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Award-winning author Alvarado to write Gomez’s biography

Posted: Monday, April 26, 2010 4:11 PM

Award-winning author Dr. Rudolph Alvarado has been chosen by two-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Garrett Gomez to write his biography.

Alvarado was awarded first prize in the third annual Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, presented by Lexington’s Castleton Lyons farm and THOROUGHBRED TIMES in April 2009, for The Untold Story of Joe Hernandez: The Voice of Santa Anita.

Alvarado’s Caballo Press of Ann Arbor has been selected as the publisher of Gomez’s biography.

Gomez is scheduled to ride champion Lookin At Lucky in this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).

Gomez’s road to personal and professional glory did not come easy. During the early and the middle stages of his career, he spent countless stints in rehabilitation centers. He capped a great comeback in 2007 and ‘08 when he won back-to-back Eclipse Awards as outstanding jockey.

“Garrett recognized the masterful job that Dr. Alvarado did in telling the story of Joe Hernandez. The story itself was so compelling and full of passion. The key word is passion, because that is what Garrett was looking for in the telling of his story,” Gomez’s entertainment agent, D.L. Arroyos, said. “He was looking for a writer who has the desire to tell the complete story, not just what happens on the racetrack but his complete life story. Dr. Alvarado did a virtuoso job of uncovering the life of Joe Hernandez; it is that type of hard work and dedication and a never-say-die attitude that impressed Garrett the most about Dr. Alvarado. Garrett was also impressed by the growing reputation enjoyed by Caballo Press of Ann Arbor and the company’s dedication to publishing compelling and innovative books that have taken the equine industry by storm.”

Many professional athletes shy away from their personal struggles with alcohol and substance abuse, but Gomez has decided to make these topics central in his biography.

“I am honored to have been personally selected by Garrett Gomez to write the story of his life as it relates to his hard fought battles against alcohol and drug addiction,” Alvarado said. “Even as he prepares for this year’s Kentucky Derby, I’ve had an opportunity to interview him on several occassions. I was deeply impressed by his willingness to talk openly about his past and to share intimate details of his darkest days as an alcoholic and drug addict. I was also taken by how humble a man he truly is and how committed he is to his family. The story of Garrett’s journey will touch and change a lot of lives both inside and outside the equine industry.”