New York ( CNN ) -- Routine training exercises turned deadly Saturday morning when two racehorses collided at Belmont Park in New York , killing both animals and injuring one rider , officials told CNN . The incident occurred at a training track at Belmont at about 8 a.m. Six Drivers , a 4-year-old colt , threw his rider and ran into a crowd of horses running in the opposite direction , New York Racing Associating spokesman Eric Wing told CNN . Six Drivers crashed into Caixa Eletronica , a multiple-stakes-winning thoroughbred , killing both horses and injuring Caixa Eletronica 's rider , Carlos Castro , who was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation , according to a racing association press release . `` This was a freakish tragedy that happens very , very rarely , but it makes it no less unfortunate , '' Wing told CNN . Caixa Eletronica suffered a skull fracture and Six Drivers a neck fracture in the incident . The racing association 's chief examining veterinarian said both horses died immediately , according to the press release . Caixa Eletronica was a prolific racer and fan favorite . `` For any horse , it 's horrible . When you hear it 's Caixa Eletronica , it 's magnified , '' the horse 's owner , Mike Reople , said in a press release . Caixa Eletronica , a 9-year-old , had a record of 23 wins in 69 lifetime starts , won seven stakes and earned more than $ 1.8 million . Belmont Park is the site of the Belmont Stakes , the annual final race of the Triple Crown .
One horse threw his head and crashed into a crowd of horses going in the opposite direction . Six Drivers and Caixa both died instantly , and a rider was taken to a hospital . Caixa II , a year - old , won seven stakes races and $ 1.8 million in his career .