Aqueduct: Dutrow stable worker dies when struck by horse van

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Ramon Rossel, a hot walker who worked for trainer Richard Dutrow Jr., was killed when his bicycle collided with a horse van late Friday afternoon at Aqueduct. Rossel was 37.

According to Richard Metivier, a trainer who witnessed the incident, the New York Racing Association horse van - which was to take horses back to Belmont Park - was moving into place at the chute on the backside when it struck Rossel’s bicycle.

“He went right in front of him and went right underneath,” said Metivier, who ran a horse in Aqueduct’s ninth race Friday. “I don’t think he knew what hit him.”

According to the stewards, the driver of the horse van passed two breathalyzer tests. The results of a urine test were pending. Authorities did not release the name of the driver.

Rossel, a native of Chile, was working for Dutrow at Saratoga during the summer. Chip Dutrow, Rick’s brother oversaw the barn’s Saratoga string.

“It’s just terrible,” Rick Dutrow said. “Chip had him working for us at Saratoga. He told me I have to use him so he sent him down here. He said he was a real good guy and he was right.”