in 83-degree heat and was eased to the finish line.
The Florida-bred 3-year-old was running her sixth career race. She came in last in the eighth race and fell to the dirt about 100 yards past the finish line.
Clearly distraught, Congrats Gal jockey Trevor McCarthy said the filly felt hot walking on the track before the race. As a medical team rushed to the scene, McCarthy said, "She's clearly sound. Nothing's broken or anything like that."
After being treated on the scene, Congrats Gal was taken from the track by ambulance.
The Stronach Group, which owns Pimlico, and the Maryland Jockey Club confirmed the death. They said in a statement that veterinarians attended to the horse immediately and a necropsy will be done to determine the cause of death.
The Preakness is Saturday at Pimlico.
___
More AP sports: https://apnews.com/tag/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
News from © The Associated Press, 2019