An exercise rider/out rider has died after a collision between horses at Toronto's Woodbine Racetrack.
43-year-old Darren Fortune died after a training accident on the main track early Friday morning, Woodbine Entertainment Group said in a statement.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our community this morning and our hearts and condolences go out to his family and friends,'' said Jamie Martin, Woodbine Entertainment Group's executive vice-president of racing.
A source at the track describes Fortune as "a true gentleman" with "a smile that could stop the world".
Woodbine did not detail what happened but Toronto Police say two horses collided and that the rider of one of them fell and was hurt. He was pronounced dead in hospital.
The horses were not hurt.
Woodbine's Friday races have been cancelled as the Ministry of Labour investigates.
with files from the Canadian Press