Garrett K. Gomez
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Garrett K. Gomez (born January 1, 1972 in Tucson, Arizona) is an American thoroughbred jockey.
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[edit] Early Career
Gomez learned to ride by watching his father, Louie, who was a jockey at many tracks in the Southwest United States. When Gomez was in the tenth grade, he dropped out of school to start his career as a jockey, and began riding at Santa Fe Downs in New Mexico in September of 1988, picking up his first victory at that venue aboard Furlong Circle.
After a stint riding on the California Fair Circuit, Gomez switched his tack to the Midwest and rode at Ak-Sar-Ben and Fonner Park in Nebraska. Gomez was the second leading apprentice rider in 1989, racking up 182 winners.
[edit] Success In The Midwest
In the mid 1990's, Gomez's career began to take off. He won back-to-back runnings of the Arkansas Derby in 1994 (with Concern) and 1995 (with Dazzling Falls). Two years later, he captured the "Mid-America Triple" at Arlington Park by winning the American Derby, Arlington Classic, and his first Grade I, the Secretariat Stakes, all aboard Honor Glide.
[edit] The Move West
After his triumphs in the Midwest, Gomez moved west to California, and was successful right away, as he won the 1998 Hollywood Park Fall Meet riding title. In 1999, Gomez picked up four Grade I victories on the West Coast, as he took the Malibu Stakes with Love That Red, the Santa Maria Handicap with India Divina, the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap with Lord Smith, and the Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap with Budroyale.
In 2000, Gomez hooked up with owner Juddmonte Farms, trainer Robert J. Frankel and Skimming, who would give Gomez back-to-back victories in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar. Gomez also took the Grade I Del Mar Debutante Stakes in 2000 aboard Cindy's Hero.
[edit] Personal Problems Put Career On Hold
In late 2002, Gomez took time off from riding, as he could not maintain weight and then in July of 2003, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. He was ordered to serve 40 days in jail and enter drug rehabiliation, which he did. Gomez would return to riding in late 2004 with limited success.
[edit] Gomez Back On Top
By the end of 2005, not only had Garrett Gomez conquered his personal demons, he was one of the top go-to jockeys in the business. In 2005, he hooked up with Borrego, who gave him his first victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and his record third victory in the Pacific Classic Stakes, and on the two-year anniversary of his entering rehab, Gomez won two Breeders' Cup events, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile with Stevie Wonderboy and the Breeders' Cup Mile with Artie Schiller. In addition to those successes, Gomez won the riding title at Hollywood Park in their spring-summer meet.
[edit] Another Move Back East
In 2006, jockey John Velazquez was injured in a riding accident at Keeneland, which meant that trainer Todd Pletcher needed a new top rider on the East Coast, and that turned out to be Gomez. Gomez took full advantage of the opportunity, winning 16 stakes races aboard Pletcher-trained horses, including five Grade I races. Thanks in part to those victories, Gomez led the nation in earnings for a jockey with over $20.1 million. He was a finalist for the Eclipse Award for Top Jockey, but was defeated by Edgar Prado.
[edit] A Record-Breaking 2007
It would have been hard to top 2006 for Gomez, but in 2007, he did it. He broke Jerry Bailey's record for most stakes victories in a season by winning 76 stakes races, including two Breeders' Cup races, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies with undefeated Eclipse Award winner Indian Blessing and the Breeders' Cup Sprint with Midnight Lute.
Early in the year, Gomez was the rider for Rags to Riches, winning the Las Virgenes Stakes, the Santa Anita Oaks and the Kentucky Oaks with her. Unfortunately for Gomez, in the Belmont Stakes, he was booked to ride Hard Spun, which left the mount open on Rags To Riches for John Velazquez to pick up and win with.
At the end of the year, thanks to his stakes victory record and his $22.8 million in earnings, Gomez won the Eclipse Award for the Outstanding Jockey.
Gomez also tied with jockey Victor Espinoza for the riding title at Santa Anita in 2007.
[edit] Personal Life
Garrett Gomez currently resides in Duarte, California with his wife Pam and their children Amanda and Jared. Gomez usually rides at Santa Anita in the fall and winter before shifting to Keeneland and Churchill in the spring and then Belmont, Saratoga, and Del Mar in the summer.
He is represented by jockey agent Ron Anderson, who was the agent for jockey Jerry Bailey before he retired.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Garett Gomez profile at the NTRA (accessed January 30, 2007)
- January 21, 2008 NTRA article titled Gomez tops big year with Eclipse
