by Greg Thompson, StallioneSearch.com

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MARCH 28, 2018—Memorial services for the late Cesar Gomez have been set for Saturday March 31st in the grandstand of Remington Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The 27-year old jockey was killed in a plane crash in rural Caddo County in Oklahoma on Sunday night (March 26).

Born in Mexico, but calling Fort Lupton, Colorado as his home, Gomez was returning to Oklahoma City from West Texas at the time of the crash. The airplane was going to El Reno, but was reported missing after air traffic controllers lost radio and radar contact with the aircraft.

As the news of Gomez’s passing has begun to set in throughout the Oklahoma racing industry, several of his peers have praised the fallen rider mostly for his character and his overwhelming present level of talent. Gomez was one of the more-well liked riders in the Quarter Horse Racing world, according to sources speaking on fallen riders behalf.

"He had such a talent and did so much in only a short span of a career," said 2015 AQHA Racing Champion Jockey Ricky Ramirez. "I feel that one of the reasons for his success was of the fact that Cesar was just such a likable guy. He went to California this past winter to ride at Los Alamitos without knowing really anybody in that racing circuit, and he did really well. It was due to not only his ability, but it was just so hard not to like him as a person. He will be missed."

Two of Gomez’s biggest accomplishments in racing came aboard the Reliance Ranch owned Rock You in the All American Gold Cup(G1), and a near miss in the 2015 All American Futurity(G1) aboard the Kasey Willis trained One Fabulous Eagle to finish second.

"Cesar was just such a raw talent," said Willis. "His love for the horse and his level of ability when he was riding was highly apparent to me before I even know who he was. His attitude and great personality made me want to give him a shot aboard my horses I trained. I will also remember his fearless confidence when we made a run at the All American together with One Fabulous Eagle. Cesar knew that he belonged at the highest level as a rider, and it was amazing to see his confidence in himself at what was doing."

Jockey’s agent Ryne Valerio has worked with Cesar on numerous occasions, and spoke to StallioneSearch about the quality individual that the Quarter Horse racing community has lost.

"Cesar was just a genuinely good person," said Valerio. "We are just not overrun with that type of person on the racetrack that has the goodness that Cesar had in him. Everyone on the racetrack with remember him for his smile, and his great attitude. I find that it is just such a shame that we have lost a truly remarkable person."

According to Equibase® records, since 2014 Gomez has ridden 1401 Quarter Horses and compiled a 246-213-159 record while earning in excess of $5.4 million. Through March 24 of this year, Gomez has 10 wins in 84 starts and earned $187,441 for the 2018 racing season.

The memorial service at Remington Park, according to Gomez’s brother-in law Zach Quezada, is set for Saturday at 12:30PM in the grandstand of Remington Park. Funeral arrangements in his home state of Colorado are still pending.