The fourth of six children, Paco Gonzalez grew up on a ranch near Guadalajara where his family owned Quarter horses. As a boy he was inspired to go into the Thoroughbred racing business by two older brothers who were jockeys at Agua Caliente Racetrack in Tijuana. In 1964, Paco Gonzalez followed his brothers north to California where he found work as a stable hand for trainer Joe Manzi under whom he would learn the business for the next twenty-five years.
CareerEdit
Joe Manzi died in April 1989 [1] and Gonzalez took over as trainer of the stable whose clients included John Toffan and Trudy McCaffery, Canadian friends who raced as a partnership. For Toffan and McCaffrey and/or with other partners, the soft-spoken and reserved Paco Gonzalez enjoyed considerable success as the trainer of millionaire multiple Grade I winners Bien Bien, Free House, and Came Home.
Came Home earned US$1,835,940. His wins included the 2001 Hopeful Stakes and the 2002 Santa Anita Derby [4] and Pacific Classic Stakes.
Among other runners conditioned by Paco Gonzalez, Del Mar Dennis won three straight editions of the San Bernardino Handicap between 1994 and 1996. As well, the Gonzalez-trained filly Pacific Squall won the Grade I Hollywood Oaks in 1992.
Trudy McCaffery died in early 2007 and Paco Gonzalez continues to train horses on a smaller scale for John Toffan and wife, Cheryl.
ReferencesEdit
June 5, 1997 New York Times article on J. Paco Gonzalez
May 3, 2002 St. Petersburg Times article titled "Juan "Paco" Gonzalez, one of the most successful Latin American trainers, prefers to avoid the national spotlight."
October 21, 2023
paco, gonzalez, juan, paco, gonzalez, born, march, 1945, yahualica, jalisco, mexico, american, thoroughbred, horse, racing, trainer, occupationtrainerborn, 1945, march, 1945, yahualica, jalisco, mexicocareer, wins399major, racing, winssanta, catalina, stakes, . Juan Paco Gonzalez born March 17 1945 in Yahualica Jalisco Mexico is an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer J Paco GonzalezOccupationTrainerBorn 1945 03 17 March 17 1945 age 78 Yahualica Jalisco MexicoCareer wins399Major racing winsSanta Catalina Stakes 1991 Hollywood Oaks 1992 2000 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes 1992 2000 Swaps Stakes 1992 1997 Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap 1993 2001 El Encino Stakes 1993 Mervyn Leroy Handicap 1994 San Juan Capistrano Handicap 1994 2001 San Luis Rey Handicap 1994 San Marcos Stakes 1994 2001 San Bernardino Handicap 1994 1995 1996 2002 San Pasqual Handicap 1995 Norfolk Stakes 1996 San Felipe Stakes 1996 1997 Santa Anita Derby 1997 2002 A Gleam Handicap 1998 Pacific Classic Stakes 1998 2002 Del Mar Mile Handicap 1999 Santa Anita Handicap 1999 San Antonio Handicap 1999 Providencia Stakes 2000 Triple Bend Invitational Handicap 2000 Hopeful Stakes 2001 San Rafael Stakes 2002 San Vicente Stakes 2002 Significant horsesBienamado Bien Bien Came Home Del Mar Dennis Free House Mane Minister Pacific SquallLife EditThe fourth of six children Paco Gonzalez grew up on a ranch near Guadalajara where his family owned Quarter horses As a boy he was inspired to go into the Thoroughbred racing business by two older brothers who were jockeys at Agua Caliente Racetrack in Tijuana In 1964 Paco Gonzalez followed his brothers north to California where he found work as a stable hand for trainer Joe Manzi under whom he would learn the business for the next twenty five years Career EditJoe Manzi died in April 1989 1 and Gonzalez took over as trainer of the stable whose clients included John Toffan and Trudy McCaffery Canadian friends who raced as a partnership For Toffan and McCaffrey and or with other partners the soft spoken and reserved Paco Gonzalez enjoyed considerable success as the trainer of millionaire multiple Grade I winners Bien Bien Free House and Came Home Bien Bien won the 1992 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes the 1993 Hollywood Invitational Turf Handicap and the 1994 San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap before retiring with earnings of US 2 498 370 Bien Bien sired millionaire Bienamado whom Gonzalez trained and who in 2000 2001 won the same three major races as his sire had 2 Free House retired with earnings of more than US 3 1 million having won major races such as the 1997 Santa Anita Derby 1998 Pacific Classic Stakes and 1999 Santa Anita Handicap He also ran third in the Kentucky Derby second by a nose in the Preakness Stakes and third in the Belmont Stakes 3 Came Home earned US 1 835 940 His wins included the 2001 Hopeful Stakes and the 2002 Santa Anita Derby 4 and Pacific Classic Stakes Among other runners conditioned by Paco Gonzalez Del Mar Dennis won three straight editions of the San Bernardino Handicap between 1994 and 1996 As well the Gonzalez trained filly Pacific Squall won the Grade I Hollywood Oaks in 1992 Trudy McCaffery died in early 2007 and Paco Gonzalez continues to train horses on a smaller scale for John Toffan and wife Cheryl References EditJune 5 1997 New York Times article on J Paco Gonzalez May 3 2002 St Petersburg Times article titled Juan Paco Gonzalez one of the most successful Latin American trainers prefers to avoid the national spotlight Paco Gonzalez at the NTRA Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title J Paco Gonzalez amp oldid 1165302901, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
