Tributes to US Irish racing ace

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Dec 30, 2007

MANY of America's top racing figures yesterday attended the funeral of Irish jockey Frank Gomez, who became a legendary horse trainer in the US.

Gomez, who was born in Limerick, died a week ago after a battle against emphysema at his luxury home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was 79.

Top jockeys, trainers and prominent horse racing celebrities packed into the Fred Hunter Funeral Home to pay their respects to Gomez at his memorial service.

Gomez became a successful steeplechase rider and rode the English Grand National.

He emigrated to the US in 1958 and had 1,423 career victories to his credit with purse earnings in excess of EUR17million.

Gomez also has more than 100 stakes victories including being the only trainer to ever sweep the Florida Stallion Stakes open division twice.