Retired jockey Garrett Gomez died Wednesday, according to multiple sources. He was 44.
One of the most talented riders of his era, Gomez won 13 Breeders’ Cup races and back-to-back Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Jockey in 2008-09.
Perhaps best known for his 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic ride aboard Blame, handing the mighty Zenyatta her only career defeat, Gomez also counted Any Given Saturday, Beholder, Blind Luck, English Channel, Gio Ponti, Lookin at Lucky, Marketing Mix, Pioneerof the Nile and Rags to Riches among his notable mounts.
He rode his last race on October 5, 2013 and Gomez officially retired in June, 2015.
2015: Gomez formally retires from riding
Gomez began riding in 1988 and won 3,769 races, including 83 Grade 1 events. His mounts earned $205,224,899. Gomez received the Bill Shoemaker Award four times as the top jockey at the 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2010 Breeders’ Cup.
Just a few others comes to mind.Chris antly drugs, Micheal Baze drugs,Garrett Gomez drugs. Please lord let this end.
May his Demons let Garrett RIP.
The Best jockey I ever made a wager on he always, I mean always, gave you a ride for your $2 all the way past the finish line……….God rest your soul and bless your family
terrific rider
The best of his kind, rest in peace rider.
AHHHH! …. not GARRETT too?
Funny that this is running again. The more i think about it he was my favorite jockey ever. I think of GG often like he was a member of my family.Such a shame for it to end the way it did.
He gave old Mikey Smith a riding lesson in the BC Classic when he snapped off Zenyata’s sinning streak with Blame. One of THE very best to ever sit in the saddle!
A champion jockey without a doubt…RIP