Sierra Madre's John Shear in Stable Condition After Saving Child at Santa Anita

John Shear, the Santa Anita Paddock Guard who saved a 6-year-old girl from a runaway horse Saturday, is in stable condition at a local hospital, according to Santa Anita officials. A member of Shear's family said the 90-year-old hero has improved “one hundred eighty degrees” since Saturday night and is sitting upright, talking and laughing. Track officials said Shear has been employed at Santa Anita Park since Dec. 23, 1961.

It wasn’t just a day at the races Saturday afternoon at .

Shear, a 90-year-old veteran Santa Anita Paddock Guard, risked his life to save a young girl from a runaway horse that had escaped from his handler, track officials said.

According to a statement released by Santa Anita, Sea and Sage, a 3-year-old gelding, was in the walking ring with nine other horses just before the third race of the day when he broke free from his handler and began sprinting towards an opening Shear was guarding.

Shear cut off the horse and threw himself in front of a young girl that would likely have been trampled if the horse had continued on his path.

"It was miraculous no one else was injured as the horse went over the paddock bridge to the backside," Pete Siberell, Santa Anita Community and Special Events Coordinator, told Patch late Saturday in an e-mail.

After the collision with the horse, Shear was conscious and responsive as First Aid workers and members of the Arcadia Fire Department treated him at the scene. He was then taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital for further evaluation, according to Santa Anita officials.

According to Santa Anita officials, Shear has internal bleeding, multiple broken bones and may need surgery.

"He is a dear man and I always have enjoyed greeting him each day in the paddock," Siberell said. "A very sweet man. Everyone loves John."

The horse was uninjured and returned to his stall after the incident.