Gomez Out With Fractured Heel

     I learned today that Santa Anita jockey Garrett Gomez was injured late Sunday prior to the running of the featured 8th race, the Daytona stakes, when his horse reared leaving the walking ring. Apparently Mr. Gomez will miss 4 to 6 weeks after surgery to repair his fractured heel. As we noted in our recently published book, Del Mar 2011 Jockey and Trainer Stats, the life of a horse racing jockey is one of the more dangerous occupations in life. The brave men and women who ride these amazing animals, risk their lives each and every time they mount a horse. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Garrett, and we wish him a speedy recovery. It's a shame that he will miss this time, as he was on a record setting stakes winning run at Santa Anita.