Career
A report on the accident published by the Saint Joseph, Missouri Gazette stated that Gonzalez had "virtually dominated Thoroughbred racing in Northern California since he rose to prominence in the late 1960s" and that he "rode more winners at Northern California tracks during the past 10 years than any other jockey."
In 1969, Juan Gonzalez became the first jockey to ever ride more than 100 winners during a single race meet in Northern California. On December 17, of that same year he rode five winners at Bay Meadows Racetrack and in 1973 set a Bay Meadows Racetrack record that stood for the next thirteen years when he won118 races at a single meet. A funeral service was held for Juan Gonzalez on July 7 in San Mateo, California after which his remains were returned to his native Jerez for burial.
In his memory, the Pleasanton Racetrack annually runs the Juan Gonzalez Memorial Stakes.
