June 21, 2010
1000 Wins for Trainer Nick Gonzalez

FORT ERIE, June 21...The celebration is on. Trainer Nick Gonzalez notched his 1,000th career win this afternoon when Boca Pass charged to victory in Fort Erie’s 8th race.

“I’m more relieved than anything else,” said Gonzalez. “I kept thinking to myself, I did go 0 for 20 not long ago and sure didn’t want to re-visit that with just one win to go.”

Trainer Nick Gonzalez celebrates his 1000th career win.

Boca Pass, with Anthony Stephen in the saddle, came from off the pace to score a three length victory over second place finisher Theboyscanswim. Playboy at Home was third.

The four-year-old son of Johannesburg covered the five and one half furlongs in 1:04 2/5th seconds.

Gonzalez, who saddled his first winner at Commodore Downs in Erie Pennsylvania thirty-four years ago, has started 5,765 horses during his career. Along with the 1,000 wins, Gonzalez has recorded 809 seconds and 710 third place finishes. Horses conditioned by Gonzalez have earned $16,925,252.

“It’s always been a team effort,” said Nick. “My wife (Martha) and I have worked very hard over the years and we’ve always had a great team that includes my son Nick. We couldn’t have done this without each other.”

Gonzalez, who has horses at both Fort Erie and Woodbine, has saddled 29 stakes winners over the years and his biggest stakes moment could be coming up July 4 at Woodbine. The Niagara Falls, New York native is scheduled to start Big Red Mike in the 151st running of the Queen’s Plate.

Parking and Admission is always free.

Daryl Wells
Media and Communications
1-800-295-3770 ext. 3204
e-mail: dwells@forterieracetrack.ca