Exercise rider killed in Golden Gate accident

An exercise rider was killed Sunday morning in an accident in the Golden Gate Fields barn area, the track announced. The rider, Ignacio Ramirez, was 58.

Ramirez was heading to the track aboard a filly for a workout when the filly spooked and flipped over, landing on top of Ramirez, who suffered fatal injuries despite wearing a helmet. The filly was uninjured, according to the San Jose Mercury-News.

The paper reported that paramedics were on the scene within minutes, but Ramirez had died almost instantly.

Ramirez had worked at Golden Gate Fields for more than 30 years.