John Shear, Santa Anita's 100-year-old Paddock Captain, announced his retirement Monday after 60 years of service at the Arcadia track.
“It's official, I have retired from work,” Shear wrote in a tweet Monday. “For 60 years, I worked all the Southern California racetracks, met many incredible people and saw the best horses. It has been a career I look back [upon] with great pride and wonderful memories. I'm in great health and will visit Santa Anita as a fan.”
Santa Anita will honor the man who gained national attention nine years ago when he heroically threw himself between an on-rushing loose horse and a 5-year-old girl, with a special paddock dedication and ceremony on opening day of the 2021 Autumn Meet Oct. 1.
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