Jockey Cruz Mendez, a veteran Quarter Horse rider with over 1,184 wins since 2010, underwent spinal surgery following a severe spinal cord injury sustained in a fall at Los Alamitos on January 24. The accident occurred when the filly Imm Relentless, trained by Sergio Morgin, lost action and fell during the race, leading to the horse being euthanized due to a back injury. Mendez was hospitalized at Long Beach Memorial, with concerns about potential paralysis in his legs.

This incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of Quarter Horse racing safety at Los Alamitos, where 11 horses suffered fatal musculoskeletal injuries in 2025. Following multiple fatalities, including a cluster of three on November 25 and another in a Grade 1 race in December, the California Horse Racing Board issued an ultimatum demanding significant safety improvements or risking suspension of the track’s license. In response, the board recently approved stricter regulations on medication and intra-articular injections to enhance horse welfare and reduce injuries.