Super Mario gets hero’s welcome
Hastings Racecourse honours local jockey after Kentucky Derby victory
It wasn’t quite a Stanley Cup parade, but the commotion created by the return to Vancouver of Mario Gutierrez on Sunday was the perfect consolation prize.
It was Super Mario Day at Hastings Racecourse to honour jockey Gutierrez for his winning ride in last Saturday’s 138th running of the Kentucky Derby.
It was a victory so popular with fans and non-horse-racing enthusiasts, that for a time, Hastings became one of the hottest items on the search engine Google.
Sunday’s event began with a news conference at noon that included Gutierrez takings questions from one of the largest media gatherings seen in years at the racetrack.
“With so much happening in my life lately,” the 25-year-old said, “there were some concerns of me having a meltdown . . . [I knew] that would never happen because I am always focused on the present.”
Upon his visit to the Hastings jockeys’ room —which he referred to as his second home for six years — Gutierrez was taken aback by all the friendship and respect he was greeted with.
“Now that all this has happened, it is nice to go inside the room and explain to the young riders [that] there is nothing wrong with dreaming,” said gutierrez. “And if it can happen to me, it could happen to anyone.”
Mario then proceeded to head to the winners’ circle and signed autographs for a long lineup of fans showing incredible patience. He kept signing until security asked him to stop because the races were ready to begin.
“We were walking to the front entrance of the track and ran right into him,” said North Vancouver resident Doreen Parkes.
“He gave me a great big hug. He’s so nice. It was great. We’ve been a fan of Mario’s for a lot of years.”
As for the jockey himself, the past month has been like a dream come true, especially considering his background.
Gutierrez grew up with three brothers on a small farm in the town of Vera Cruz, Mexico.
“We rode a bicycle for four miles to go to school. And when it came to supporting the family, it was all up to my father Mario Sr. It was kind of tough.”
In 2004, after completing high school, Gutierrez asked his father about going to the Hipodromo de las Americas racetrack in Mexico City and becoming a jockey.
Hastings trainer Terry Jordan, vacationing in Mexico City, discovered the young jockey there.
After doing the necessary paperwork to get him to Canada, they wound up having a successful meeting, with Gutierrez topping all apprentice jockeys in wins.
Then Gutierrez hooked up with the powerful Glen Todd stable . . . and the rest, as they say, is history.