Tag: People

On Thursday, Gov. Andy Beshear paid tribute to Air Force Veteran Frank Jones, Jr. Jones was a leader in the Thoroughbred industry and served as vice-chairman of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC).

“Put simply, Frank was making a difference. He was an award-winning leader, committed to helping those within this essential Kentucky industry live better lives. I was proud to call him a friend,” said Gov. Beshear. “Frank will be missed. And my prayers are with his family, friends and the entire Thoroughbred industry. I think we all know Frank's legacy will live on.”

Members and staff of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission are mourning the loss of long-time KHRC Commissioner, horse owner, breeder and handicapper.

“The passing of Frank Jones is a huge loss for not only his family and friends, but the entire horse racing industry,” said Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Chairman Jonathan Rabinowitz. “As a valuable member and vice-chairman of the KHRC Commission and secretary of the Kentucky Racing Health and Welfare Fund, he used his voice to elevate other horsemen, serving and providing guidance to backstretch workers who cannot afford medical assistance on their own. We have all lost a great friend who will be dearly missed.” added Rabinowitz.

“Frank was thoughtful, knowledgeable, always willing to listen and provide guidance to the Commission and staff,” said Jamie Eads, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. “As a Commission member, he would check in on me often, just to see how things were going. He always asked how my family was doing and he worked as an advocate for horse racing until the very end.”

Jones has served as Commissioner under three administrations. He was first appointed to the horse racing commission in March of 1997 by Gov. Paul Patton; reappointed in 2008 by Gov. Steve Beshear. And, in Jan. of 2020, Gov. Andy Beshear asked him to serve once again.

KHRC Commissioner Frank Shoop says that Jones made a positive impact in horse racing over his long successful career. “This is tough. Frank Jones was a partner in ownership and breeding for more than 25 years. He was a friend to me, and to the entire thoroughbred industry.”

Jones served as director and vice president of the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association for more than three decades, using his business acumen to the benefit of horsemen as chair of the finance committee, contract negotiator, legislative liaison, backside committee and secretary of the Kentucky Racing Health and Welfare Fund. He also was past president of the Louisville-based Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners Inc.

Jones, a Louisville native, attended Western Kentucky University and was a veteran of the Air Force. He also served as a past president of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners Inc.

“The Kentucky horse racing and breeding industry wouldn't be in the strong position it is in today without the passion, commitment and leadership of Frank Jones, Jr.,” said Churchill Downs Incorporated CEO Bill Carstanjen. “From his meaningful contribution to the Kentucky HBPA to his impact on the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and as past president of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners, our sport and community lost a dear friend and tremendous advocate, and we at Churchill Downs lost a valued partner. He will be greatly missed, and our thoughts are with his family and countless number of friends and colleagues during this difficult time.”

The post Longtime Kentucky Commissioner, Horseman Frank Jones, Jr. Passes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

“How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?” – Satchel Paige

Jockey Mike Smith turns 58 today. You wouldn't know it by looking at him. Certainly not by the way he still rides horses.

The grizzled veteran of the Del Mar jockey colony is anything but 'grizzled.' In fact, he's in as a good shape, if not better, than everyone else in the jocks room. He reportedly invited some of the young jockeys to accompany him during his morning exercises and, as the story goes, most of them quit half way through the workout.

Smith has been riding for 43 years. He moved his tack to Southern California in 2001. He has ridden several Hall of Fame horses and was himself inducted into the Hall in 2003. He has won a record number of Breeders' Cups, a couple of Eclipse Awards and a Triple Crown.

So it begs the question: In what sport does a 58-year old man compete with 20- and 30-year-olds and beat the youngsters on a regular basis?

“The only thing that feels old on me is my memories of the past,” Smith says with a smile following yet another victory on Sunday.

Coming into the fourth week of racing at the summer meet at Del Mar, Smith is in the top 10 in the jockey standings with four wins. Last year, he finished fourth with 19 victories and that was with considerably fewer mounts than everyone else in the top 10.

“As far as the way I feel,” Smith notes, “I feel like a machine. I feel good, I'm really taking good care of myself and I've been working out hard. I'm still able to do everything I was doing in my thirties.”

For part of his thirties, Smith was riding back east on the New York circuit, venturing out now and then to win big races in other regions like Kentucky and Florida. They don't call him 'Big Money Mike' for nothing.

Smith has won four Pacific Classics and if Geaux Rocket Ride makes it to the race this year, Smith will have his eleventh shot at Del Mar's marquee race. He has won 77 stakes races at Del Mar, eleventh best all-time.

“I still feel great,” Smith says. “I'm going to keep going until I don't.”

The post ‘I Feel Like A Machine’: Mike Smith Strong As Ever On 58th Birthday appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Fernando Toro, who was officially inducted into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame on Aug. 4, will be presented his Hall of Fame plaque and jacket in a special ceremony at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 19. 

Toro, 82, a resident of Carlsbad, Calif., was unable to attend the traditional induction ceremony in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. He will be recognized at Del Mar after the running of the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks, a race Toro won twice during his outstanding career. Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr. will present Toro with his plaque and jacket in the Del Mar winner's circle. The event will include a tribute video featuring Toro's career highlights. 

“The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame would like to thank the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club for helping us recognize Fernando in such a special way at a track where he had so many of the moments that led to his election to the Hall of Fame,” said Brien Bouyea, the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame and Communications Director. “It will be wonderful to see Fernando presented his Hall of Fame plaque and jacket by the iconic Laffit Pincay, Jr. with so many of his family members and friends able to be there in person.” 

A native of Santiago, Chile, Toro won 3,555 races with purse earnings of $56,299,765 during his North American riding career from 1966 through 1990. Toro won his first race in his native country at the age of 15 in 1956 and topped the Chilean national jockeys standings twice. Before arriving in America, Toro won three editions of the prestigious Gran Premio, as well as the 1964 Clasico St. Leger, a race in the Chilean Triple Crown series. Based in Southern California throughout his career, Toro won 80 graded stakes in North America. At the time of his retirement, he ranked in the top 10 in stakes wins at Del Mar (No. 6), Hollywood Park (No. 8), and Santa Anita (tied at No. 8).

At Del Mar, Toro won 38 stakes, including four editions of the Escondido (1970, 1978, 1987, 1988) and San Clemente (1974, 1975, 1979, 1987); consecutive runnings of the Ramona Handicap (1971, 1972); and two renewals each of the Del Mar Derby (1970, 1981) and Del Mar Oaks (1970, 1978).

At Hollywood Park, Toro won 823 races, including 83 stakes. He won the Beverly Hills Handicap five times (1977, 1978, 1983, 1984, 1986); the American (1975 both divisions, 1982, 1989) and Wilshire (1972, 1976, 1980, 1987) four times each; the Sunset (1976, 1985, 1988) and Premiere (1976, 1986, 1987) three times each; and the Gamely (1979, 1980), Inglewood (1973, 1984), and Vanity (1971, 1976) twice each. Toro also swept both divisions of the 1983 Hollywood Derby.

Toro's 620 wins at Sant Anita included 55 stakes. He had three wins in both the Santa Margarita (1974, 1976, 1984) and Strub (1976, 1981, 1986); two in the Carleton F. Burke (1979, 1981), San Carlos (1973, 1977), San Felipe (1975, 1981), San Pasqual (1975, 1977), Santa Ana (1978, 1985), Santa Monica (1974, 1975), Santa Susana (1976, 1977), and San Marcos (1976, 1985).

Although best known for his California success, Toro ventured throughout the United States and into Canada for several notable victories. He won the Apple Blossom (1988) at Oaklawn in Arkansas; the Arlington Million (1986) and Stars and Stripes (1987) at Arlington Park in Illinois; the Ashland (1977) at Keeneland in Kentucky; the Seagram Cup (1968), Dominion Day (1979), and Jockey Club Cup (1979) at Woodbine in Canada; the Longacres Derby (1984) in Washington; the Hawthorne Gold Cup (1987) at Hawthorne in Illinois, the Louisville Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs in Kentucky; the Tremont (1969) and Manhattan (1976) at Belmont Park in New York; the Pan American (1968) and Rampart (1988) at Gulfstream in Florida; and the Widener (1969) at Hialeah in Florida.

In November 1983, Toro took over as the regular rider of Royal Heroine for emerging trainer John Gosden. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022, Royal Heroine won the Hollywood Derby (Division 1), Inglewood, Beverly Hills Handicap, inaugural Breeders' Cup Mile, and Matriarch with Toro aboard. Toro also won stakes with Hall of Fame members Ancient Title, Cougar II, and Manila. 

The post Fernando Toro To Be Presented With Hall Of Fame Jacket, Plaque At Del Mar On Aug. 19 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito is adjusting his career path, according to Spectrum Local News. After 50 years of training Thoroughbred racehorses, Zito plans to add a role in the management side of the racing business.

Alongside partner Robert DiPippo, Zito has launched ZD Horse Racing & Management.

“That will consist of maybe buying some horses, do some bloodstock work, putting them with different trainers besides myself,” Zito told Spectrum.

Zito, a member of the Hall of Fame since 2005 with more than 2,000 wins to his resume, is still training a dozen horses at Saratoga this summer. He has saddled one winner in 2023, and sent out no winners from 73 starters in 2022.

“Racing is different,” Zito told Spectrum. “This game will humble kings.”

Among the highlights of Zito's career are two Kentucky Derby winners, Go For Gin (1994) and Strike The Gold (1991); a Preakness winner, Louis Quatorze (1996); two Belmont Stakes winners, Birdstone (2004) and Da' Tara (2008); a total 18 trainees with over $1 million in earnings; and five trainees with over $2 million in earnings.

Read more at Spectrum Local News.

The post ‘This Game Will Humble Kings’: Hall Of Fame Trainer Nick Zito Moves Into Racing Management appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post