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‘A Person I’ll Never Forget’: Racing Industry Remembers Jockey Miguel Mena

Friends and colleagues from across the horse racing industry continue to share stories of jockey Miguel Mena, who tragically passed away Sunday evening in an accident on I-64 in Louisville.

Mena was a fixture around the racetrack and spent nearly every morning breezing horses for different trainers. Away from the racetrack, the 34-year-old native of Peru would constantly update his social media pages with photos of his family, including two young daughters Naelah and Montserrat. Along with his two daughters, Mena leaves behind his wife, April, and many friends and family.

Here are some memories that were shared of Mena:

· Jason Barkley (trainer): “I don't know that I can put into words what Miguel Mena has meant to us from Day 1. He was such a great person to be around and always smiling when he came to work. I was proud to have him ride for us and I was lucky enough to be his friend.”

· Declan Carroll (jockey) – “I've been lucky to know (Mena) my entire life. He was a special person and words can't describe how much he'll be missed.”

· Wayne Catalano (trainer): “Miguel was a wonderful young man. He came in cheerful. He was an unbelievable kid and great rider. I feel for his family and two young girls. They were his everything.”

· Emerson Chavez (exercise rider) – “I have so many good memories and stories to count – each one holds extraordinary value to me. … I'd like to thank him for welcoming me to my arrival in this country and offering me selfless friendship. … I'm devastated, sad and can't understand everything that happened. … Seeing so many people disgraced by his sudden departure only makes me confirm the magnificent person he was.”

· Florent Geroux (jockey): “I lost more than a friend – a true brother. He'll never be able to be replaced.”

· Tim Hanisch (agent): “I really enjoyed working with him. We had a good business relationship together but we were friends outside the track. He was one of my favorite people from the racetrack. He always had a smile on his face and was in a good mood. We'd get dinner together a lot in New Orleans at Fair Grounds. I thought a lot of him as a rider and a person. He had a really severe injury (in 2018) and admired what he showed to come back from something like that.”

· Colby Hernandez (jockey): “Miguel was not just a friend to me, he was family. There are no words that I can ever say to express our relationship. We rode for a lot of the same people and worked together almost every morning and afternoon. Things will never be the same.”

· Brian Hernandez Jr. (jockey): “We are all just going through it together. We all lost such a good friend. Miguel was always in such in a good mood. He knew how to read the racing form so well. I spent the last 15 years sitting next in jocks room. It's just really hard knowing we won't see him in that room again. … There are no words, post or pictures that can describe the honor, respect or love I have for Miguel. I truly loved the friendship we had.”

· Michelle Lovell (trainer): “I will always cherish the memory of us winning my first graded stakes race together. He rode a brilliant race. He's a person I'll never forget.”

· John Ortiz (trainer): “We lost a great friend. He was a wonderful father, husband and just a great person in general. It has been an absolute honor to have worked with him. We at Ortiz Racing send our deepest condolences to Miguel's family. He will be missed by many and especially by all of us here.”

· Dale Romans (trainer): “He was such a good person. I don't know anybody who had a bad word to say about Miguel.”

· Jose Santos Jr. (agent): “Over the past two years I had the fortune to work side by side with Miguel. He was one of the most likable guys I had been around. I think a lot of us who knew Miguel felt the same way. I eternally appreciate all of the opportunities he gave me and I will never forget what we accomplished.”

· Al Stall Jr. (trainer): “There was no question his talent. He caught everyone's eye at an early age. I noticed him at Churchill in the early 2000s. The size of the race didn't bother him at all.”

Churchill Downs will hold a moment of silence following Race 5 Wednesday (approximately 3:03 p.m.). Those who are unable to attend can view the ceremony on “America's Day at the Races” on FS2 or through the simulcast channel on the Churchill Downs LIVE app.

The post ‘A Person I’ll Never Forget’: Racing Industry Remembers Jockey Miguel Mena appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Jockey Killed in Fall at Oregon Fair

Jockey Eduardo Gutierrez-Sosa, who rode primarily on the mixed-meet circuit in the Pacific Northwest, was killed in the first race of the season at the Crooked River Roundup July 14 when his Quarter Horse mount hit the inner rail and catapulted Gutierrez-Sosa headfirst into the infield, possibly after first hitting the rail.

The Central Oregonian news outlet reported that the fairgrounds grandstand was packed with enthusiastic fans cheering on the return of racing, which had been cancelled last year because of the pandemic. Most were at first unaware that a fatality had occurred. The second race proceeded after a delay of 51 minutes.

But then, according to the Oregonian, the fair's racing director, Doug Smith, took to the public address system to inform the crowd of what had happened, announcing that the remainder of the card would be cancelled out of respect.

Gutierrez-Sosa began riding in Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred races in 2013. In Thoroughbred races, he rode 194 winners from 1,592 starts. He was recently seventh in the standings at Grants Pass Downs for each breed at the Oregon's lone mixed meet at a commercial track.

The horse Gutierrez-Sosa was riding got walked off the track after the incident, according to the Equibase chart.

Crooked River Roundup is also called Prineville Turf Club (the city of Prineville is where the fairgrounds is located). It hosts a four-date evening meet that is scheduled to continue through Saturday.

The post Jockey Killed in Fall at Oregon Fair appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Amateur Jockey Lorna Brooke Dies After Fall; First British Rider Killed In Racing Accident Since 2005

Amateur jockey Lorna Brooke died in the hospital on Sunday, reports The Guardian, succumbing to injuries she sustained in a fall at Taunton Racecourse on April 8. The 37-year-old is the first jockey killed in a racing incident in Britain since 2005, when Tom Halliday fell at Market Rasen.

Racecourses around Britain observed a moment of silence on Monday, and jockeys wore black armbands.

Brooke was aboard Orchestrated, a horse trained and owned by her mother, Lady Susan Brooke, when she was unseated at the third fence on the course. She was treated on track before being airlifted to Southmead Hospital, where she was treated for suspected spinal injuries. Following complications, Brooke was placed into an induced coma, from which she never emerged.

The amateur jockey had ridden in over 400 races, mostly for her mother, piloting 17 winners in Britain and Ireland since 2001.