Jockey Carlos Gonzalez

Born: 3/29/65 Resides: Bossier City, Louisiana Family: Paula, wife; Vanessa, daughter; Ty, son
 
Carlos Gonzalez, who rode in Northern California last autumn, is back at Oaklawn. Except for a couple of occasions, he has been plying his craft regularly at the Spa since 1987.

Gonzalez' first 41 winners here that first year hung out some lofty single meeting numbers for an apprentice rider.
 
"Last year, I rode at Oaklawn and it was a good meeting for me as I won 32 races," said Gonzalez. "One of them was on True Tails in the Spring Fever. I always enjoy riding in Hot Springs."

Over the years he has ridden for such stables as Steve Asmussen, Cole Norman,Andrew Leggio,Jr., Larry Robideaux and Jimmy Garroutte.

Gonzalez is popular among the Oaklawn fans and regarded as a gifted rider of front running horses.

Asked how racing became a major part of his life, Gonzalez said it began in Puerto Rico.

"There is a jockey school in Puerto Rico. It is a hour and a half from my home, but I made it there and back every day. Down there, it is looked on as a vocational school.

Twenty of us began the school, 12 graduated," he said.

Few jockeys ever got away to such a brilliant start in the Racing Festival of the South as did Carlos in 1998. He rode John Franks' Precocity to victory in the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap to open the series. The next day he rode the same owner's Silent
Eskimo to triumph in the $250,000 Fantasy.