Former Southern California jockey and "King of the Bullring" Francisco "Paco" Mena died last week in Rosarito, Mexico where family members said he had been living. He was 78.
Mena's brother, former jockey Guillermo Mena, said his older sibling retired to Mexico and had been staying with family before recently getting his own beachside residence in Rosarito.
"He just recently decided he wanted to live on his own. He got a nice little place by the ocean in Rosarito," Mena said.
Born in 1947 in Jalisco, Mexico, Mena started riding in Southern California in the mid-1970s. He soon established himself as the "King of the Bullring" at Pomona where he was once the all-time winningest jockey. Mena's leading mounts included Grade I winners First Albert and Landcaper, and California-bred graded stakes winner Double Discount and Scherando.
Perhaps most notably, Mena was also the regular rider of Telly's Pop, a hugely popular colt in the 1970s who was owned in partnership by actor Telly Sevalas and producer/director Howard Koch.
By Bold Ruler's son Bold Combatant, Telly's Pop was bred by Mel Stute, who then sold the colt to Savalas and Koch for $6,000. With Stute staying on as trainer and Mena riding, Telly's Pop in 1975 won the Del Mar Futurity, Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita and California Juvenile Stakes at Bay Meadows. As a 3-year-old, Telly's Pop won the California Derby at Golden Gate. The victory propelled him to the favorite's role in the Santa Anita Derby for his next start where he finished fifth. Telly's Pop was retired the following season with a record of 17: 6-1-2 and $353,995 in earnings.
According to Equibase statistics, Mena won 931 races and more than $1.3 million in purse earnings.
"My brother was just a true gentleman," Guillermo Mena said. "He was well-liked and respected by his fellow riders. He was one of those guys who would give you the coat off his back if you needed it."
Funeral services for Mena will be held this Sunday in Rosarito starting at 2:30 p.m. at the Guadalupan Missionaries of the Most Holy Sacrament Parish.
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