After having thrown himself into the path of a loose horse on Saturday, March 12 at Santa Anita Park in California, 90-year-old paddock guard John Shear is reported to be making great progress in a local hospital despite having sustained some serious injuries

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Shear, a Santa Anita employee since 1961, put his life on the line to save a six-year-old girl, as a loose horse, Sea and Sage, had made a 'b-line' for the youngster after having become free in the track's walking ring.

According to a report on patch.com, Shear, a former jockey, is in stable condition. The article also cites one of Shear's family members as saying that he has improved “one hundred eighty degrees” since the incident, and that he is sitting upright, talking and laughing.

The patch.com article has cited officials with Santa Anita as saying that Shear has internal bleeding, multiple broken bones and may need surgery.

(With files from patch.com)

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