Spanish Fern Dies After Race

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —  Spanish Fern, pulled up by jockey Victor Espinoza shortly after the start of Saturday’s Filly & Mare Turf at Churchill Downs, died Saturday night at an equine clinic in Lexington, Ky.

Spanish Fern, a 5-year-old mare owned by Juddmonte Farms and trained by Bobby Frankel, broke her pelvis and later hemorrhaged badly.

“She must have severed an artery,” Frankel said. “What a freak thing. It’s a shame. She was a nice, nice mare.”

Spanish Fern’s career started in England before she came to California late in 1998. The biggest of her six victories in 20 starts was the Yellow Ribbon at Santa Anita in 1999. She earned $748,368.