Legendary Calder trainer Gomez
dies at 78
Frank Gomez, a South Florida training legend, died Sunday at his home in
Pembroke Pines, Florida, at the age of 78. As his health had been in decline,
last month he retired after a training career that spanned four decades. Gomez
had trained at Calder Race Course since the first meeting in 1971.
Gomez grew up with horses in his native Ireland, where his father was a
trainer. He served a five-year apprenticeship as a teenager and rode jumpers for
12 years in England, Ireland and Scotland.
He began his training career in 1967 in New York and first appeared on the
Florida scene when Calder opened. He was the leading trainer at Calder during
the 1980-81, 1982-83 and 1992 (spring) Tropical Meets, as well as the 1982
season at both Calder and Gulfstream.
Gomez started the careers of Eclipse Award winners Princess Rooney, Smile and
Cherokee Run. As a juvenile in 1984, Smile swept Calder’s Florida Stallion
Stakes series. Seven years later, Gomez accomplished the same feat with Naked
Greed, and in 2005, his In Summation (Put It Back) came within a nose of the
sweep. A Calder Hall of Fame charter inductee (1995), Gomez won more than 100
stakes at Calder and Tropical throughout the years.
He is survived by daughters Lisa Barnet of Weston, Florida, and Beth Gomez of
Atlanta, Georgia; a son, Christopher Gomez of Miami; and three grandchildren.
Three sisters also survive Gomez.
A viewing will be held on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. (EST) at the Fred Hunter
Funeral Home, 6301 Taft St. in Hollywood, Florida, (954) 989-1550. A memorial
service will be held at the same location on Saturday at 11 a.m. In lieu of
flowers, the family asks that donations be made to:
Peter Gomez Memorial Fund of the National Speleological Society
2813 Cave Avenue
Huntsville, AL 35810
Founded in honor of Gomez’ late son Peter, the purpose of the fund is to
support scientific study conducted by the NSS. More information can be found on
the Internet at www.caves.org.