In June, champion jockey Gary Stahlbaum, a winner of 1,759 career races, was named the 2016 recipient of the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award.

The coveted Gomez Award is given to the person, Canadian-born, Canadian-raised or regular rider in the country for more than five years, who has made significant contributions to the sport.

It is bittersweet, but fitting, that Stahlbaum is honoured with an award named for his friend and colleague, the late, great Gomez who tragically perished following complications from a three-horse accident in the running of the 1980 Canadian Oaks.

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