Owner of horse struck by Del Park employee issues statement

Following up from a strongly worded statement Saturday, two days after an assistant starter at Delaware Park struck his horse in the head as he stood in the gate, owner Glenn Fagan on Sunday clarified his original words.

Fagan, in a second statement to WDEL.com, wrote that Delaware Park officials had indeed reached out to the trainer of Accolade, Abel Castellano, following the incident. Also, the track sent a state veterinarian to check on the 3-year-old gelding after he was hit four times in the head before the gates opened.

Castellano told Fagan that the assistant starter, whose identity has not be revealed, apologized to the trainer. The track employee was suspended, according to a Delaware Park tweet, and was said to have discussed the matter over the weekend with state stewards.

"I understand that this man has worked for Delaware Park for some 20 years in an extremely dangerous job and a moment of frustration shouldn't ruin his life," Fagan said. "(Abel) informed me that he is the best and most experienced starter on the team."

Fagan said he and his daughter visited Accolade on Saturday, feeding him his favorite snacks, apples and carrots, and that horse "seems to be in good spirits and we hope that he will be able to compete in the near future."