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Jockey Victor Espinoza hospitalized after incident in which horse died on track

Victor Espinoza is expected to make a full recovery. (AP Photo)
Victor Espinoza is expected to make a full recovery. (AP Photo)

Legendary jockey Victor Espinoza is in the hospital after an incident Sunday in which the horse he was riding died while running, leaving a haunting scene on the track.

Espinoza’s horse, named Bobby Abu Dhabi, went into sudden cardiac arrest on the track, according to the horse’s owner Brian Trump. The incident took place at the Del Mar racetrack.

Espinoza was thrown off the horse and stayed motionless on the ground, video of which was obtained by TMZ (warning: disturbing content). The 46-year-old Espinoza is expected to make a full recovery, but is currently in the hospital with fractured vertebra in his neck as well as a “stinger” in his shoulder and arm, according to the Associated Press.

Inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame last year, Espinoza is best known as the jockey atop American Pharoah when the thoroughbred won the first horseracing Triple Crown in 37 years. Espinoza previously rode for the Triple Crown on War Emblem in 2002 and California Chrome in 2014.

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