Michael Thomas Mitchell

It is with a heavy heart that we want to share the sad news that Mike "Mitch" Mitchell has lost his

battle with cancer. Mitch never met a stranger and he always made everyone feel like they had

known him all of their lives.

Michael Thomas "Mitch" Mitchell was born in Pipestone, MN on February 8, 1953, to Merrill

"Shorty" Mitchell and Hilda (Heitman) Mitchell. November 1959 the Mitchell family moved to

Canning, South Dakota where Mitch's life was centered around the horses, ranching and the

racetrack, becoming a highly respected horseman. He loved everything about the track,

especially the breaking of the colts. He began his career riding race horses in South Dakota

starting out early spring meets in Fort Pierre while continuing going to high school (graduated

Sully Buttes High School class of 1971). He rode the bush tracks of South Dakota at 16 years

old and then rode at the state's only recognized track Park Jefferson, Jefferson, South Dakota

all summer long. Mike still holds the record for the most wins in a day at Jefferson. Mitch rode

professionally as a Jockey for six years and then all of a sudden he decided to shoot up in

height and had to find a new job on the race track. First as a gallop boy, assistant trainer and

gateman.

By the mid-1980's Mitch came to Ruidoso Downs and began working on the track's gate crew

for the next fifteen years. Then, after suffering an injury, he switched jobs to become the track's

outrider, a position he held for the next twenty years until his retirement in 2021. As the head

outrider, he took very seriously the responsibility for the safety of both the rider and race horse.

He also enjoyed sitting in the saddle next to the rail in-between races to let race fans get an

up-close look at his mount. He became a member of the 2023 Hall of Fame Inductee.

Mitch is survived by his loving family, daughter Tommye and Sandy. Sandy's family Lisa and

Montana McMinn, Ruidoso, New Mexico. Mike's six siblings, Mary (Casey) Kebach, Pierre,SD;

Katie Mitchell-Boe, Pierre, SD, Pat (Margo), Kennebec, SD; Donnie (Betsy), Eagle Butte, SD;

Jim (Odie) and Vince, Pierre, SD. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and

great nieces and nephews and all of his race track family. He is preceded in death by his

parents, brother Bob and sister-in-law, Ronette.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Mitch at Ruidoso Downs Race Track at the beginning of

the 2025 meet. A definite date will be announced at a later time. In lieu of flowers a scholarship

has been established with the Sam Thompson Memorial Foundation in Mitch's honor. Donations

can be made at https://samthompsonfoundation.org/choose-where-your-donation-goes/ or

mailed to: The Sam Thompson Memorial Foundation 903 Mesa Roja Trail NE, Rio Rancho, NM