Jockey Garrett Gomez is still hoping that he will need Kentucky  Derby tickets for his family and friends in May for the 2012 Kentucky Derby. On Sunday, he may have had a setback.  Garrett was injured when his mount, Silver Summation flipped over backwards on the Santa Anita Park walkway between the paddock and the racetrack. Silver Summation appeared to have no injuries after the incident which happened just prior to the eighth race.

Gomez landed on his left heel and was transported to nearby Arcadia Methodist Hospital. EMTs attended to Gomez for 15 minutes before the ambulance transported him to the Hospital. It is not known how much time he will miss from the racetrack and whether it will affect his dreams of Kentucky Derby tickets.

“I want Garrett to see the best,” Tony Matos, Garrett Gomez’s agent said. “Garrett was in good spirits last night.” Today, Garrett will seek further evaluation from Dr. James Tibone, well-known Orthopedic Specialist from  the Kerlan Jobe Orthopedic Clinic. Dr. Tibone is a consultant to the most of the major sports teams in the area including the Lakers, Dodgers, Kings,  Angeles and Ducks. He is known in Southern California for his treatment of the region’s elite athletes.

Gomez was off to a spectacular start at the Santa Anita meet. He was the winning jockey on six stakes horses since the meet started. 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 on Saturday and gave Garrett the first punch on needing Kentucky Derby tickets.

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.

We sure hope that Garrett will be on the mend quickly and he will need those 2012 Kentucky Derby tickets for family and friends!  We look forward to seeing him at the 2012 Kentucky Derby.