Former equestrian Gilfredo “Freddie” Gonzalez, who died April 17 at the age of 83 after a battle with cancer, will be remembered more than the races he won in a career spanning from 1963-1989.
Family members, loved ones and friends honored Gonzalez during the winner’s ceremony after the sixth race at Tampa . Bay on April 18. Most of the participants remember him as the jockey’s agent, a role he assumed for several years for his grandson Alex Gonzalez, who had made the trip from Mahoning Valley Racecourse in Ohio to honor his grandfather.
Freddie is a guy that people always love to see in the background, whether you need someone to sympathize with or share experiences of success or laughter or dawn. His smile in itself was a bonus to anyone who knew him.
“He always told me ‘Honey, smile. Because it doesn’t cost anything,'” his daughter, Tina Gonzalez Hernandez, said.
Gonzalez is one of three generations of equestrians, competing at racetracks in New England, Florida and the mid-Atlantic region. His son, Freddie, Jr., has been riding horses for a short time, and Alex is now continuing the family tradition.
Retired racer Jorge Vargas, who has won more than 3,100 races, hailed from Las Piedras, Puerto Rico to join the celebration today. He fought Gonzalez at Suffolk Downs and Rockingham Park in New England starting in 1979.
“He was the greatest human being I’ve ever been with,” Vargas said. “I’m a ‘bug boy’ (training racer) and he’s a journeyman, he would come see me and give me suggestions on what I had to learn to be successful. He helped. help a lot of people.”
In later years, Vargas spent time with Gonzalez at his home in nearby Safety Harbor, FL.
“He was like my father and my brother,” Vargas said.
Current Oldsmar driver Vernon Bush, who has more than 3,200 career victories, knew Gonzalez around the same time as Vargas.
“Freddie’s best friend is Carl Gambardella, the New England horse racing leader,” Bush said. “They go around together and I often watch them and try to learn. They always come to me and talk about what I’ve done wrong and what I’m doing right.
“They were both great mentors, and Freddie went out of his way to help me. I will always remember how kind he was because he didn’t have to. He was one of those. my best friends on the track and he didn’t have a bad word to say about anyone.”
The racetrack community is a close-knit environment and Gonzalez has proven his point in supporting those in need. He will be remembered, but more importantly, he will be remembered by everyone he comes in contact with.
Gonzalez left behind three children—daughter Tina Gonzalez Hernandez and sons Freddie Gonzalez, Jr., and Marco Hodges Gonzalez—and five grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at noon Monday at Holloway Funeral Home, located at 112 South Bayview Blvd. in Oldsmar.
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