Canadian Horsewoman Martha Gonzalez Dies at 58

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Canadian Horsewoman Martha Gonzalez Dies at 58
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Photo: Martha Gonzalez Family
Martha Gonzalez

Canadian horsewoman Martha Gonzalez, a successful owner and assistant trainer, died Oct. 4 in Toronto after a two-year fight with colon, liver, and lung cancer. She was 58.

First introduced to jumping horses as a teenager, Gonzalez transitioned to being around Thoroughbred racehorses and met her eventual husband, Nick, via a bond shared in a horse named Parnitha. According to Imfunerals.com, she sought to visit Parnitha, and "a love for this horse turned into a devoted, loving partnership between Nick and Martha that would span more than 35 years."

Actively working with her husband, they would celebrate Nick training more than 1,500 winners, including two runnings of the Queen's Plate, one of Canada's most coveted races, first with Big Red Mike in 2010 and then with Midnight Aria in 2013.

As an owner for approximately 20 years, Martha Gonzalez won 101 races and more than $2.4 million in purses, and she added another 211 winners and millions more in partnership with others.

Beyond her racing achievements, she was appreciated for her compassion. After exercise rider Darren Fortune was killed in a training accident in 2017, she helped raise funds to support his family and named a horse after him, Darren's Fortune.

Friends and colleagues paid tribute to Gonzalez this past weekend after her death. Jockeys wore black bands on their right legs during Saturday's first race at Woodbine in remembrance of her, and others involved in the industry reached out in support and to express condolences via social media.

She is survived by her husband, her son, Nicholas, and a grandson, Nicky.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to Community Association for Riders with Disabilities, a program to improve the lives of children and adults with disabilities through therapeutic riding programs.

Online condolences can be made at www.imfunerals.com.