Aspiring teenage jockey killed in gallops accident at Tampa Bay Downs

Work rider and aspiring jockey Daniel Quintero was killed in a training accident at Tampa Bay Downs in Florida on Saturday.

The 19-year-old's horse bolted the wrong way around the track, colliding with an oncoming galloper travelling counter-clockwise.

Quintero was said to have died instantly from the impact. Both horses and the other rider were physically unharmed.

"Daniel was an intelligent young man," said Sydney Fried, a pony rider at Tampa Bay Downs. "He was always paying attention to everything around him. He never hesitated to ask any questions and once he got the answer he learned very quick."

Venezuelan-born Quintero had not been riding at Tampa Bay Downs long, having journeyed north after riding for a brief time at Palm Meadows Training Center in Boynton Beach. Fried became acquainted with Quintero at Palm Meadows in December.

"I don't think I ever saw him without a smile on his face and he was always trying to put a smile on yours," Fried said. "He was willing and wanted to learn, and the last thing he was was lazy. You don't get better unless you put in the work and Daniel wasn't afraid to do just that.

"It's very sad because he would be one of the first ones to say 'good morning' every day. Tomorrow is going to be rough for all of us that had the pleasure of knowing Daniel."

Condolences were expressed on social media, with some, such as long-time jockey Jose L Verenzuela, tweeting in Spanish and posting a photograph previously taken of Quintero wearing his riding helmet. Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado was another who offered words of support on Facebook.

Tampa Bay Downs held a moment of silence to honour Quintero before the first race on Saturday's card. The track expressed its condolences to Quintero's family and friends.

Later in the day, numerous tracks across the country including Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park, and Santa Anita observed moments of silence in Quintero's honour.