Condolences poured in from the North American horse racing community after the news that beloved horseperson MARTHA GONZALEZ passed away Oct. 4 after a long battle with cancer.
Martha was a dear friend to many, and a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Her 35 years working as an assistant trainer to her husband Nick is representative of her passion for the sport and the horses and people within it. Martha owned horses and loved the sport. There were not many racing days you would not find her watching races with Nick or a host of racetrack friends.
Martha was an intelligent horseperson, detailed in her training of the Woodbine string of horses for clients of her and Nick. She owned many of the horses herself or in partnership with so many other owners. She knew bloodlines and she knew horses.
She was always there to help fellow horsepeople and while she was a ‘take no guff’ professional in her work, she had an easy-to-see soft interior.
She will be dearly missed.
*Her family has written a lovely tribute:
Race horse trainer, wife, mother, grandmother, friend and wine drinker. Born in Marville, France to Jack & Dorothy Douglas, Martha died in Toronto on October 4th, 2020, after a 2-year fight with colon, liver and lung cancer.
Martha’s life was marked with love. Her sweetheart was her husband Nick, her joy was her son Nicholas and little grandson Nicky. Her life-long love were her “babies” – the many horses that charted her life’s course and made her the wonderful, nurturing and strong person that she was.
When Martha was just a teenager, she talked her parents into getting her a tan-coloured jumping horse that she called “Foolish Pleasure”, because she knew that this was an extravagant expenditure for her school-teaching mother and postal working father. But that horse created the foundation for Martha’s life. She learned a strong work ethic cleaning stables to cover boarding costs and she spent every waking hour, learning about horses and how to jump them. Later she would go to college to study equestrian. It was there that she realized that she was less a jumper and more a thoroughbred horse racing person.
She left school to turn a childhood love of horses into a very successful training career working the backstretch at racing facilities throughout the United States and in Toronto and Fort Erie, Canada. When one of her favourite babies, a horse called “Parnitha”, was claimed by this up-and-coming trainer Nick Gonzalez, Martha insisted she be given visiting rights. A love for this horse turned into a devoted, loving partnership between Nick and Martha that would span more than 35 years.
Working 7 days a week, the two of them made their mark on Canadian Thoroughbred Racing chalking up 2 Queen’s Plate wins, over 1,500 wins and another 2,500 place and show finishings in her life time career. They trained a 2-year-old Canadian Champion “Wholelotofbourbon” in 2004 and in 2010, won their first Queen’s Plate with “Big Red Mike” in the presence of Queen Elizabeth herself. Three years later, they were back at the Queen’s Plate with “Midnight Aria”, who defeated the favoured “Up With the Birds” by half a length, to secure their second Queen’s Plate win.
When a 15-year member of their racing family – exercise rider Darren Fortune, was killed in a training accident in 2017, Martha was heartbroken. She helped raise funds to support his family and then did what was natural – name a Kentucky yearling with a lot of promise “Darren’s Fortune”.
One of Martha’s greatest joys was naming her babies. She had a story for each name and always had a giggle when she told it. Early on, every horse name needed some reference to drinking alcohol. Later she entered her country and western phase where she would take lines from her favourite songs and work them into a name.
Martha’s latest baby, “Silent Poet” won a stake race just days before her passing. She knew she was failing and lamented that she would never see him live up to his full potential.
Martha is survived by her husband Nick Gonzalez, adult son Nicholas, grandson Nicky, big sister and brother Mary Costello and John Douglas and three beloved nieces Meghan, Sophia and Rachel.
But her family was not confined simply to relatives. It extended to the close-knit Thoroughbred Racing world in Canada and in the United States. Her home was the racetrack and every character there was a loving and important part of her life. Some of her best memories came from her “travelling racetrack sisters”, Lori, Vicky, Julia and closest friend Wendy McLaren, who was by her side every step of the way for the past two years, until the end.
We all watched as our beautiful Martha lost her hair and over 80 pounds, but never her determination. Throughout treatment she always looked for the positive, for the good things and set little milestones. We watched as she refused to allow cancer to define her – instead her love, her friendships and her horses did that.
Martha will be missed greatly by the horse racing community, fans and friends that she had made throughout her career.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Martha’s memory to “CARD” (A program to improve the lives of children and adults with disabilities thorough therapeutic riding programs), would be greatly appreciated.
Online Condolences can be made at www.imfunerals.com
In Memoriam Funeral Services Inc. has been given the honour to serve the Gonzalez Family.
Tributes:
Eurico Rose Da Silva, retired jockey:
Martha Gonzalez was a phenomenal person and horsewoman who enjoyed great success on the track. She was always smiling and looking out for everyone. I really enjoyed having a chat and a laugh with her over many a morning coffee on the back stretch over the years. She worked with passion and she lived for horses and horse racing. I am very saddened by the news of her passing today. I am thankful for all the great memories and my heart is with her family and friends.
And there have been hundreds of tributes rolling in for Martha:
I will miss you dearly you were a wonderful friend and mentor but more than anything you were family may your new journey be a blessed one my condolences goes out to all of your family REST EASY til we meet again with lots of Love Nico
Today the Canadian racing world lost an incredible woman…. Martha Gonzalez the backbone of the Gonzalez racing team. Two Queen’s Plate wins and 60 stakes victories…. Mother, Grandmother, Owner, Trainer, Breeder, Friend….. she will be truly missed #class – Santino DiPaola
Today as race trackers we lost someone very special to a lot of ppl. Martha Gonzalez was a women of hard work, dedication, respect and integrity. She was hard, blunt and truthful. She would expect your best and she would give you her best, no matter how tough things were for her before and after she got sick. She was there at the track before most and left after everyone was gone. Through the years I have had the pleasure to help her with some horses that were challenges for some to ride. Nick Sr. And Nick J. Gonzalez have become family over the years and from family to family we feel your pain and sadness. Martha to many young ppl on the track had became like a mom to lots. All of us will truly miss her everyday. I truly believe that she is in heaven looking down at us smiling at all of the beautiful love she is getting from her family and friends. Mind you she would probably smack most of us for crying for her. Love you Martha hope you’re at peace in heaven! – Preston Ferris
https://twitter.com/i/status/1312772255940857860
More from News:
