Consummate pro Jeter dies at age 9

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Jeter, the popular 9-year-old gelding named after popular New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, died this week, trainer Ed Barker said Thursday.

Jeter was entered to run in Thursday’s fourth race, a New York-bred $25,000 claiming race.

Barker said Jeter showed signs of colic Tuesday morning. A veterinarian working on another horse on the other side of Barker’s Aqueduct barn came over to try to treat Jeter. According to Barker, the gelding reared and fell backward.

“I personally think he had a heart attack,” said Barker, who added that a necropsy would be performed.

Barker was one of 17 trainers who conditioned Jeter through a 69-race career that began Sept. 28, 2011, at Belmont Park. The gelding was claimed 12 times for a total of $278,500. He had 28 riders.

Jeter had 8 wins, 13 seconds, and 14 thirds and earned $426,049.

“He’s going to be missed, I’ll tell you that,” Barker said. “He was an old warhorse.”