Jockey Cruz Mendez, 40, recently underwent spinal surgery following a catastrophic spinal cord injury sustained during a fall at Los Alamitos Racetrack on January 24th, according to the Daily Racing Form. The incident occurred when Mendez was riding Im Relentless, a 3-year-old filly trained by Sergio Morzine, in the fifth race; the horse suddenly faltered and fell, as reported by Equibase Charts and racing officials. Tragically, Im Relentless was euthanized due to a severe back injury.
Mendez was rushed to Long Beach Memorial Hospital and had surgery on Sunday, with close sources expressing concerns about potential paralysis in his legs, the Daily Racing Form states. Since beginning his career in 2010, Mendez has competed in 1,184 Quarter Horse races, earning 17 Group 1 victories, and has also won 63 Thoroughbred races, according to Equibase. Additionally, he has secured five Quarter Horse riding titles at Los Alamitos, including the most recent one in 2023.
Quarter Horse racing at Los Alamitos has faced growing scrutiny lately. In 2025 alone, 11 Quarter Horses suffered catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries at the track, per California Horse Racing Commission records. Following three fatal carpal (knee) injuries on the November 25 race card, the CHRB issued an ultimatum threatening to suspend Los Alamitos’ license unless the venue implemented major safety improvements and dramatically reduced injury rates. Another severe incident occurred during a prominent Grade 1 race on December 13, prompting Los Alamitos to introduce additional safety measures.
At the latest CHRB meeting, the commission approved new hospital regulations for Los Alamitos that enforce stricter controls on intra-articular injections and better documentation of medication use.
This article was originally published by Paulick Report on January 26, 2026, and first appeared in their News section.
Fan Take:
This news is a stark reminder of the inherent risks in horse racing and underscores the urgent need for enhanced safety protocols to protect both jockeys and horses. For fans and the industry alike, these developments could drive important reforms that prioritize welfare and help preserve the sport’s future.
