Jockey Killed at Alameda County Fair Race Track

A jockey was killed Thursday at the Alameda County Fair race track in Pleasanton when he fell off his horse.

Jorge Herrera died after he was was thrown from his mount in the eighth race at the fair's track. "It appears that either his horse or another horse stepped on him," according to April Mitchell, a spokeswoman for the fairgrounds. "We are in shock and in sorrow."

Officials say the 33-year-old jockey suffered a massive head injury when he either struck the ground or was clipped by another horse about 5:15 p.m. He died two hours later after being taken to Eden Trauma Center in Castro Valley. There is a video at equibase.com of some of the race.

Bloodhorse.com reports that Morito, the horse Herrera was riding in the $5,000 maiden claiming race at five furlongs, came out slightly while racing between horses leaving the half-mile pole. The 4-year-old gelding clipped heels with another horse, Tribal Sun, and stumbled badly, throwing Herrera.

Herrera is from Jalisco, Mexico. He's won 55 races during his career.

He was the first death at the fairgrounds since 1975, when Juan Gonzalez fell and died, according to the fairgrounds officials.

The public can leave messages on the fairground's Facebook page.