Garrett Gomez dead at 44

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.