Exercise rider dies in training accident at Keeneland Friday morning

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- An exercise rider died in a training accident Friday morning at Keeneland Race Course outside Lexington.

In a news release Friday, the track said during a ride just after 8 a.m., Callie Witt, 20, was thrown from a 2-year-old horse trained by Joe Sharp.

Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said that the horse shifted her stride which caused Witt to be dismounted and land on the inner synthetic training track material.

Medical officials said the horse was evaluated and had no signs of unsoundness or injury.

The track on-site medical team took care of Witt until Lexington Fire and Emergency arrived six minutes later. She died at the University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital emergency department of blunt force injuries.

“We are heartbroken by this tragic loss,” Arvin said in a news release. “Our hearts and prayers go out to Callie’s family, friends and our collective racing community at this difficult time.”

Witt, a native of Nebraska, was a student at Bluegrass Community and Technical College.