Jockey Richard Gamez, 67, dies after fall at Rillito Park

Richard Gamez, a jockey who had mounts in every decade since 1970, died as a result of injuries suffered in a fall on the Saturday card at Rillito Park in Tucson, Ariz., according to the track. Gamez was 67.

Gamez, who had 643 wins from 4,642 mounts in a career that stretched back to 1976, was unseated while riding favored Drama Is Overrated in the turn of the stretch of the fifth race, for Thoroughbred maidens at 5 1/2 furlongs on the dirt. He later died of his injuries at Banner University Medical Hospital, according to the Rillito Park Foundation, which runs the track.

The foundation said that Gamez had ridden at the racetrack since “childhood.”

“We are devastated to have lost a member of our Rillito family,” the foundation said in a statement. “Our deepest sympathy goes out to Richard’s family and friends. Richard was a fantastic human being and a true horsemen.”

Records for Gamez show that the jockey took a break from riding after 2002, but he returned to the saddle in 2018, winning six races on 41 mounts. In 2000, his riding earnings topped $168,000, his best mark, and from 1985 to 1996, he had 48 or more wins four times.