Jose Flores (March 22, age 56)
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Jose Flores (March 22, age 56)

Parx Racing announced the death of Pennsylvania jockey Jose Flores in a racing accident on Thursday. He was 56.

Flores was racing Monday at the suburban Philadelphia track when his horse went down and Flores was thrown off. He hit the ground headfirst and sustained massive trauma. Two other riders — Ruben Silver and Carol Sedano — went down in the accident, although they and their horses emerged relatively unharmed. Sedano only had minor neck soreness.

The jockey was removed from life support Thursday afternoon. Flores’ horse, Love Rules, had to be euthanized after the fall.

Flores won 4,650 races in a career that spanned more than three decades.