An exercise rider at Tampa Bay Downs died this morning when the horse he was on reared up and fell on him, officials said.
Robert Shields was exercising the horse on the track about 8:15 a.m., when the animal was suddenly startled, reared up and fell on the 60-year-old victim, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Vida Morgan said.
Shields, 60, lived at the race track, 11225 Race Track Road, the sheriff's office said.
The 3-year-old thoroughbred Gaellea was not injured, the sheriff's office said.
The man was not an employee of the track and worked for the horse's trainer, track spokeswoman Margo Flynn said. The trainer works for the horse's owner, she said.
There were no races today at Tampa Bay Downs, but horses frequently exercise there.
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