Cruz Mendez, a five-time leading quarter-horse jockey at Los Alamitos Race Course, was left paralyzed in his legs after a fall during a race on Saturday night. The 40-year-old underwent surgery on Sunday, with friends hoping for improvement as swelling subsides. The incident has united the racing community in support for the popular rider.
At Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, California, the racing community is reeling from the severe injury to jockey Cruz Mendez. During a 400-yard quarter-horse race on Saturday night, Mendez was riding the 3-year-old filly Imm Relentless when the horse sustained a back injury and fell near the finish line. The horse had to be euthanized on the track, and Mendez suffered a spinal cord injury resulting in paralysis of his legs. He was unconscious until being loaded into an ambulance and underwent surgery the following day.
Trainer Jose Flores, who has partnered with Mendez since 2012 to win major races, expressed hope for recovery. "Hopefully he’ll get a miracle from God and he’ll be able to walk again," Flores said. "People are calling (me), asking how they can help. It’s a little bit heartbreaking right now. But we have to go on."
Steward Tom Ward described the fall as sudden and severe. "The horse really didn’t give him any warning. That’s the way it is with those lumbar injuries. (The horse) just kind of dropped out from under him. He hit (the ground) hard," Ward noted.
Mendez, originally from Puebla, Mexico, has lived near the track with his wife Amber and 19-year-old daughter Nancy. He began competitive riding at age 26 and has led Los Alamitos quarter-horse jockeys in wins five times from 2012 to 2023, amassing 1,175 victories and 98 stakes wins. His notable mounts include champions like Heza Dasha Fire and Matabari.
Fellow jockey Henry Reynoso Lopez, the 2025 champion, praised Mendez's character. "He’s real down-to-earth and real humble. He’s selfless," Lopez said, recalling Mendez's encouragement during his early career.
In 2024, Mendez received the Sam Thompson Memorial Jockey Award for his career and personal qualities. Flores highlighted Mendez's positive outlook and plans to ride for five more years before starting a cattle business on his ranch in Phelan, California. Having visited daily, Flores remains optimistic: "He’s ready to work hard (to recover). I’ve told him he’s not alone. A lot of people are here to help."
