Gabriel Saez

Horseracing personalities infobox


name = Gabriel Saez
|caption =
occupation = Jockey
birthplace = Port Darien, Panama
birth date = February 1, 1988
death date =
career wins = 116 (2007, 2008)
race = Matron Stakes (2007)
Fair Grounds Oaks (2008)
Bayakoa Handicap (2008)
Allaire duPont Distaff Stakes (2008)
Delaware Oaks (2008)
Amsterdam Stakes (2008)
Alabama Stakes (2008)American Classics
Kentucky Oaks (2008)

awards =
honours =
horses = Eight Belles, Kodiac Kowboy, Proud Spell
updated = July 28, 2008

Gabriel Saez (born February 1, 1988 in Port Darien, Panama) is a Panamanian horse racing jockey. He began his riding career in his native country in 2004, becoming the leading apprentice jockey in 2005. Saez moved to the United States in February, 2006, and almost instantly became Delaware Park Racetrack's leading jockey that same year. He won his first race as an apprentice in the U.S., and then his first race as a journeyman.

Gabriel rode Eight Belles in the 2008 Kentucky Derby and came under sharp criticism when Eight Belles was euthanized after she'd crossed the finish line, a very game second to Big Brown. In cool-down, she collapsed due to fractures in both front ankles. In a letter to the Kentucky Racing Authority, PETA claimed that the horse was "doubtlessly" injured during the race, and therefore Saez bore some responsibility for the injury and euthanization. [http://msn.foxsports.com/horseracing/story/8102414/PETA-wants-Eight-Belles-jockey-suspended]

Eight Belles' trainer, Larry Jones, has vigorously defended Saez, saying "We have photographs 50 to 70 yards from where this happened and the horse had her ears up . . . If this horse had anything going on with her at the time, she didn't know it. If the horse never had a clue, there's no way the jockey could have had a clue." [ [http://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUSN0648376920080506 Eight Belles trainer slams critics of jockey Saez | Sports | Reuters ] ]

The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority did not find any evidence of wrongdoing by Saez. [ [http://news.bloodhorse.com/article/45059.htm KHRA Responds to Eight Belles Incident | bloodhorse.com ] ]

The day before the Kentucky Derby, Saez rode Proud Spell to a win in the Kentucky Oaks.

References

External links

* [http://www.ntra.com/stats_bios.aspx?id=28693 Gabriel Saez] at the [http://www.ntra.com/default.aspx NTRA]