Shear Heroics honored at Santa Anita
By Staff Report September 15, 2011
John Shear has worked at Santa Anita since 1961. (Benoit Photo)
It was a moment right out of a Hollywood movie: 90-year-old man throws himself in front of a stampeding Thoroughbred to push a six-year-old girl to safety. But it happened for real, March 12 at Santa Anita Park, when paddock guard John Shear acted in the call of duty to maintain safety in the walking ring at the historic race track in Arcadia, Calif.
For his heroics, Shear received a Medal of Valor from the California Firefighters Association, had a day named in his honor by the Arcadia City Council and was the “Hometown Hero” in the Fourth of July Parade in Sierra Madre, where he lives. Now, on Oct. 1, Shear will receive recognition that may mean more than the rest: a race at the track where he has worked for 50 years, named just for him: The John Shear Hero Purse.
The race will include a winner’s circle ceremony in which Shear will be lauded for the selfless heroism that landed him in the hospital for 35 days, undergoing treatment for fractures to his pelvis and lower back and a broken cheekbone. The day began like any other; Shear took his post at the entrance to the walking ring ― the place where the horses are led after they’ve been vet-checked and saddled, to be hand-walked before each race. It’s a place where spectators, handicappers and owners will often convene to assess the horses, where trainers can discuss last-minute instructions with jockeys.
Shear describes a typical day in the life of a paddock guard as something akin to a traffic cop: monitoring the comings and goings “to protect the horses and the public and make sure nobody gets hurt.” The horses, sensing the energy of an impending race, are usually pretty wound up.
A British national who is also a former rider and groom, Shear is intimately familiar with the habits and temperament of the racers. “Horses are like homing pigeons,” he said in a recent phone interview. “When they’re upset, they want to go home. So when I heard someone shouting ‘Loose horse!,’ I knew it would be heading our way as it tried to go back to the barn.”
The loose horse (wearing No. 5, at left) is seen galloping over Shear as he pushed a young girl to safety.
Shear said he saw the crowd immediately scatter, with the exception of the little girl. With reflexes belying his 90-years, Shear leaped forward, pushing the bewildered child out of harm’s way only to be caught in the tangle of pounding hooves. Although he lost a considerable amount of blood, and even suffered heart failure at one point during the recuperation, Shear miraculously enough is looking forward to returning to work. “I really enjoy my job,” he said. “So why should I retire?”
Track personnel are equally eager to have him back. “John is a one in a million type of person and he’s made an amazing recovery from what could have been a catastrophic accident. Santa Anita president George Haines said, lauding Shear’s heroism.
Although Shear will official go back to work on Dec. 26, the first day of the 75th Winter/Spring Meet, he plans to be on hand for his eponymous race. “We’re looking forward to welcoming John back along with his wife Diane, their son Michael and a group of their friends,” Haines continued. “I know all of our employees and many of our fans are anxious to see John and to wish him well. It should be a special day.”
To view the half-hour program “John Shear: A Track Life,” produced shortly after the accident for HRTV by Shear’s son Mike, click here.
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