Gomez formally retires from riding

Two-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Garrett Gomez, who will long be

remembered for guiding Blame to victory over hitherto undefeated Zenyatta in the

2010 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), formally announced his retirement Monday on

Facebook. The 43-year-old had not ridden since October 5, 2013, but hope had

remained that there could still have been a comeback.

"I would like to thank everyone in the sport of horse racing for all the

support I ever received in my career," Gomez posted. "I enjoyed every horse I

ever rode and I thank all of them for making my career.

"I'd like to apologize to all my fans for leaving the sport the way I did.

Sometimes you have to do things in life for yourself.

"I'd like everyone to know I'm officially retired from the sport of horse

racing .I thank everyone for all I achieved that had a part in my career. I had

a lot of awesome moments in this game. BEST GAME IN THE WORLD. THANK YOU HORSE

RACING."

According to Equibase, Gomez compiled 3,769 wins, and his mounts amassed

$205,224,899 in purses, over the course of a career that began in 1988.

The winner of 13 Breeders' Cup events, Gomez earned the Bill Shoemaker Award

a record four times as the top jockey at the 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2010 Breeders'

Cups.

Making his achievements in the 2010 Breeders' Cup even more remarkable, Gomez

had suffered a right shoulder injury in a spill on the eve of the two-day

Championships -- and still rode three BC winners, topped by his titanic effort

aboard Blame.

Gomez led the nation's riders by earnings from 2006-2009, inclusive. After

eclipsing Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey's record for most stakes wins in a season

with 76, he was voted the Eclipse Award for 2007. He repeated with another

Eclipse in 2008.

The pinnacle of Gomez's success came after a battle with substance

abuse earlier in his career (2003-04). In part because of his valiant fight, and

the tenacity that lifted him to the top of his profession, his fellow jockeys

honored him with the George Woolf Award in 2011.

Gomez reached out to help others dealing with alcohol and drug problems. In

addition to generously supporting the Winners Foundation, a non-profit that

serves those in the racing industry, Gomez recounted (with co-author Rudolph

Alvarado) his personal experience in a book, The Garrett Gomez Story: A

Jockey's Journey through Addiction & Salvation.