Fund established for Flores's family

The Sam Houston division of the Racetrack Chaplaincy of Texas has established a fund to assist the family of trainer Ramon Flores, who died in a car accident Tuesday in Schulenberg, Texas.

Flores, 34, left behind a wife, Amy; a son, Fernando, who is 8; and a daughter, Brisenia, 1.

Flores had a 25-horse stable based at Sam Houston, and the track plans to hold a memorial service in his honor Saturday at noon in the grandstand. His family will hold a memorial Friday in El Campo, Texas.

Flores was on his way to Sunland Park with three horses when his truck hit a patch of ice and he lost control. He was accompanied by a groom, Rafael Hernandez, who escaped serious injury. The horses also escaped serious injury, among them Winning Fans, who was shipping in for the Borderland Derby on Sunday. In his last start, Winning Fans ran third at 108-1 in the Grade 3 Lecomte at Fair Grounds.

Flores, a native of Saucillo, Mexico, began training in 1996. Among his stakes winners were Pleasant State, a horse he claimed for $10,000, and Manzottina, winner of the $75,000 Martanza at Sam Houston in November. He ranks fifth in the standings at Sam Houston, and last year finished tied for sixth in the standings at Lone Star Park.

Donations can be sent to the Ramon Flores Fund in care of the Racetrack Chaplaincy of Texas, 7575 Sam Houston Parkway West, Houston, Texas, 77064.