$22 million season
- Bob Brogan
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$22 million season
16 years 3 months ago
Garrett Gomez was born in Tucson, Arizona on New Year's Day 1972. He started riding in 1988 at Sante Fe Downs, New Mexico and was second leading apprentice in USA in 1989 when he booted home 182 winners. He then had a peripatetic time travelling around the fairs circuit before he tried his hand at the minor Nebraska tracks - Ak-Sar-Ben and Fonner Park.
During that time he also added his name to the list of jockeys who have ridden against their fathers.
One of his first major successes came on Concern in the Arkansas Derby in 1994. The same horse won that year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic but, unfortunately for Gomez, Jerry Bailey had secured the mount by that stage.
He had a similar experience this year when losing out on the mount on Rags To Riches in the 2007 Belmont Stakes. He had ridden the Michael Tabor owned runner to win the Santa Anita Oaks and the Kentucky Oaks but, having committed to another runner, the mount on the subsequent Belmont winner went to John Velazquez.
In 2006 Gomez rode 261 winners from 1,273 rides and his mounts earnings of $21,922,592 which put him on top of the pile among American jockeys.
but could he win on pericles?
During that time he also added his name to the list of jockeys who have ridden against their fathers.
One of his first major successes came on Concern in the Arkansas Derby in 1994. The same horse won that year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic but, unfortunately for Gomez, Jerry Bailey had secured the mount by that stage.
He had a similar experience this year when losing out on the mount on Rags To Riches in the 2007 Belmont Stakes. He had ridden the Michael Tabor owned runner to win the Santa Anita Oaks and the Kentucky Oaks but, having committed to another runner, the mount on the subsequent Belmont winner went to John Velazquez.
In 2006 Gomez rode 261 winners from 1,273 rides and his mounts earnings of $21,922,592 which put him on top of the pile among American jockeys.
but could he win on pericles?
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