TORONTO, Ontario - Sam Krasner never could have imagined that his most cherished riding accomplishment would come one year after he decided to hang up his tack.

Throughout his time as a jockey, the well-respected Krasner enjoyed several memorable triumphs and reached key milestones. But nothing, not even his 3,000th lifetime win or any of his riding titles, could compare with being named the recipient of the 2005 Avelino Gomez Memorial Award.

"It's such a prestigious honour," said Krasner, of becoming the 21st person to receive the award. "I'm still trying to wrap my brain around it. I would rate this right at the top of the list of things that I was lucky enough to accomplish."

The coveted award is given to the person, Canadian-born, Canadian-raised or regular rider in the country for more than five years, who has made significant contributions to the sport.

Presented annually on (Labatt Woodbine) Oaks day (Sunday, June 12 in 2005), the honour is in memory of Gomez, one of the sport's most heralded and revered performers. The Cuban-born Gomez died of complications after a three-horse accident in the 1980 Canadian Oaks.

As a lasting reminder of his contributions, a life-size statue of Gomez, who called Toronto home and raised a family there, proudly overlooks Woodbine's pristine walking ring. A replica is presented to each year's honouree.

Although Krasner, who recorded 3,136 lifetime wins, is disappointed at never having met or rode against Gomez, having his name associated with the legendary competitor is something he truly cherishes.

"Everything you hear about Avelino is positive," said the Atlanta-born Krasner, who arrived at Vancouver's Exhibition Park (now Hastings) in 1975. "When you see the names on that plaque and realize how talented and successful Avelino was, it really puts the honour in perspective."

For Krasner, a former high school gymnast, who got his first taste of riding in Northern California, the honour is similar to winning the prestigious George Woolf Award, given annually to a U.S.-based jockey, or an Academy Award.

"What makes this special is that it isn't for something a rider did in just one year," said Krasner, who married trainer Cindy Olson in 1982. "It's like getting an Oscar for lifetime achievement. It's for a body of work. To me, this is unbelievable."

Admittedly, Krasner, who rode in Canada for 30 years, is still at loss to put this chapter of his career into perspective.

"I hope I'm not walking all over my tongue when I receive the award," said Krasner, who also rode in Seattle, Tampa Bay and Cleveland over his career. "I'm 55 right now and I'm sure 10 years from now, I'll look at this award and think to myself, 'I had an okay career.' What a way to end my career. I don't think anything in the world could top this."

Krasner joins Ron Turcotte, John Longden, Sandy Hawley, Don MacBeth, Chris Rogers, Jeff Fell, Lloyd Duffy, Hugo Dittfach, Robin Platts, Larry Attard, Don Seymour, David Gall, Richard Grubb, Irwin Driedger, David Clark, Jim McKnight, Chris Loseth, Richard Dos Ramos, Robert Landry and Francine Villeneuve as Gomez honourees.

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