LAUREL, Md. (AP) - A 5-year-old horse died of a suspected heart attack during a race at Laurel Park, the 12th racehorse to die in Maryland this year.
The Baltimore Sun reports the mare named Follow the Petals collapsed on Sunday immediately after she had taken the lead in her race. The jockey was unharmed.
The Maryland Racing Commission reports nine horses have died during races and two during training between Jan. 1 and May 31. One of them was a filly that collapsed and died running at Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course just one day ahead of the Preakness Stakes.
The Stronach Group owns Laurel Park and Pimlico as well as California's Santa Anita Park, where 29 racehorses have died since December. It has called for sweeping reforms to medication rules.
