Avelino Gomez - Etobicoke's famous jockey
Statue of Gomez at Woodbine Racetrack
Outside Woodbine Racetrack in Etobicoke there stands a bronze statue of a man with one
hand on his hip, and his other hand raised to the sky. This is Avelino Gomez, and for decades he was one of Canada’s biggest sports stars. Known as “El Perfecto”, he was one of the dominant figures in North American horse racing throughout the mid-twentieth century, leaving behind an unforgettable legacy— one with deep ties to Etobicoke.
Avelino Gomez was born in Havana, Cuba in 1928. Racing was his job and his passion
from an early age. As a young teen, he worked as a stable-hand. He ran his first race at fourteen, after his uncle talked him into it. Just two years later, he won his first professional race in Mexico City. From there, the accomplishments continued to pile up over the course of a decades-long career.
Gomez first garnered serious attention when he won six races in one afternoon at Ascot Park in Ohio. From there, he raced all over the U.S. and Canada, before settling down permanently in Etobicoke in 1951. It was here in Canada that he would reach the greatest heights of his career. He won Canada’s most prestigious race, the Queen’s Plate, four times, becoming the first jockey ever to do so. He was Canada’s top race-winning jockey six times— in 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1964, and 1966. 1966 may have been the greatest year of his career. It was the year that he had more victories than any other jockey in all of North America; in fact, his win percentage for that year, of 0.32, set a record high that still stands to this day. He further became the first jockey in Canadian history to tally over 300 wins in one year, with a final total of 318.
Canada loved Gomez for his achievements, and Gomez loved Canada in return. Once he adopted Etobicoke as his home, his ties there grew deep. He raced primarily at the Woodbine and Fort Erie racetracks. He had his brother Adolfo come to work with him at his stable, while another brother, Mickey, came up to serve as his agent. However, he never forgot his birthplace. He used some of his winnings to build a bar in Havana, which he named the Toronto Bar; it was later shut down by Fidel Castro.
Gomez was not only a skilled rider— he was a showman. He was charismatic and charming, and he loved the limelight. In each race, he would give the crowd not just a display of his skill, but a performance to remember. One of his trademark moves was leaping off of his
horse at the end of a race, landing neatly on the ground. He was quick-witted and quick-tempered in equal measure. Once, after seeing Gomez win a race, a spectator made a cutting comment about him and then laughed. Gomez, overhearing, retorted: “I got the money and you got only the laughter”. Some loved his bombastic personality, while others saw him as a heel. But Gomez drew energy from the crowd whether they were cheering or booing. And it wasn’t unusual for him to get both reactions in one race.
hand on his hip, and his other hand raised to the sky. This is Avelino Gomez, and for decades he was one of Canada’s biggest sports stars. Known as “El Perfecto”, he was one of the dominant figures in North American horse racing throughout the mid-twentieth century, leaving behind an unforgettable legacy— one with deep ties to Etobicoke.
Avelino Gomez was born in Havana, Cuba in 1928. Racing was his job and his passion
from an early age. As a young teen, he worked as a stable-hand. He ran his first race at fourteen, after his uncle talked him into it. Just two years later, he won his first professional race in Mexico City. From there, the accomplishments continued to pile up over the course of a decades-long career.
Gomez first garnered serious attention when he won six races in one afternoon at Ascot Park in Ohio. From there, he raced all over the U.S. and Canada, before settling down permanently in Etobicoke in 1951. It was here in Canada that he would reach the greatest heights of his career. He won Canada’s most prestigious race, the Queen’s Plate, four times, becoming the first jockey ever to do so. He was Canada’s top race-winning jockey six times— in 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1964, and 1966. 1966 may have been the greatest year of his career. It was the year that he had more victories than any other jockey in all of North America; in fact, his win percentage for that year, of 0.32, set a record high that still stands to this day. He further became the first jockey in Canadian history to tally over 300 wins in one year, with a final total of 318.
Canada loved Gomez for his achievements, and Gomez loved Canada in return. Once he adopted Etobicoke as his home, his ties there grew deep. He raced primarily at the Woodbine and Fort Erie racetracks. He had his brother Adolfo come to work with him at his stable, while another brother, Mickey, came up to serve as his agent. However, he never forgot his birthplace. He used some of his winnings to build a bar in Havana, which he named the Toronto Bar; it was later shut down by Fidel Castro.
Gomez was not only a skilled rider— he was a showman. He was charismatic and charming, and he loved the limelight. In each race, he would give the crowd not just a display of his skill, but a performance to remember. One of his trademark moves was leaping off of his
horse at the end of a race, landing neatly on the ground. He was quick-witted and quick-tempered in equal measure. Once, after seeing Gomez win a race, a spectator made a cutting comment about him and then laughed. Gomez, overhearing, retorted: “I got the money and you got only the laughter”. Some loved his bombastic personality, while others saw him as a heel. But Gomez drew energy from the crowd whether they were cheering or booing. And it wasn’t unusual for him to get both reactions in one race.
1963 photo of Avelino Gomez dismounting from Bupers after winning the Futurity Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York (From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission)
Gomez’s extreme competitiveness was another driver of his success. He declared himself to be “the greatest”, and that there could only be one. He was not satisfied by anything less than complete victory. Sometimes, his drive got him into trouble. He would occasionally get in scuffles with his rivals off the track; one such incident cost him $100 and a ten-day suspension.
In another incident, during a race, Gomez was knocked off his horse, falling hard and landing on the ground motionless. Competitor and long-time rival Al Coy ran over to see if he was okay. Gomez was all right, but he suspected Coy of tossing him on purpose. So he lay on the ground, waited for Coy to get close, then leapt up and punched the man in the face as revenge.
One of Gomez’s few failures was when he attempted to retire. He did so twice, in 1971 and again in 1974. Both times, he could not stand being away from the track, and quickly returned to racing. Racing was not just his career or his passion— it was his way of life.
Tragically, Gomez passed away after a race at Woodbine went horribly wrong. His horse broke its leg, leading to Gomez being thrown into the path of other racers. He died at the hospital as doctors attempted to save his life. He was fifty-one years old. His funeral was held at St. Gregory’s Roman Catholic Church in Etobicoke, and was crowded with family and fans.
Before the mourning crowd, the pastor declared that “few persons in Canada have influenced more persons than [Gomez]”. Then, one of Gomez’s rivals, Hugh Dittfach, stood to speak. Gomez and Dittfach had been as close as brothers off the track, and fearsome enemies on it. Dittfach recalled the moment during a past race when Gomez had overtaken him on the track, then stuck his tongue out at him. That was Avelino Gomez in a nutshell— a relentless competitor, a comedian, and one of the most unforgettable sports stars in Canadian history.
Researched and Written by Aleksandra Kandic.
In another incident, during a race, Gomez was knocked off his horse, falling hard and landing on the ground motionless. Competitor and long-time rival Al Coy ran over to see if he was okay. Gomez was all right, but he suspected Coy of tossing him on purpose. So he lay on the ground, waited for Coy to get close, then leapt up and punched the man in the face as revenge.
One of Gomez’s few failures was when he attempted to retire. He did so twice, in 1971 and again in 1974. Both times, he could not stand being away from the track, and quickly returned to racing. Racing was not just his career or his passion— it was his way of life.
Tragically, Gomez passed away after a race at Woodbine went horribly wrong. His horse broke its leg, leading to Gomez being thrown into the path of other racers. He died at the hospital as doctors attempted to save his life. He was fifty-one years old. His funeral was held at St. Gregory’s Roman Catholic Church in Etobicoke, and was crowded with family and fans.
Before the mourning crowd, the pastor declared that “few persons in Canada have influenced more persons than [Gomez]”. Then, one of Gomez’s rivals, Hugh Dittfach, stood to speak. Gomez and Dittfach had been as close as brothers off the track, and fearsome enemies on it. Dittfach recalled the moment during a past race when Gomez had overtaken him on the track, then stuck his tongue out at him. That was Avelino Gomez in a nutshell— a relentless competitor, a comedian, and one of the most unforgettable sports stars in Canadian history.
Researched and Written by Aleksandra Kandic.