Gregorio Thomas Vallejos

Well-known New Mexico-based trainer Gregorio Thomas Vallejos passed away on May 13, 2025, at age 86.

Gregorio is preceded in death by his father and mother Biterbo & Rosita Vallejos; grandparents, Fermin & Teresita Vallejos, Felipe & Alcaria Lechuga; and siblings Felix Vallejos, Tillie Sigala, Lilia Sanchez, Nestora Sedillo, Albert (Beto) Vallejos, Dan Lucero and Jimmy Lechuga.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., held at Anderson Bethany Funeral Home in Roswell, New Mexico, with a funeral service to begin at 1 p.m., and an interment to follow at South Park Cemetery.

He is survived by his siblings, Richard and Olivia Vallejos, Carlos & Gloria Vallejos, Clara & Pete Aguilar, Cecilia Lucero, Irene & Jesse Aguilar, Vidall & Westley Daniel, Alfredo & Patsy Vallejos, Cathy & Manuel Gamboa, and Lorie & Gary Chavez; his children, Annete Chavez, Greg Vallejos, Vanessa Archuleta, Rudy Vallejos, Salvador Vallejos, Nancy Salcido, Rosemaire Jacquez, and Eddie Vallejos; grandchildren, Dominic & Alexis Vallejos, David Chavez, Christina Archuleta, Larry Archuleta, Christopher Archuleta, Malachi Vallejos and many more; great-grandchildren, Aaliyah Vallejos, Xxzvain Vallejos, Jade Vallejos, Dominique Vallejos, Kanan Vallejos, Cataleya Vallejos and so many more; nieces & nephews Mike Smith, Jimmy Sanchez, Frank Sanchez, special niece Mary Lujan, Susie Carillo & several others; and close friends Susie Byrd, Charlene Campbell and Jesus Carretta.

His favorite pastime was riding  and training horses, spending time at the racetrack with friends and family.  As a Quarter Horse trainer, he had 132 wins, 188 seconds and 159 thirds, and in 1997 was the top trainer at Santa Fe Downs. He loved to dance, drink his beer and play pool with his friends and sneak kisses on the women.

Some of Gregorio’s loves in this life were his pet Bushido (his favorite horse) and his sports team, the Kansas City Chiefs. Special interests included mechanic work, welding, training horses, and teaching others how to ride. He is the uncle of legendary jockey Mike Smith, and was the trainer of the horse that earned Smith's very first win as a jockey.

Honorary pallbearers include David Chavez, Pelon Orosco, Melissa Benge, Frank Sanchez, Benji Orosco, Vic Regalado, JJ Gonzalez, Gabe Garcia, Raulo Orona, Sunny Salas, and Oscar Medrano.

Pallbearers will include Mike Smith, Greg Vallejos, Adam Oropesa, Jerry Jaramillo, Tommy Candelaria, Dominic Vallejos, Larry Archuleta, and Jimmy Sanchez.

Special thank you to: Casa Maria, Gentiva, Blacita Herrera, Raulo Orona, Michelle Sanchez, Tracey Saenz, Chris Lujan, the Lucero family and all family and friends for their support.