Page 42 - October 2015

Not many people can claim they chose their career at the age of six. Yet, that’s just how old jockey Eddie Garcia was when he decided he wanted to be the greatest jockey in the world.
Eddie’s dreams, hard work, persistence
and goodwill paid off — as it has many times on the track — when his peers gave him the thumbs-up as recipient of the fifth annual Sam Thompson Memorial Jockey Award.
Named for jockey Sam Thompson, who lost his life in a racing accident in 2008, the honor goes to the Quarter Horse jockey whose personal character on and off the track reflects on the sport in a positive way.
Eddie’s name was added to a permanent plaque that was displayed at the award cer- emony on Sunday, September 6, 2015, during All American weekend at Ruidoso Downs and then to be housed in the Racing Hallway at the American Quarter Horse Association in Amarillo, Texas. Eddie also received a trophy
by Diane Rice
and belt buckle to commemorate the award, as well as a signed print of a painting of Sam Thompson specially created for the award by artist Linda Manion.
“I couldn’t be more proud of Eddie,” says fellow jockey G.R. Carter Jr. — the 2013 Sam Thompson Award recipient. “He’s very deserv- ing of the award and I’m very happy for him. Eddie and I rode a lot of races together and for a few years, we were the leading jocks. We have the utmost respect for each other.
“There were other deserving candidates on the ballot,” G.R. adds, “but I like to see the older guys win. Eddie’s the ‘elder statesman’ out there at Los Al.”
The Sam Thompson Award
The Sam Thompson Memorial Jockey Award was developed by Speedhorse Magazine in conjunction with The Jockeys’ Guild to honor Sam, a leader in the jockeys’ room, a Jockeys’ Guild senator, Los Alamitos’ room
representative, and a council member of
Los Alamitos’ division of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America during his riding career. Other Sam Thompson Award nominees in 2015 were John Hamilton, Berkley Packer, Ricky Ramirez and Randy Wilson.
Previous winners of the Sam Thompson Award were Roy Brooks in 2011, Gilbert Ortiz in 2012, G.R. Carter Jr. in 2013 and Cody Jensen in 2014. “I’m very, very happy to win the award,” says Eddie. “I appreciate all these jockeys. Sam Thompson, particularly, was a good friend to me and a good rider. We rode together a lot of years in California and he
was good competition. He was one of the guys who beat me and I beat him a few times. I’m honored to represent him.”
An Early Decision
Eddie, now 51, was born in Tala, Jalisco, Mexico — about 30 miles west of Guadalajara
Eddie Garcia receives the fifth annual
Linda Earley Photography