Exercise Rider Mares Dies Five Days After Accident

Southern California-based exercise rider Arturo Mares died Feb. 1 due to complications from injuries he suffered in an accident during training Jan. 27 at Santa Anita Park, according to a report from Daily Racing Form.

Mares' son, Israel, confirmed the death of his father to DRF. The exercise rider fractured his neck and sustained a severe head injury after his mount stumbled while jogging, trainer Hector Palma told DRF. Mares was treated by paramedics and then sent to Huntington Memorial Hospital. His condition deteriorated late Wednesday and early Thursday, including paralysis in his arms and legs. 

Mares was reportedly born in Mexico City in 1959 and had just turned 65 on Monday. He rode as a jockey at Caliente Racetrack in the mid-1970s and throughout the 1980s before moving to California in 1988. He only rode a handful of races at Hollywood Park in 1989-90.

According to Equibase records, which start in 1976, he rode 311 winners and placed in another 797 races. His mounts earned $1,036,884 through 1990. His top mounts as a jockey included multiple stakes winner Little Barbarian, and stakes winners Galadriel, Siempreavante, and T.v. Action. He had worked as an exercise rider at Del Mar, Hollywood Park, and Santa Anita.

Mares is survived by a wife and three sons. Israel Mares told DRF his family has received extraordinary support from the racetrack community. Plans for a memorial service are pending.