Larry Jones to retire from racing end of 2009

[Glimmerglass]

It would be a huge loss to racing from a decent man who has run a clean shop with plenty of big winners and in my view no need to appoligize for any decisions made. Rather disappointing that a man who speaks so clear and without fluff but thinks of his horses first gets somewhat eased out by a series of highly unfortunate events and indirect pressures.

9-23-08 BloodHorse: "Trainer Jones to Retire by End of 2009" (http://news.bloodhorse.com/article/47197.htm?id=47197)

Excerpts

“It is just time to quit,” Jones said Sept. 23. “We have been very blessed. We have reached a level that 25 years ago I never knew we could ever reach, in the caliber of horses we have and the races we won. I had the best year of my career this year. Lots of very good things have happened and lots of bad things have happened.”

“It definitely took a lot of the fun out of it,” Jones said of the toll that the filly’s death had on him, his wife, and the stable. “This was a hard thing to get over. Every day something reminds us of what happened."

Jones, a Hopkinsville, Ky., native whose horsemanship skills took him from Ellis Park in western Kentucky to the upper echelon of the North American training ranks, said he will phase out his stable over the course of the next year. As long as the better horses in his barn continue to excel he will train them, but will not replace them once they retire and will let other horses that are no longer competitive at the top levels of racing go to other barns.

“Hopefully, I will be out within a year,” Jones said. “I will try to see them through their careers, although some are 2-year-olds. If I have any good 3-year-olds next year, I will go through the (Triple Crown races) with them. I would hope to shut it down after the Breeders’ Cup of 2009.”

“You have to be careful when you are envious of the top guys,” he explained. “You couldn’t understand their whole perspective. My hat is off to them, especially those who have horses in different places. I don’t know how they do it. My admiration for them is more than ever. How they can keep the owners happy, I just don’t understand it.”

While he is retiring, Jones said he would not rule out a return to training some day, but on a much smaller scale. “I am not going to say I will never train again. We will see what happens. We have never had any time off. I have taken 10 days off in the last 25 years.”

While his plans are uncertain, Jones noted, “I am not going to climb under a rock. I am going to find something to do in racing that is constructive.”

Larry Jones (as of 9-22) in the national trainer standings (http://ntra.com/stats_index.aspx) is ranked 12th by earnings.

(all Year to Date below)

Starts YTD: 352
Wins: 94
Places: 57
Show: 57
Earnings: $5,757,875

By comparison, Bill Mott in 5th Place:

Starts YTD: 625
Wins: 89
Places: 92
Shows: 89
Earnings: $7,874,755

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Shame, but I've always been a firm believer that when it stops being fun no point forcing yourself to do it everyday. He's had roller coaster ride these last couple of years... how many people have experienced the depth of highs and lows, seperated by mere seconds at CD last May?

The last line of the article is nice to hear though.

[Glimmerglass]

HRTV did this very well done video look at Larry Jones: 10 min 40 sec Video J. Larry Jones Stable (http://www.bloodhorse.com/Videos/SectionVideo/fbf65615-4433-4232-b2e7-10131cfaee4e.htm); no "down" footage is thankfully shown of Eight Belles.

[Calamber]

Thank you for posting this link Glimmer, I also looked at the little documentary of Clyde Martin and the story of Princess Rooney, wow, is all I can say.:yes:

[Calico]

This is already cited in the Breeder's Cup thread.

Hopefully, it's just a respite from racing. He had one hell of a year.

[Coral]

That is sad news. :( His genuine attitude is great, and you can tell that he loves the horses he trains. He took a lot of undeserved flack after the Derby, and I'm sure that along with the emotional roller coaster took a toll on him. I guess we can hope that the grief from this year will wane a bit and he'll reconsider.

[DickHertz]

This isn't a retirement. This is taking time off to regroup.

[Cherry]

This is taking time off to regroup.
I hope so--he seems like a decent guy. No one knows what kind of pressure someone is under unless they have been in his shoes (and how many of us get to that level?). Hope he's able to come back stronger than ever.... :yes:

[Timex]

Larry Jones is truly a good guy, and i hope that a year or 2 off is enough for him, and he makes a return to racing.

[Glimmerglass]

This isn't a retirement. This is taking time off to regroup.

Agreed but like a few other trainers who once were "big" you rarely hear or seem them again it seems if they cut the string down to just a handful of horses. One might think a trainer can simply pare it all down and just be uber selective with just the best horses because you have that luxury being x trainer. It just doesn't seem to be that way. Then again Larry easily could be an exception ...

Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg (at age 72) who has been there, done that, (Breeders Cup, Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Eclipse winner, Horse of the Year, etc etc) still is training a small string of horses in Southern California. He isn't seemingly getting a lot of big stakes worthy horses into his barn.

Billy Turner (68) best known for Seattle Slew is still at it with a smaller string as well in the NY area. Like Van Berg it is rare you see horses in his care even starting in restricted stakes races let alone graded stakes races.

In both cases you have to assume each man still posses the knowhow and talent which once took them to the top.

[Glimmerglass]

The Times-Picayune has some more info on Larry's retirement plans:

NOLA Feb 6, 2009 "Down to the Wire" (http://www.nola.com/sports/t-p/horseracing/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/123390132070890.xml&coll=1)

Successful trainer Larry Jones is finishing up this season, and then he says he's done for a while.

Excerpts

"We're looking forward to the end," Jones said during a break from training at the Fair Grounds. "It's basically, as soon as the Breeders' Cup is over, I'm through with my obligations. I'm not going to leave an owner hanging. The idea is for all obligations to be over after the Breeders' Cup.

Rick Porter, who owned Eight Belles and owns many of the horses, including Old Fashioned, now trained by Jones, understands that he had become dissatisfied with having too many horses. Porter said he thinks Jones simply needs a breather from the pressures of training and predicts he will accept 2-year-olds to train in 2010.

"That's how I see it playing out," Porter said. "It's 24-7 with him. If he has a stakes in New York, he hauls the horse that night. He wants to take the horses there. He wants to be in the barn with them. He wants to saddle them. He wants to take them to the winner's circle. There aren't many guys like Larry. That's how he likes it. Larry's had a taste of having really good horses. That's not an easy thing to walk away from. . . . In my opinion, Larry Jones is, without a doubt, a cut above anybody else training horses, because of the way he does it."

Though Jones is ready to stop being a public trainer, he's leaving the door open to staying in racing in a family way. Cindy Jones, who owns Just Jenda and other horses, has a trainer's license, and Larry said he and Cindy eventually might operate a small stable with family-owned horses at home in Henderson, Ky.

"I may let her train for a while and be a gallop boy," Larry said. "Deidre and Corey (groom Corey York), they both have aspirations of becoming trainers some day. This may be an opportunity for them to go out on their own." Or, Jones said, they might help him and Cindy in a family business.

"I've got some maintenance work to do on my body," Larry said. "It needs some rest. I've got to get the blood pressure down. I need to visit grandkids and children, so they can see what Grandpa looks like."

[ottb_dressage]

It will be a shame to see him go...although I can definitely understand why he feels the need for some down time. He's taken so much unneccessary flak from so many for what happened with Eight Belles, and I can only imagine how that has affected him and his family.
He deserves the down time, and I only hope that it isn't for good and that he continues in racing, even just as a small time trainer. I have a feeling he'll stay involved with the industry and pushing for changes that will help keep the sport moving forward in a positive way.

[Glimmerglass]

Larry Jones to be the subject of a documentary ...

DRF Mar 4, 2009 "Filmmakers focus on Larry Jones" (http://www.drf.com/news/article/102025.html)

Film producers John and Brad Hennegan are following up their critically acclaimed documentary "The First Saturday in May" with what they termed an "intimate portrait" of trainer Larry Jones. They began shooting the documentary last month, and expect to continue filming through the Breeders' Cup.

A release date has not yet been set for the untitled project.

Jones, who has said he will retire at the end of this year, trains early Derby favorite Old Fashioned as well as the highly regarded Friesan Fire. Both run next on March 14, with John Hennegan to be at Fair Grounds to follow Friesan Fire in the Louisiana Derby and Brad Hennegan to return to Oaklawn to capture Old Fashioned in the Rebel.

"In this day and age of the high-profile manager and coach in the NFL and collegiate sports, here we have a guy in our industry who is not only leaving at the top of the game, but also is doing the menial tasks," John Hennegan said. "He's willing to do chores and drive the van. We really want to focus on that aspect of him, as well as him being a family man. We see him as not driven by the bottom line. It's unique and inspiring."

[EventerAJ]

Larry Jones to be the subject of a documentary ...

DRF Mar 4, 2009 "Filmmakers focus on Larry Jones" (http://www.drf.com/news/article/102025.html)


I just saw The First Saturday In May; I knew going in it would be good, but WOW it exceeded all expectations. I can't wait to see Larry's story... this crew does a great job, and this is some fine material to work with.

Looking forward to it!

[VirginiaBred]

This isn't a retirement. This is taking time off to regroup.


I hope you're right. What a class act.

[Glimmerglass]

Once again, Larry Jones was pressed into hauling duties Tuesday (Mar 3) between Fair Grounds and Oaklawn Park .... Jones was asked which horses were housed (http://www.ntra.com/content.aspx?type=news&id=38086) in the trailer just behind him:

"Oh, don't know if there are any you've heard of," Jones said.

Among them were Proud Spell (Eclipse 2008 Champion 3-year-old filly) who will likely return to racing in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom :D

Larry is still loaded for bear with his stable, aside from Old Fashioned, Friesan Fire and Proud Spell, he has among ther well known names Kodiak Kowboy (to debut this year in the Duncan Kenner Stakes March 14) and Mineshaft Handicap winner Honest Man who could be the favorite in the $500,000 New Orleans Handicap.

[Glimmerglass]

Rick Porter has announced who is taking up training duties following Larry Jones' departure

DRF 4-30-09 "Porter selects Jones's replacements" (http://www.drf.com/news/article/103390.html)

Owner Rick Porter has made it to three consecutive Kentucky Derbies with trainer Larry Jones. But if Porter is to make it back here next year, it will be with somebody else.

With Jones expected to retire at year's end and not accepting 2-year-olds this year, Porter has retained trainers Barclay Tagg and Tony Dutrow to train his young horses. Porter said he interviewed multiple trainers but decided to give Tagg five 2-year-olds and Dutrow nine juveniles.

"They are the two that I've been able to feel like I'm on the same page with philosophically as far as medication," Porter said Thursday morning outside of Jones's Churchill Downs barn.

Another thing Porter said was important to him was the tenure of the key personnel that both trainers employ.

"Every business is a people business," Porter said. "If you keep turning people over, something's wrong."

Porter said Thursday that he spoke with Tom McGreevy, his racing manager, who just spent two days with Webb Carroll, who broke the babies at his farm in South Carolina.

"He called me and said Rick, 'This could be the best crop yet,' " Porter said.

Among the most interesting horses is Laus Deo, a son of Medaglia d'Oro that is with Dutrow. According to Porter, the words Laus Deo, which is Latin for Praise Be to God, are written on an aluminum cap atop the Washington Monument.

Other 2-year-olds Porter noted were Bach, a 2-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro and Maga's Daughter, a filly by A.P. Indy.

[holmes]

Rick should just take out his training license - he just barks orders to the people he hires to do that anyways. By this time next year he will have probably moved on from these two, to other unsuspected soles.

[Glimmerglass]

Or Rick Porter will take a more back seat role in his ownership. He's had horses with other trainers and it didn't work - ie Nick Zito and John Servis. I cannot think that Barclay Tagg will put up with much from any owner. Per this Philadelphia Inquirer article (http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20090430_Horse_racing_s_elite_has_Porter_on_the_ou tside.html) Porter "has put the barn he built at Maryland's Fair Hill Training Center up for sale."

[holmes]

I highly doubt that -

[Glimmerglass]

Looks like November 8 will be the last day per Daily Racing Form Oct 14, 2009 - "One more call to the post for Jones" (http://drf.com/news/article/108096.html)

Jones said the filly [Payton d'Oro] is being considered for a start in the Grade 2, $150,000 Chilukki at Churchill Downs on Nov. 7. The next day, Jones plans to turn over the training duties of his 27-horse stable to his wife, Cindy Jones.

"I'm pleased with this," Larry Jones said Wednesday from Kentucky. "I bought some horses for us, and I'm going to stay involved with it through ownership."

Larry Jones said he will accompany his wife to Oaklawn but does not plan to be part of the stable's day-to-day operations in Hot Springs, Ark.

"I won't be doing anything, as far as the everyday at the barn," he said. "I'll come out for the races. And I might gallop a horse or two for Cindy or maybe haul a horse for her if she needs me to."

Larry Jones said he also will be keeping an eye on the couple's other horse investments. Cindy Jones said they have seven yearlings coming up, and Larry Jones said there are also broodmares with which to make breeding decisions. He noted the couple has stallion seasons to such former Jones trainees as Hard Spun and Old Fashioned.

Larry Jones won his first race as a trainer on July 31, 1983, at Ellis Park. He has since compiled a career record of 736 wins from 3,893 starts for stable earnings of more than $27 million. To date, Jones has won 94 stakes, 36 of them graded races. Before turning to training, he was a commercial farmer in Kentucky.

[farmgirl88]

im happy for him. at least hes doing what he truly wants to do and im happy for him for that. i do find it hard to believe that since his wife will be running the day-to day operations....all of them...i find it hard to believe that he will keep from spending his time within those day to day operations, especially when his wife runs it.
But props to him for taking that direction in his career. i wish him much luck.

[Las Olas]

Looks like November 8 will be the last day per Daily Racing Form Oct 14, 2009 - "One more call to the post for Jones" (http://drf.com/news/article/108096.html)

Good riddance.

[DickHertz]

Las Olas, what is your beef with Jones? Most people on this board are in love with him.

[Las Olas]

Las Olas, what is your beef with Jones? Most people on this board are in love with him.

Oh, there are several beefs and I won't get into it here. I'll just say that very few, if any, of the racing folks in KY will miss him.

[cloudyandcallie]

Oh, there are several beefs and I won't get into it here. I'll just say that very few, if any, of the racing folks in KY will miss him.

I saw the interview with Bob Costas. I think Penny Tweedy stated the case best.

[Las Olas]

I saw the interview with Bob Costas. I think Penny Tweedy stated the case best.

I missed that Cloudy. Is it on the 'net anywhere?

[Kaleigh007]

Oh, there are several beefs and I won't get into it here. I'll just say that very few, if any, of the racing folks in KY will miss him.


Agreed!!!!