90 Year Old Santa Anita Hero John Shear, Holds Brief Press Conference Before Leaving Hospital

Humble 90 yr. old Sierra Madre Resident and Santa Anita Paddock Guard to be Released from Hospital Saturday
Coincidentally, Saturday happens to also John Shear’s wife’s Birthday

John Shear, Santa Anita’s 90-year-old Paddock Guard who was gravely injured while protecting a 6-year-old girl from a runaway horse on March 12, will be released from Huntington Memorial Hospital Saturday.

During a brief press conference at Huntington Hospital Friday afternoon John Shear said he is so thankful for everyone’s kind words and thoughts and can’t wait to get back to work which he estimates will be around Oak Tree time. His doctor(s) were delighted with his rapid progress.
Shear joked with reporters that he wasn’t a hero, he was just doing his job when he prevented the horse from hitting the 6 year old girl in March. He said his love for horses and the race track had taught him a great deal about animal behaviour and was just extremely attentive that particular day.
Shear came over to the United States in 1954 from England to work with horses. “I absolutely love them, “ he said!
“My dad wishes to thank you all for your prayers, generosity, and well wishes,” said Shear’s son. “It has been a tremendous strength to him over these past difficult weeks. He’ll be released from the hospital this Saturday and will be going home, where he will continue with physical therapy.
“His doctors are amazed at the progress he’s made. He was badly injured and he was in very, very bad shape the first few days following the accident. He lost quite a bit of blood internally and his blood pressure got very low. My dad has always prided himself on eating well and staying physically fit and there’s no doubt this has helped him immensely.”

Shear, a former rider, who has been employed seasonally at Santa Anita since Dec. 23, 1961, sustained a fractured pelvis and other injuries as a result of the incident which took place prior to the third race on March 12.
Shear was in his customary position, holding a perimeter rope on the east end of the track’s walking ring. As the field of 10 horses were readying for the upcoming race, Sea and Sage, a 3-year-old gelding, wheeled, freeing himself from his handler and in a 180 degree about-face, sprinted towards the opening Shear was guarding.
As seen on live television, Shear threw himself in front of the young girl, in an act of selfless heroism that could well have saved her life.
“By any accounting, John Shear is a hero,” said Santa Anita President George Haines. “He is an amazing human being and we are elated that he is going to be going home much sooner than was originally thought. Through all of these years, John has been a great employee, a man that his peers looked up to. He loves this business and as he’s said many times, he loves being around it, the horses, the people and show that we all work so hard to put on.

“On behalf of all of us here at Santa Anita, we want to wish John a speedy recovery and look forward to honoring him this coming fall. He is truly one of a kind.”
The young girl had been brought to the track by her father, who wanted her to see that small people, jockeys, can be very successful, was uninjured, as was Sea and Sage.
Santa Anita’s winter/spring comes to a close this Sunday. Live racing will return to Santa Anita on Sept. 29.

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