Dennis Moore, 67 year old track superintendent since November 2014, helps Santa Anita Park race track shine, horses stay safe. He is currently maintaining the racing surfaces at Santa Anita Park, Los Alamitos, and Del Mar.
Heroic 90 year-old Santa Anita Park paddock guard John Shear will be featured on Horse Racing Television (HRTV) this Sunday, on the "Inside Information" documentary series. He saved a young girl from serious injury while doing his job.
Highland Oaks Elementary School students Steve Morgan, Karen Saftler, and Eric Fermin (in photo) watch Jack Fermin, blacksmith, as he puts shoes on a horse at Santa Anita Park's stable area, for the school's Career Day.
John Shear, a 90-year-old paddock guard at Santa Anita Park, has been hospitalized for putting himself between a 6-year-old girl and a charging race horse called See and Sage. The girl was not hurt but Shear had several broken bones.
John Shear is gone but never forgotten at Santa Anita Park. Retired Paddock Captain John Shear died Tuesday at a rehabilitation facility in Arcadia. He was 102 years old.
Santa Anita Park backstretch workers voice concerns and support of new best practices and reforms that establish a new standard for the humane treatment of race horses they care for and love.
Santa Anita Park is searching for new great voice to announce races since Trevor Denman will be retiring. In the meantime, Frank Mirahmadi and Michael Wrona will share announcer duties.
Santa Anita Park names Dennis Moore, 63, as track superintendent, effective immediately. Moore has built and maintained track surfaces the world over for the past 40 years.
Santa Anita Park race track draws 44,000 plus fans on this season's opening day December 26. Hero John Shear (photo) returns to track duties as paddock guard after saving a child's life last spring. Jockey Mike Smith rides Mr. Bossy Pants to win the 7th race (photo).
Santa Anita Park: think of human toll if track closes. Workers gather at rally to warn about how shutting down horse racing permanently over the twenty-nine horse deaths would impact thousands of employees. Reforms have been instituted at Santa Anita Park, including stricter rules for medications and more thorough examinations, but horse deaths are inevitable in horse racing. Rally calls for compassion for track employees too, whose livelihoods will be affected by a closure. They are an already vulnerable population.
Santa Anita Park to honor Ambrosio Maldonado's family legacy with a birthday party. Members of the Maldonado family have worked at the racetrack since 1934. Ambrosio was employed as a masonry laborer from 1945 to 1972. His father, Elpidio Maldonado worked there 1934 until 1967. Ambrosio's son Jerry Maldonado worked 1988 to 1995. Jerry's brother Joe worked there 31 years and Joe, Jr. is currently employed. See also VF "Santa Anita Park-People" (item #32).
Santa Anita Park track honors retired paddock captain John Shear. He is 100 years old. A plaque was unveiled that honors his commitment to customer service and safety, located just outside the Seabiscuit Walking Ring. Friday was declared John Shear Day. His job was ensuring the safety of the horses and the people around them in the area where horses are saddled and paraded before being taken onto the track.
Trevor Denman, 63, the voice of Santa Anita Park since 1983, will retire and will not return for the 2015-2016 race meet. He has been calling races for 44 years, 33 at Santa Anita.
Update on Jay Cohen and other Santa Anita news. Joan Schmidt writes that former beloved Santa Anita Park trumpeter Jay Cohen has Bell’s Palsy, which has caused paralysis of the right side of his face. Jay was born in Camden, NJ. Includes other biographical information. Jockey Ruben Fuentes was voted “Jockey of the Week” by Jockeys’ Guild Foundation Detox. Happy 98th birthday to Santa Anita Park worker John Shear, who still has no intention of retiring.