Horse Racing: Allen Jerkens
It's still about the horses for Jerkens
February, 9, 2012
Feb 9
11:49
AM ET
By Bob Ehalt | ESPNNewYork.com
While the new casino at Aqueduct and inflated purses have created a buzz with most New York horsemen, there’s at least one trainer who could care less about what’s happening in the space that used to house the Big A’s grandstand.
H. Allen Jerkens, New York’s most famous and revered trainer, said he did not visit the Resorts World Casino before heading south in mid-November with his horses. Nor should you look for him there with a cup full of quarters once spring rolls around.
At the tender age of 82, Jerkens says more than anything at all racing is still about the love of horses for him. So, larger purses or not, he has no plans to abruptly leave Florida and chase the bigger pots in the Big Apple. He’s quite content to spend the winter watching his horses thrive in the warmth and glow of the Florida sun -- as he’s done for decades.
“I’ll head back to New York in April, like I usually do,” the sport’s living legend said by phone from his Florida barn. “I’m not changing anything. I’ve heard about the purses but I’ve never worried about them. If you’re not winning, the size of the purse doesn’t matter. I worry about the horse part of this game. That’s what matters.”
Jerkens certainly has not been winning as much as he did in the 1960’s and 1970’s when he was sending out paupers to beat the regal likes of Kelso and Secretariat. He has a stable of 14 now, and has won a pair of races during the current Gulfstream meet.
Yet those victories by Brampton and American Angel showed the master still has a winning touch, and the thrill those moments gave Jerkens was as emotional as ever. Be it a Grade 1 stakes or a claimer, there are still times when Jerkens’ pride can get the better of him and bring tears of joy to his eyes.
“It’s still such a thrill for me to be around the horses and watch them develop,” Jerkens said. “That’s still the part I enjoy most.”
Jerkens says he has no plans to slow down, that time has handled that for him. Outfits like Hobeau are gone, and he simply does not get as many horses as he did during his glory days.
His best horse right now is Bold Warrior, a talented 4-year-old son of Bernardini, who was stakes-placed at three. It’s a far cry from years past for a man who has won more than 3,800 races and $101 million and has been in racing’s Hall of Fame for the past 37 years.
Yet for Jerkens, it’s not about the number of wins. Or how much they are worth. Or if there’s a casino to generate extra revenue.
For him, as always, it’s all about the horses.
H. Allen Jerkens, New York’s most famous and revered trainer, said he did not visit the Resorts World Casino before heading south in mid-November with his horses. Nor should you look for him there with a cup full of quarters once spring rolls around.
At the tender age of 82, Jerkens says more than anything at all racing is still about the love of horses for him. So, larger purses or not, he has no plans to abruptly leave Florida and chase the bigger pots in the Big Apple. He’s quite content to spend the winter watching his horses thrive in the warmth and glow of the Florida sun -- as he’s done for decades.
“I’ll head back to New York in April, like I usually do,” the sport’s living legend said by phone from his Florida barn. “I’m not changing anything. I’ve heard about the purses but I’ve never worried about them. If you’re not winning, the size of the purse doesn’t matter. I worry about the horse part of this game. That’s what matters.”
Jerkens certainly has not been winning as much as he did in the 1960’s and 1970’s when he was sending out paupers to beat the regal likes of Kelso and Secretariat. He has a stable of 14 now, and has won a pair of races during the current Gulfstream meet.
Yet those victories by Brampton and American Angel showed the master still has a winning touch, and the thrill those moments gave Jerkens was as emotional as ever. Be it a Grade 1 stakes or a claimer, there are still times when Jerkens’ pride can get the better of him and bring tears of joy to his eyes.
“It’s still such a thrill for me to be around the horses and watch them develop,” Jerkens said. “That’s still the part I enjoy most.”
Jerkens says he has no plans to slow down, that time has handled that for him. Outfits like Hobeau are gone, and he simply does not get as many horses as he did during his glory days.
His best horse right now is Bold Warrior, a talented 4-year-old son of Bernardini, who was stakes-placed at three. It’s a far cry from years past for a man who has won more than 3,800 races and $101 million and has been in racing’s Hall of Fame for the past 37 years.
Yet for Jerkens, it’s not about the number of wins. Or how much they are worth. Or if there’s a casino to generate extra revenue.
For him, as always, it’s all about the horses.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Bob Ehalt
Bob Ehalt, who grew up a few furlongs from Belmont Park, has followed horse racing as either a fan, turf writer or owner since 1971. He has won three national Associated Press Sports Editors awards for his coverage of the sport and was the recipient of the 2009 Breeders' Cup media award for outstanding social media.
Paul Moran
Paul Moran is a two-time winner of the Media Eclipse Award, and has received various honors from the National Association of Newspaper Editors, Society of Silurians, Long Island Press Club and Long Island Veterinary Medical Association. He also has been given the Red Smith Award for his coverage of the Kentucky Derby.