Bret Jones recalls a photo taken in the spring of 1983. The boy was about 4 years old, wearing a T-shirt that declared, “I like Airdrie-bred.”
Although his parents were more selective in clothing than he was at that age, his family’s love of horses is understandable. A horse bred by his father, Brereton C. Jones, in partnership with Warnerton Farms, Desert Wine was the first product of his father’s breeding program to race in the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downswhere he’s second to Sunny’s Halo.
Since that time, three more 3-year-olds bred by Brereton Jones, either singly or in partnership, have raced in the Kentucky Derby. Dansil about fourth in 1989, Harry’s Holiday 16th run in 2014, and Jack my boy gathered to place fifth in 2018.
Now, two more are ready to represent Jones as breeder in North America’s most famous race. Winner Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) Zandon was the most popular match at dawn 3-1 and the UAE Derby sponsored by Runner-up Mubadala (G2) Summer is tomorrow is a 30-1 range. Only Jones and Spendthrift Farm are breeders of many ponies in the trunk of the field for the race on May 7. (Breeder Calumet Farm has one regular Derby participant and one qualified runner. to sue.)
Zandon galloping May 2 at Churchill Downs
Summer Is Tomorrow at a gallop on April 30 at Churchill Downs
The Derby duo are notable career achievements of 82-year-old Jones, who opened the Airdrie Stud in Central Kentucky with his wife, Libby, in 1972 and later Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky from 1991-95.
“It’s been rewarding. There’s been a lot of smiles around Airdrie Stud the past few weeks, and that comes with a lot of luck,” said Bret Jones, vice president of Airdrie, who has taken on multiple site leadership roles. camp in recent years said.
Watch: Bret Jones Discusses Airdrie, Family Breeding Success
Brereton Jones and Airdrie were also lucky – in breeding and owning racehorses. Three times Brereton Jones won the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) for 3-year-olds, twice with crossbreeds and always progeny of Airdrie stallions. Proud Spell (Proud citizen ) scored his first goal in 2008, Believe you can (Proud Citizen) followed four years later in 2012, and Lovely Maria (Missing testicles ) completed the trilogy in 2015. The trio didn’t attract enough commercial attention to sell or meet their reserves when put on auctions as predators, but Brereton Jones believes in they.
“Those Oaks victories are the best memories we have,” Bret Jones said. “We did it as a family. We did it like a farm.” “Proud Spell. Believe you can. Lovely Maria. The three best Fridays of my life. I don’t think I have any children born on Fridays — so I can safely say that. “
Airdrie connects in the winner’s circle after Lovely Maria’s win in the Kentucky Oaks in 2015
Coach Larry Jones, unrelated to Airdrie Stud’s Jones family, also remembers those days forever for reasons beyond their success. He developed a long-term relationship with Brereton Jones. Proud Spell was the first horse he trained for him.
“I have to deal with great people, like (horse owner) Rick Porter is a great guy – but ‘Brere’ Jones is the best I think I have to deal with,” said Larry Jones. “His handshake is his bond. If he tells you something, he means it, and he’ll definitely try to make it happen. He’s the one. A man I love so much. What a man, and so is Miss Libby.”
More than 25 years on from Jones’ time in political office, Larry Jones can recount the governor’s accomplishments as quickly as detailing the careers of his Oaks men. In an interview with BloodHorse, he recalled how Jones successfully lobbied for an amendment to the state constitution that would allow Kentucky governors to serve a second term while agreeing to exempt themselves. He also recalled how the state went from a huge revenue shortfall ($400 million) to a huge surplus ($300 million) during Governor Jones’ four years in office.
“He said to me, ‘I’m just trying to run it like a business. I’m just trying to run it like it’s my own business,” said Larry Jones.
Although political life is a passion for Brereton Jones, his career is running a horse ranch. He left West Virginia at a young age to pursue his horse dreams.
His son is continuing the tradition, while Bret’s sister, Lucy, has a racing career outside and is interested in charity work.
Bret has continued the Airdrie business model founded by Brereton Jones. Find valuable stallions, show support by mating mares with them, sell most of their stallions, and show faith in other unsold horses by racing them.
Bret Jones wearing a cape at the Airdrie Stud
The Airdrie-stand Start up stallion of Jeff Drown’s Zandon, which is the third-biggest third-crop stallion in North America (until May 2), following Not this time and Nyquist . Upstart is also the father of Wingate Stables’ Kathleen O. a top potential Kentucky Oaks customer.
Pointing to the popularity of Upstart, the part in the steed led to the second-highest purchase in the recently concluded Keeneland April Horses of Racing Age Horse Sale when Mike Freeny bought the shares for $450,000.
Both Kathleen O. and Zandon are expected to become popular with bettors in their respective races, after the last to first rally in Blue Grass was followed by a woeful start and poor results. traffic trouble.
A very special one #ThrowBackThursday from our archive! Image at 3 o’clock, Memories Prevail, Dam of Zandon, with Brereton Jones. She is Creative Cause’s first pony, excerpts from the press release also include @KentuckyDerby @ TheRealChadCBr1 #TBT pic.twitter.com/VZ0qbLRdtm – Airdrie Stud (@AirdrieStud) April 28, 2022 Michael Hilary and Negar Burke’s Summer Is Tomorrow are providing proof that Airdrie’s Summer Front can male a top ground horse, although the stallion itself is also a pony. Coach Bhupat Seemar was very pleased with Summer Is Tomorrow’s training in Dubai after finishing in second place dark horse ahead of the Japanese driver Crown Pride in the UAE Derby and put him on a plane on April 20 to the United States. Summer Is Tomorrow led much of the UAE Derby before waning in the final. The 1 3/16 mile race in Dubai was his first race to exceed seven distances. “Much of what we do revolves around what our stallions are doing,” says Bret Jones. “If our stallions are doing well, our broodstock are doing well, our farm will do well.” Summer Front at Airdrie Stud
It was not the 1983 Kentucky Derby but the one that later inspired Bret Jones at a young age to follow in his father’s footsteps. He was bitten by the equestrian bug when Cal Partee’s Lil E. Tee flew up to win the 1992 Run for the Roses under the Pat Day event for coach Lynn Whiting.
Bret Jones recalls: “We stood in the doorway at this moment, the man who saved Lil E. Tee, was on the forgettable side. “I just remember how happy Dad was to have the horse in the Kentucky Derby winner’s stable. I’d definitely like to repeat that again if we could have any luck.”
Misfortune seemed to hinder Zandon in Blue Grass April 9 until the foal found daylight after being blocked midway on the second turn. He went above when clear and won when he passed Happy smile .
Bret’s father “was dancing in celebration when Zandon crossed the rope the day before. He and my mother were watching at home,” Bret Jones said. “It was one of the best phone calls I could make — when I called him right after they crossed the line. We just celebrated together. It was so special. It’s hard not to. It’s a little emotional when you talk about it. We are so lucky to have the relationship we want. We can still enjoy these things together and I hope we enjoy a lot of things. more in the coming weeks.”
