'Courageous' jockey killed in 'shocking' accident

Miguel Mena, 1 of the astir palmy jockeys successful Churchill Downs history, was killed successful a pedestrian mishap successful Louisville, Kentucky, conscionable six days from his 35th birthday, the racetrack said successful a connection connected Monday.

Churchill Downs said Mena -- whose afloat sanction was Jose Miguel Mena Rodriguez -- was was struck by a conveyance and killed.

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He was pronounced dormant astatine the scene. No charges are pending, constabulary say. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office successful a property merchandise ruled Mena's decease an mishap and stated that helium died from blunt unit injuries.

Uncaptured, ridden by Miguel Mena during the 89th Toyota Blue Grass Stakes successful Lexington, Kentucky successful 2013 (Getty)

"This quality is perfectly shocking, unspeakable and heartbreaking," Churchill Downs Racetrack President Mike Anderson said successful a statement.

"Our squad is devastated to larn of Miguel's passing. He was specified a courageous rider who fought to flooded respective challenges and adversity.

"We'll miss his agleam smile. Our deepest condolences are extended to his galore friends, chap riders and family, and our contiguous thoughts are with his woman April and his daughters Naelah and Montserrat."

The two-time victor of the prestigious Stephen Foster Stakes won 2,079 races successful North America and has mounted successful 16,234 races, earning him $72,483,396 successful prize money, according to the racetrack.

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Mena deed the 2,000-win milestone aboard Royal Commission astatine Ellis Park connected July 4, 2020.

Mena, who was calved successful Lima, Peru, came from a equine racing background, Churchill Downs said. His father, Jose, was a jockey and his uncle, Humberto, is simply a trainer.

At property 11, Mena began grooming horses. He came to the United States astatine 17 and would triumph his archetypal North American contention astatine Calder Race Course successful 2003, according to the racetrack.

In the autumn of 2006, the Peruvian started riding astatine Churchill Downs wherever helium would triumph 481 times, ranking him 15th all-time.

His last ride, according to Churchill Downs, was this past Saturday astatine Keeneland successful Lexington, Kentucky.

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