Occupation Jockey Name Juan Gonzalez | Role Jockey | |
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Died 1975, Pleasanton, California, United States | ||
Juan Gonzalez (February 22, 1948 - July 5, 1975) was a Mexican-born jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey who died in a racing accident at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds Racetrack at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, California. A report on the accident published by the St. Joseph, Missouri Gazette stated that Gonzalez had "virtually dominated Thoroughbred racing in Northern California since he rose to prominence in the late 1960s" and that he "rode more winners at Northern California tracks during the past 10 years than any other jockey."
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Career highlights
In 1969, Juan Gonzalez became the first jockey to ever ride more than 100 winners during a single race meet in Northern California. On December 17, of that same year he rode five winners at Bay Meadows Racetrack and in 1973 set a Bay Meadows Racetrack record that stood for the next thirteen years when he won118 races at a single meet.
Death and memorial
A native of Ermita de Guadalupe, a community near Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico, Gonzalez died instantly from a broken neck when his horse fell on another horse that had stumbled and fallen in front of him.He died on the track where his career began in front of his wife Maria and their two young daughters.
A funeral service was held for Juan Gonzalez on July 7 in San Mateo, California after which his remains were returned to his native Jerez for burial.
In his memory, the Pleasanton Racetrack annually runs the Juan Gonzalez Memorial Stakes.