Avelino “El Perfecto” Gomez legendary jockey who died tragically 

“Go Go Gomez”: A Stop to Remember Avelino

On my way to Cleveland, Ohio, I made a special stop just outside of Buffalo, New York, at Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Kenmore. There, among the rows of crypts, rests one of horse racing’s greatest legends — Hall of Fame jockey Avelino Gomez.

Born in one of my favourite cities, Havana, Cuba, Avelino began riding at just 14 years old. By the age of 16, in 1949, he stunned the racing world by winning six races in a single afternoon at Ascot Park in Ohio — an early glimpse of the prodigious talent that would make him a household name in Canadian horse racing.

By 1959, with a reputation growing across North America, “Go Go Gomez” moved his family to Toronto and began riding full-time. Between 1956 and 1966, the “Cuban Hawk” would become Canada’s leading jockey six times, claim four Queen’s Plate victories, and be named the top rider in all of North America in 1966 — a rare and prestigious honour.

Though he retired a few times, the call of the track always brought him back. Tragically, his legendary career came to a heartbreaking end in 1980 at the Canadian Oaks Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. Involved in a three-horse collision, Avelino Gomez sustained fatal injuries. He left behind a staggering 4,081 victories and an enduring legacy that still inspires riders and fans alike.