DEL MAR (CNS) - Two horses had to be taken by van from the track at Del Mar Racetrack Friday but both are expected to recover.
The 5-year-old mare Magnolia's Hope was vanned off after being eased in the stretch of the fourth race, a 6 1/2-furlong claiming race on the dirt track for fillies and mares 3 years old and up which have never won two races.
"Though it is never good to be given a van ride, this does not appear to be a case of a life-threatening injury," Mac McBride, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club's director of media, told City News Service. "We should know more about her condition tomorrow."
Magnolia's Hope was fourth at the start of the race, took the lead a quarter-mile into the race and dropped to fourth in the field of seven through a half-mile.
Magnolia's Hope has one victory in nine career starts, along with two second-place finishes and one third-place finish. She has earned $32,260 in her career.
The 4-year-old filly Velvet Queen also was vanned off after finishing third in the eighth race, a mile race on the dirt track for fillies and mares 3 years old and up which have never won $15,000 once other than maiden. Velvet Queen injured a tendon, which McBride described as "not a major injury, one that equine (and human) athletes suffer in competition."
"She'll need some time off to recover, but should be fine," McBride said.
Velvet Queen has three victories, four second-place finishes and three third-place finishes in 16 career starts. She has earned $148,382 in her career.
