Sharmin euthanized after unseating rider, colliding with outrider

Sharmin, a 5-year-old mare, was euthanized on the track following a scary incident at Laurel Park on Friday, in which apprentice jockey Jose Vargas was unseated and an outrider had to be sent to a nearby hospital.

The incident occurred during the stretch run of the eighth race, a first-level allowance on the turf. While fading down the center of the track, the mare ducked toward the outer rail, forcing Vargas off on her left side.

According to Dan Illman of The Maryland Jockey Club, Vargas sustained a cut lip and is currently in concussion protocol. He was taken off his final mount on the card. Agent Kevin Witte said the apprentice was “a little sore” from the fall but claimed to be okay.

After unseating Vargas, Sharmin moved sharply to her outside and collided with an outrider’s pony, where she is said to have suffered a catastrophic injury.

According to Illman, the outrider was sent to the hospital with “swelling and bruising, left flank area pain, and pain in back of knee.”

Trained by Hugh McMahon and owned by Larry Rabold, Sharmin won 5 of 23 starts, four of which came on the turf at Laurel, where she improved into an allowance contender last year.

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