Santiago Gonzalez Jockey
JOCKEY WGT AGENT NUMBER; Alvarado, J. 113: Mike Sellito (516) 652-3615: Arroyo, A. Morales (732) 693-1119: Berrios, J. Heslop (516) 448-7522: Bravo, Joe. Jockey: Santiago Gonzalez. Sire: Creative Cause. Last race: Won John Battaglia Memorial on Feb. Likely next race: $250,000, Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks on March 27 at Turfway.
Gary Bergsrud has been around horses his whole life. After watching his father train and run horses in Devils Lake, North Dakota, he knew he wanted to own horses one day. Bergsrud met his wife and partner Brenda (pictured above with jockey Santiago Gonzalez) at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg, Canada. He owned horses there and she was working for a trainer at the time. The couple went on to own horses together and include their son, T.J. Bergsrud, to manage their horses as well.
After purchasing horses for a few years, the Bergsrud decided to breed and raise their own. “The horses that we had been buying just didn’t work out and we thought we could raise better horses,” he said. Recent success has proven them right.
In July of 2007, Bergsrud came to Canterbury Park after being persuaded by his friend and fellow horse owner Bernell Rhone. “We wanted to run better horses and needed a higher level track to race them at,” Bergsrud said. His first horse to run at Canterbury Park, Alacazar, won and Bergsrud and his family have been entering their horses here ever since.
Santiago Gonzalez Jockey
Sandra Sweere has been training the Bergsrud’s horses for the past five years. “Sandra has been very good for us and always does her best to meet our horses’ needs,” Gary said. The couple currently own four horses at Canterbury Park and commute from their home in Rolla, North Dakota to watch them race.
Bergsrud says that when owning a horse at any level it is important to “stay on top of things.” He adds that “it can be very easy to get a little behind on the management side of things, but if you are dedicated enough it will all work out.”
To stay on top of things, Bergsrud checks in on the horses at least two times a week to see how they are doing. “We have little time to do anything besides taking care of our horses and that’s the way we like it,” Bergsrud said.
A favorite memory that Bergsrud has is seeing Pinup Girl win the $50,000 Lady Slipper Stakes race at Canterbury Park earlier this meet. “She and Santiago Gonzalez had a great ride here and we expect a big year for her,” he said.
Santiago Gonzalez In Jockey
Bergsrud’s favorite part about breeding his own horses is having the chance to see them develop and watch them run. “The whole process can take a lot of time and energy, but it is all worth it when you see your horse win,” he said.