Mishap Kills Jockey Gonzalez

Re “Jockey Killed in Accident at Fairgrounds in Pomona,” Sept. 10: I first saw J.C. Gonzalez in 1997, when he rode as an apprentice at Santa Anita. I’d look for his name on the race card and pay special attention to the horses he’d ride. He was eager and he rode confidently and, as an apprentice, got a lot of mounts from trainers who benefited from his weight advantage.

I wasn’t alone in cheering for J.C. Many fans at Del Mar, Santa Anita and Fairplex recognized this promising rider. “J.C.!” they’d shout during the race. And he would smile proudly in the winner’s circle. He was a leading rider at Fairplex last summer and, at the time, a newspaper report told of his mother’s fear of her son’s chosen profession, in which riders risk their lives in every race. When he was injured on a horse in a starting gate accident some months ago, I thought about his mom. I am thinking of her now and wish I could say something to ease the shock and terrible pain in losing J.C. I’m crying along with her and with all those who will miss him dearly.

HELEN LOTOS

Corona del Mar

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I am very saddened to hear about the death of Gonzalez. Gonzalez’s death is a tragedy, but what about the death of the horse he was riding, Wolfhunt, and the many horses that die at each and every racetrack around the country?

The jockeys know the risks and willingly choose their profession. The horses have no choice. They are forced to run, and if they do not run fast enough they are usually sold to slaughterhouses.

Horse racing is a cruel sport. Racehorses are started too young, before their bodies become strong enough to take the stresses of racing, and they suffer many severe injuries because of it. As long as money is involved, this cruelty will continue to be ignored. I pray for the day when we humans become compassionate enough toward all species to eliminate cruelty for the sake of entertainment and greed.

LAURRA MADDOCK

Laguna Niguel