The Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission said Monday it is investigating the death of a Texas jockey who was thrown from his horse during a Thoroughbred race at Blue Ribbon Downs in Sallisaw over the weekend.

Racetrack general manager Blaine Storey said Mark Pace, 58, died Sunday after falling off his mount, Reep What You Sow, during the first race. According to the race chart, the horse, a 60-1 long shot, hit the rail on the backstretch, lost its jockey, and did not finish.

The track ran a second race, but after other jockeys learned of Pace’s death, they asked that the rest of the card be canceled, Storey said.

Storey deferred further comment to the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, which owns the eastern Oklahoma track. Tribal spokeswoman Judy Allen said more information would be available later Monday

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