Jockey Garrett Gomez to have surgery Thursday
Jockey Garrett Gomez is going to have surgery and a plate inserted in his broken left heel on January 12th. On Monday, January 9th, Garrett saw Dr. James Tibone and Dr. Jae H. Chon, orthopedic specialists from the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic, who recommended the surgery. “Dr. Chon said the fracture could heal on its own, but it would heal quicker if there was a plate in there,” said Garrett Gomez’s agent, Tony Matos. “He will have the surgery on Thursday and be out from four to six weeks.”
“The surgery will be performed by Dr. Chon,” Matos said. “They need to put a softer surface down there, sawdust, something,” Matos continued. “It’s fortunate nothing had happened before. Hopefully, this will keep someone else from getting hurt.”
Garrett “Go-Go” Gomez was injured Sunday, January 8th when his mount, Silver Summation, flipped over on the walkway from the paddock to the track before the eighth race at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. EMTs were with him for 15 minutes and put his foot in an air boot before transporting him to Arcadia Methodist Hospital for x-rays. The horse did not appear to sustain injuries at the time of the incident but was scratched from the race according to state rules.
A two-time Eclipse Award winner, Garrett was having a phenomenal meet at Santa Anita Park with six victories in stakes races in the 10 days since the meet started on December 26th. Garrett ranks second in the nation in earnings, with $380,380 won in the first eight days of 2012. It was looking like his Kentucky Derby horse could be Out of Bounds. 2012 Kentucky Derby hopeful Out of Bounds won the $100,000 Kentucky Derby prep Sham Stakes last Saturday and gave Garrett the first punch on needing Kentucky Derby tickets. We hope he retains the mount.
The prognosis and recovery time makes it seem like Garrett Gomez will soon be smelling roses. We know it won’t be long before he starts thinking he will need 2012 Kentucky Derby tickets for his family and friends.
He has a lot to look forward to this year. This spring, Caballo Press of Ann Arbor will release his book, “Saving Go-Go, A Jockey’s Journey through Addiction and Salvation” by Rudolph Alvarado with Garrett Gomez. Early buzz is that the book is a wonderful insight into Garrett’s life.
