Two horses die during training accident at Belmont Park

The accident at Belmont Park happened around 8 a.m. on Saturday. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

Caixa Eletronica and Six Drivers died on Saturday morning after a training accident at Belmont Park, according to the Associated Press.

Caixa Eletronica, a four-time graded stakes winner, was galloping on the training track when he collided with Six Drivers, who was running loose after dumping his rider behind the starting gate.

Caixa Eletronica, a 9-year-old, suffered a skull fracture, and Six Drivers, a 3-year-old, broke his neck. Dr. Anthony Verderosa, the chief examining veterinarian for the New York Racing Association, says both horses died immediately.

Carlos Castro, Caixa Eletronica's exercise rider, was taken to the hospital for evaluation, while Six Drivers' mount, Julio Pezua, had no apparent injuries.

Caixa Eletronica's owner, Mike Repole, said the incident was "a terrible day for racing."

Trained by Todd Pletcher, the 9-year-old Caixa Eletronica had 23 wins in 69 starts and earned more than $1.8 million in prize money.

“He was such an iron horse,” Repole told the New York Daily News. “For him to pass away like this makes no sense. I told Todd, ‘If this horse ever gets a pimple on his rear, I’ll retire him.’ Todd said, ‘I wish my 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds were super sound like this horse.”