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Racing Community Mourns Loss of Exercise Rider in Training Accident On Friday Morning

April 29, 2022

Callie Witt, 20, an exercise rider for trainer Joe Sharp, died Friday morning following a training accident on the Keeneland training track. 

The incident occurred shortly after 8 a.m. when Witt was thrown from a 2-year-old horse. 

Alpha Event Medicine, the track’s on-site medical team, immediately attended to her life-threatening injuries. Lexington Fire and Emergency arrived at the scene within 6 minutes and transported Witt to the University of Kentucky Emergency Department, where she was pronounced dead from blunt force injuries. 

“We are heartbroken by this tragic loss,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said.  “Our hearts and prayers go out to Callie’s family, friends and our collective racing community at this difficult time.”

Witt, a native of Nebraska, was studying at Bluegrass Community and Technical College.  More information will be shared as it becomes available.