Avelino Gomez

Biography

For a quarter-century, Avelino Gomez was the best-known jockey in Canada. Between 1955 and 1966, Gomez, known as "El Perfecto," topped the Canadian standings in wins seven times. In 1966, Gomez became the first Canadian- based rider to surpass 300 wins in a year, riding 318 winners to lead all North American jockeys, and winning on 32 percent of his mounts.

Born in Cuba in 1928, Gomez began riding at the age of 16. On March 19, 1944, he rode his first winner at Mexico City. Gomez was on his way as he parlayed his ranking of leading apprentice in Mexico into leading rider in Vancouver in 1945.For the next 10 years, he competed in Mexico, Cuba, Vancouver, and the United States. By 1951, he was successful enough to get the mount on Curandero when he won the $100,000 Washington Park Handicap in Chicago. Gomez also won the Hawthorne Gold Cup that year aboard Seaward.

Gomez eventually settled in Toronto at the request of Chico Prieto, who was training horses for Stafford Farm. Gomez won every major stakes race in Canada. He was also the first man to ride four Queen’s Plate winners (Lyford Cay in 1957, Victoria Park in 1960, Titled Hero in 1966, and Jump in Joseph in 1969). In the U.S., he rode the great Ridan, Crimson Satan, and Never Bend, among others. 

Gomez won nine races in the Canadian Triple Crown series. Along with his four victories in the Queen's Plate, he won three runnings of the Breeders’ Stakes (New Providence in 1959, Titled Hero in 1966, and Pine Point in 1967), and two editions of the Prince of Wales Stakes (New Providence in 1959 and Canadillis in 1964). At Woodbine, where he won five riding titles, Gomez was known for leaping from the back of a winning mount, descending with arms outstretched to amused cheers from the crowd.

Gomez died of complications after being injured in an accident during the 1980 Canadian Oaks. Overall, Gomez won 4,081 races.

Achievements

Sovereign Award for Outstanding Jockey (Canada) — 1977

North America's leading rider in wins — 1966

Canadian Triple Crown Highlights

Won the Queen's Plate — 1957, 1960, 1966, 1969
Won the Prince of Wales Stakes — 1959, 1964
Won the Breeders' Stakes — 1959, 1966, 1967

Other Highlights

Won the Summer Stakes — 1960, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1972
Won the Autumn Cup Handicap — 1955, 1959, 1966, 1967
Won the Victoria Stakes — 1956, 1960, 1966, 1967
Won the E. P. Taylor Stakes — 1967, 1973