Page 3 - John Shear News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

John Shear, who spent 67 years working at Santa Anita racetrack including stints as an exercise rider, assistant trainer, parking lot attendant and paddock captain has died. His family says he died Tuesday of natural causes at a rehab facility in Arcadia, California. He was 102. He retired from the track at age 100 in 2021. He was working in the paddock in 2011 when he was run over by a horse while saving a child. Shear shielded a 5-year-old girl from potentially serious injury when a horse bolted out of the paddock and ran for the stable area. Shear had a broken pelvis and life-threatening in...

“We were honored to have him as part of the Santa Anita family for more than 60 years of dedicated service and we’ll never forget him.”

“He’s always been a good horse, he just kinda got a little bit stiff and sore, so we gave him a break and he’s paid us back,” said Mandella.

Breeders’ Cup Festival Week kicks off Nov. 1, and there are celebrations every day leading up to thoroughbred horse racing’s championship event on Nov. 5-6.

John Shear was 90 when he saved a young girl from being trampled by a runaway horse. A commemorative plaque has been unveiled, and a race is being renamed in his honor.