Saturday, December 27, 2008

LEADING JOCKEY GOMEZ INJURED IN SPILL

ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 27, 2008)—Jockey Garrett Gomez, America’s leading jockey by purse money-won for the third consecutive year, has been taken to Arcadia Methodist Hospital for X-rays following a spill in today’s seventh race at Santa Anita.

Gomez was on the lead aboard the 2-year-old colt Back at You in today’s $70,000 added Eddie Logan Stakes when his mount inexplicably ducked into the rail, causing Gomez to be thrown to the turf.


According to his agent, Ron Anderson, Gomez was conscious and ambulatory, but lost several front teeth due to the impact of the fall. “Garrett lost a few front, upper teeth and he also has a swollen left hand and a gash to his left knee,” said Anderson.

Anderson also said that he did not know if Gomez would be required to stay over night for observation, but noted that his overall condition appeared to improve after his arrival at the hospital.

“He was pretty shook up when he first got here, but as they were preparing him to be Xrayed, he really calmed down and he seemed to be getting stronger,” said Anderson.

Entering today’s seventh race, Gomez was just $109,014 shy of Jerry Bailey’s all-time earnings mark of $23,354,960, which he established in 2003. Anderson was also Bailey’s agent at that time and went to work for Gomez after Bailey retired in January of 2006.

Gomez is tentatively scheduled to ride five horses on Sunday at Santa Anita, including Proudinsky in the Gr. II, $150,000 San Gabriel Handicap.

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