ERIE, Pa. — An 88-year-old thoroughbred trainer was fatally struck in the head by one of his horses before the start of a race.

John Wilson was unresponsive after he was hit and was taken by ambulance to Hamot Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, Jennifer See, a spokeswoman for Presque Isle Downs and Casino, said today.

Wilson is based out of a track in Fort Erie, Ontario. On Saturday night, he was readying 2-year-old gelding Forbidden Dreams for a stakes race, See said.

"The horse reared up, and when it came back down it struck him in the head," she said.

Autopsy results were not immediately released.