Horseman, Pass By

For a summer project, we gave sportswriters 900 words and a theme: freedom.

For a summer project, we gave sportswriters 900 words and a theme: freedom.

Horseman, Pass By by Joe Drape

Benoit Photo

Benoit Photo

For six decades, John Shear commanded a patch of one of the most hallowed pieces of real estate in American horse racing: the paddock of Santa Anita Park in Southern California.

In title, he was its captain. In temperament, he was its soul.

Shear is an Englishman by birth and a globe-trotting horseman by choice. His past and present were on display each race day when the horses arrived to be saddled.

Every 25 minutes, his walking ring teemed with sun-tanned owners — men in sports coats, women in perpetual summer dresses. Blue-jeaned grooms brought forth an endless thudding of horses — including great ones from John Henry to American Pharoah — who then were saddled by Hall of Fame trainers such as Charlie Whittingham and Richard Mandella.