What a shame, his poor family.
Whaaat!!!
Per blood horse:
Two-time Eclipse Award winning jockey Garrett Gomez has died, according to his daughter Shelby Gomez. He was 44.
Shelby Gomez declined to give details Dec. 14 on the death of her father.
Gomez officially retired from riding in 2015, but rode his last race in 2013. He began riding races in 1988 and won a career-high 265 races in 2007. He was honored with the Eclipse Award for outstanding jockey in 2007 and repeated that feat in 2008. Among his accomplishments were 13 Breeders’ Cup wins.
He also had setbacks during his career because of substance abuse and co-authored a book titled The Garrett Gomez Story: A Jockey’s Journey Through Addiction and Salvation
Per blood horse:
Two-time Eclipse Award winning jockey Garrett Gomez has died, according to his daughter Shelby Gomez. He was 44.
Shelby Gomez declined to give details Dec. 14 on the death of her father.
Gomez officially retired from riding in 2015, but rode his last race in 2013. He began riding races in 1988 and won a career-high 265 races in 2007. He was honored with the Eclipse Award for outstanding jockey in 2007 and repeated that feat in 2008. Among his accomplishments were 13 Breeders’ Cup wins.
He also had setbacks during his career because of substance abuse and co-authored a book titled The Garrett Gomez Story: A Jockey’s Journey Through Addiction and Salvation
Heartbreaking - I always thought he was an exceedingly talented and smart rider. Like too many others at that very top level he was plagued with substance abuse issues, injuries and marriage woes. Hopefully on his talent he’ll be inducted posthumously into the Racing Hall of Fame in 2017.
This was such a shock to read. So very sorry to learn the news, what a loss.
But on an unrelated side note, it was almost equally shocking to see GG posting again! (no intended insensitivity to the very sad original topic)
It is a shame he is not already inducted in the Hall of Fame, to not induct him in 2017 would be egregious. From Wiki:
Secretariat Stakes (1997)
Citation Handicap (1998, 2006)
Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap (1999)
Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap (1999)
Malibu Stakes (1999, 2012)
Santa Maria Handicap(1999)
Del Mar Debutante Stakes (2000)
Pacific Classic Stakes (2000, 2001, 2005, 2008)
Spinster Stakes (2000, 2007)
Del Mar Oaks (2001, 2009)
Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap (2002)
Cigar Mile Handicap (2005, 2006)
Del Mar Futurity (2005, 2007, 2009)
Jockey Club Gold Cup (2005)
La Brea Stakes (2005)
Lady’s Secret Breeders’ Cup Handicap (2005)
Vosburgh Stakes (2005)
American Oaks (2006)
Blue Grass Stakes (2006)
Garden City Handicap (2006)
Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (2006, 2007)
Humana Distaff Handicap (2006)
Hopeful Stakes (2006, 2007)
Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (2006)
Turf Classic Stakes (2006)
Wood Memorial Stakes (2006)
Yellow Ribbon Stakes (2006)
Frizette Stakes (2007)
Haskell Invitational Handicap (2007)
Kentucky Oaks (2007)
Las Virgenes Stakes (2007, 2013)
Santa Anita Oaks (2007, 2013)
Santa Monica Handicap (2007, 2009)
John C. Mabee Handicap (2008)
Just A Game Handicap (2008)
Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (2008, 2009, 2011)
Vinery Madison Stakes (2008, 2011)
Travers Stakes (2008)
CashCall Futurity (2008, 2009)
Santa Anita Derby (2009)
Manhattan Handicap (2009)
Norfolk Stakes (United States) (2009)
Ancient Title Stakes (2009)
Matriarch Stakes (2009)
Stephen Foster Handicap (2010)
United Nations Stakes (2010)
Prioress Stakes (2010)
Whitney Handicap (2010)
Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap (2010)
Spinaway Stakes (2010)
Hollywood Derby (2010)
Vanity Handicap (2011, 2012)
Shoemaker Mile Stakes (2012)
Rodeo Drive Stakes (2012)
Hollywood Starlet Stakes (2012)
Breeders’ Cup wins:
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (2005, 2008)
Breeders’ Cup Mile (2005)
Breeders’ Cup Sprint (2007, 2008)
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (2007, 2012)
Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (2008)
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (2008)
Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (2009)
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (2010)
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (2010)
Breeders’ Cup Classic (2010)
International race wins:
Godolphin Mile (2007)
Woodbine Mile (2007, 2009)
Northern Dancer Breeders’ Cup Turf (2008)
Canadian International Stakes (2009)
Dubai Golden Shaheen (2010)
Nearctic Stakes (2010)
Summer Stakes (2010)
Racing awards
United States Champion Jockey by earnings
(2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey
(2007, 2008)
George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award (2011)
Significant horses
Any Given Saturday, Beholder, Blame, Borrego, Concern, Colonel John, Discreet Cat, Honor Glide, Hystericalady, Indian Blessing, Midnight Lute, Rags to Riches, Skimming, Stevie Wonderboy, Wait A While, Life Is Sweet, Blind Luck, Ruler on Ice
http://www.drf.com/news/former-jockey-garrett-gomez-found-dead-44
He was found in a hotel near Tucson.
May he now have the peace that had eluded him for so long.
Awww, he was such a talented, talented jockey.
Rest in Peace, GoGo.
What a shame. May he be at peace now.
I’m so sorry to read this.
What an incredible talent he had…
I’m very sorry to hear this. May he rest in peace.
I, too, was shocked to read this. May he and his family find peace…
how sad 
Such a shame… My condolences to his family
as someone remarked elsewhere, 2016 can bite me. :no:
So sad for all his friends and family… and those of us who followed his racing career.
I feel so bad for him, for the difficulties he suffered fighting his addictions, and for the pain it caused his family. I can’t imagine how sad his children must be.
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;8973737]
Heartbreaking - I always thought he was an exceedingly talented and smart rider. Like too many others at that very top level he was plagued with substance abuse issues, injuries and marriage woes. Hopefully on his talent he’ll be inducted posthumously into the Racing Hall of Fame in 2017.[/QUOTE]
GG! You’re BACK! And, as YOU!!
Glad to see your famously erudite style back in action!
my favorite jockey. So so sad. I haven’t been watching as much racing since he retired. I was always cheering for him. Maybe losing the ride on Beholder just was the last straw.
RIP GoGo
