ARCADIA, California — In a tragic turn of events, Santa Anita Park witnessed the untimely death of exercise rider Arturo Mares, who succumbed to a severe brain injury accident while exercising a horse on January 27, 2024. State horse racing officials officially confirmed Mares’s passing on Sunday, revealing that injury complications from the incident led to his passing.
The incident occurred when the horse Mares was exercising stumbled and fell, resulting in the rider being thrown out. Mares was promptly transported to the hospital, but despite medical intervention, he ultimately lost his life due to the severity of his injuries. The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) spokesman, Mike Marten, expressed the community’s deep sorrow over the incident and extended heartfelt condolences to Mares’s family.
Paramedics attended to Mares at the track before transferring him to the nearby Huntington Memorial Hospital. His son, Israel Mares, recounted the extent of his father’s injuries, stating, “He had fractured his neck. He had a really bad brain injury. He was starting to have complications on top of the brain injury.“
Arturo Mares, who had celebrated his 65th birthday just a few days before the tragic incident, had a longstanding career as an exercise rider. Over the years, he had contributed his skills at various prominent racetracks, including Del Mar, Hollywood Park, and Santa Anita.
Remarkably, the horse involved in the accident emerged unscathed. Marten assured that the CHRB and the entire horse racing community are mourning Mares’s loss and emphasizing their utmost respect for his grieving family.
