Exercise rider Callie Witt, 20, dies after training accident Friday at Keeneland

Callie Witt, a 20-year-old exercise rider from Nebraska, died Friday morning following an accident on the Keeneland training track in Lexington, Kentucky.

According to a press release from Keeneland, Witt – an exercise rider for trainer Joe Sharp – was thrown from a 2-year-old horse shortly after 8 a.m.

Alpha Event Medicine, the on-site medical team, immediately attended to Witt, according to the press release. Lexington Fire and Emergency arrived at the scene within 6 minutes and transported Witt to the University of Kentucky Emergency Department, where she was pronounced dead from blunt force injuries.

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“We are heartbroken by this tragic loss,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “Our hearts and prayers go out to Callie’s family, friends and our collective racing community at this difficult time.”

Witt was a student at Bluegrass Community and Technical College.

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @KentuckyDerbyCJ.