Trainer Mike Mitchell, an iconic and dominant figure on the Southern California horse racing landscape for nearly 40 years, passed away Tuesday, at his home in Monrovia following a lengthy battle with brain cancer at age 66. Santa Anita says that he "ranks among all-time winningest trainers in California."
In addition to his wife and two daughters, Mitchell is survived by a twin sister, Cheryl, and brothers Earl, Jr., Guy and Casey. Funeral services are pending.
Mitchell, who won his first race at Bay Meadows in 1974, won 19 overall training titles in Southern California. In addition to his two Santa Anita Winter Meet titles, he won four training titles at Santa Anita’s Oak Tree Meeting; in 1983, 1995, 1996 and 2004. He also took five overall Hollywood Park titles that included the 1982 Spring/Summer Meet, and Hollywood Park Fall Meets in 1983, 1985, 1993 and 1997.
Del Mar’s all-time leading trainer with 476 seaside wins, Mitchell won seven Del Mar titles; 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1995, 1996 and 2011. He was also leading trainer at Fairplex Park in 2008.
Source: Santa Anita Park press release
- Brad Haugaard
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