Juan Gonzalez (jockey)

In 1969, Gonzalez became the first jockey to ride more than 100 winners during a single race meet in Northern California.^[2] On December 17, of that same year he rode five winners at Bay Meadows Racetrack^[3] and in 1973 set a Bay Meadows Racetrack record that stood for thirteen years when he won 118 races at a single meet.^[4]

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.^[5] He died on the track where his career began in front of his wife Maria and their two young daughters.^[6]

A funeral service was held for Gonzalez on July 7 in San Mateo, California after which his remains were returned to his native Jerez for burial.^[7]

In his memory, the Pleasanton Racetrack annually runs the Juan Gonzalez Memorial Stakes.^[8]