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v[i]TORONTO -- An exercise rider died Tuesday after being crushed by a thoroughbred at Torontos Woodbine Racetrack in what officials described as a "freak accident. Deonte Thompson Jersey ." Police said the rider was in the saddle around 6 a.m., when the horse went into an "unexplained wild gallop," showing signs of medical distress. The rider, who was identified as Mourad Boudraa, 40, was crushed into the track railing and then by the weight of the horse as it collapsed. Jamie Martin, vice-president of Woodbine Entertainment Group, said Boudraa was originally from Morocco and had three to four years of experience as an exercise rider. "He was a freelance so he worked for a number of trainers," Martin said. "I would say its a freak accident." The horse, Tawneys Wish, died of what Woodbine Racetrack officials said was believed to be a heart attack. The three-year-old dark filly had one start this year and $368 in winnings. Mike Pownall, an equine veterinarian, said the horses cause of death wont be known until a necropsy is performed. "Its like when you find those athletes that suddenly die and you find theres a heart defect, that would be the human equivalency," Pownall said. "You have no idea it was existing, or you could prevent it, or you could do anything to alter the course." In 2011, Canadian Olympic champion Eric Lamaze was riding his horse Hickstead in Italy when the animal suddenly collapsed and died of an acute aortic rupture. The horse had carried Lamaze to gold and silver at the Beijing Olympics in show jumping. The Ontario Racing Commission, which requires a necropsy whenever a racehorse dies, collects information for a database on common racehorse injuries in the hopes of minimizing future problems, Pownall said. Pownall said working with horses carries inherent risk and those involved in the industry are all too aware of what can go wrong. "They know the potential for unexplained, sudden things to happen," he said. "Its a hazard of the job." But in the tight-knit horseracing community in Canada, word travels fast when there is an injury or fatality, he said. "I was sad for the horse, sad for the rider. Nobody wants that. Im proud of the riders that go out there every day and proud of the horses that go out there," he said, adding that Woodbine Racetrack is a "well-regarded track" in terms of safety standards. Officials from the provincial Ministry of Labour are investigating the accident. A necropsy on the horse is set to be performed at the University of Guelph. Dalton Schultz Jersey . He made the comment at a media availability Saturday prior to Game 2 of the Boston-Montreal playoff series when a Quebec reporter said there is sentiment in Quebec that the NHL looks more favourably on Seattle than Quebec City when it comes to future expansion. Dorance Armstrong Jr. Jersey . -- Manager Bob Melvin shuffled the Athletics batting order and got the type of production he was looking for from the top of the lineup. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Tavon-Austin-Jersey/ . -- Stacy Lewis shot 7-under 65 to lead the LPGA Tour team to the championship of the 3Tour Challenge on Tuesday.TORONTO -- Joshua Tree made his final Canadian appearance a historic one. The six-year-old Irish-bred took the lead coming off the final turn and never looked back, defending his title at the $1-million Pattison Canadian International on Sunday. The 6-1 pick became the first three-time winner of this event and also was second in the 2011 edition. Joshua Tree also has the distinction of winning this race for three different trainers -- Aidan OBrien in 2010, Marco Botti in 11 and Ed Dunlop this year. He also earned co-owners Khalid K. al Nabooda and Kamel Albahou their second consecutive International crown. "I have no idea but its quite remarkable," assistant trainer Andrew Stringer said when asked about Joshua Trees dominance at Woodbine. "When you think that horse has won three Canadian Internationals for three different trainers and has been trained three different ways, hes been fed three different ways, for him to do that hes quite an extraordinary equine thoroughbred racehorse. "Hes full of heart, guts and determination and by God he loves it here, doesnt he? It was an awesome performance." And one that could leave a lasting impression at Woodbine considering chances are good it marked Joshua Trees swansong at the Toronto track. His handlers are planning to retire the horse to stud at seasons end. "As he hit the front with that lead and he opened up three, four lengths I said, Thats it, game over," Stringer said. "There was no way he was going to get beat because hes so game. "There was nothing that was going to get past him today. The flight coming from bloody LA wouldnt have got him overtop the grandstand." The victory was Joshua Trees first this year, ending a six-race winless streak. And Joshua Tree returned to the winners circle for the first time since doing so at last years International ahead of Dandino and Forte Dei Marmi. Joshua Tree came into this event off a distant 13th-place finish in his last race, the Prix de lArc de Triomphe on Oct. 6. The International win was the first for both Dunlop and jockey Ryan Moore, who was second aboard Ask in 2007. "I went out a little sooner than I wouldve liked ideally but somehow I knew hed stay better and outfight most of them," Moore said. "I didnt want to get into the race too early so I let Mike (jockey Mike Smith aboard 8/5 favourite Slumber) go and I thought he stays so well, Ill get a good run up the inside and kick home."t; Joshua Trees victory also marked the fourth straight year the International winner has been sired by Montjeu, who is also the father of 2011 champion Sarah Lynx. Chidobe Awuzie Jersey. Joshua Trees first victory came in 2010. Joshua Tree won the 1 1/2-mile Grade 1 event on a yielding turf in 2:35.45 at Woodbine Racetrack. Hyper was second three-quarters of a length back with Seismos taking third in cool windy conditions. Joel Rosario, the jockey aboard Hyper, felt his horse would have enough of a kick to take the lead down the stretch but couldnt match Joshua Tree. "I thought he would pick it up a little more turning for home," he said. "But that horse (Joshua Tree) had another kick." Andrea Atzeni, who rode Seismos to third place, said his horse raced gamely. "Hes a tough horse," Atzeni said. "He came off the bridle very early but to be fair to him, once I set up down he kicked home all the way to the line with the winner. "Joshua Tree was a bit better and he quickened away from us." The remainder of the field, in order of finish, was: Now We Can; Temeraine; Slumber; Forte Dei Marmi; Stormy Len; Lucayan; and Perfect Timber, the lone Canadian-bred horse in the race. Joshua Tree paid $15.30, $7.20 and $4.50. Hyper returned $6.90 and $4.60 while Seismos paid $6. The International field was reduced to 10 after Canadian-bred Irish Mission scratched to run in the $500,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes, a 1 1/4-mile turf event for fillies and mares. Irish Mission finished a distant seventh in a race Irish-breds took the first three spots in as 2-1 favourite Tannery won by a head over 7-1 pick Fitful Skies in 2:07.13 with Moment In Time taking third in the 10-horse field. Joshua Tree earned his seventh victory in 31 career starts and the $600,000 winners share boosted his overall earnings past $3.9 million. Stringer had a feeling Joshua Tree had another good race in him based upon how easily he travelled to Toronto from England. Joshua Tree arrived at Woodbine on Tuesday and immediately settled into his new surroundings. "When we put him in the crate at the airport (in Amsterdam), he was almost like, Are we going back to Canada?" Stringer said. "When he came here he walked into the place h