Jockey Miguel Mena dies after being struck by vehicle

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Jockey Miguel Mena, who rode more than 2,000 winners while riding primarily in Kentucky and on other Midwest circuits, was killed as a pedestrian Sunday evening on Interstate 64 in Louisville.

Mena’s legal name was Jose Mena Rodriguez, according to Louisville police. There was no reason given as to why he was on the highway at the time of his death about 7:30 p.m. local time, with the official accident report saying he died of blunt force injuries after being struck by a moving vehicle. No charges will be filed. After exercising horses early Sunday, Mena had no mounts that afternoon at Churchill Downs, where he had ridden regularly since 2006.

Mena, who would have turned 35 on Saturday, was a Peru native who began riding in the United States in 2003, when he rode his first winner at the old Calder in Florida. He is survived by his wife, April, as well as two daughters and extended family in Peru.

Mena’s death was confirmed Monday by a friend and longtime benefactor, trainer Al Stall Jr., for whom Mena earned his last of 37 graded stakes victories when Dalika captured the Grade 3 Robert Dick Memorial on July 10 at Delaware Park.

“It’s just an unspeakable tragedy,” Stall said. “He was such a kind soul.”

In all, Mena had 2,079 wins from 16,234 starts at 39 different tracks, with mount earnings of nearly $72.5 million. After leaving Florida to ride primarily in Chicago for several years, he made Kentucky his main base. He employed a number of different agents, with Tim Hanisch in that role most recently.

Mena, an avid soccer fan, had two career Grade 1 wins, with Champagne d’Oro in the 2010 Test at Saratoga and Pool Play in the 2011 Stephen Foster at Churchill. Other winning rides in graded races came aboard such standouts as Tepin, Dubai Majesty, International Star, Bravazo, and Tom’s d’Etat.

Injuries and personal turmoil followed Mena during certain parts of his career, although friends and fellow horsemen said he matured into a responsible family man in his later years. Trainer Ian Wilkes said he thought Mena had turned a corner after the jockey broke his ankle in a Fair Grounds spill in March 2018.

“This is just so sad,” Wilkes said.

Arrangements were still pending Monday.