Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

re: Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

Alex'sBigFan — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 03:02:57 GMT

Throwing this on here:

Last night I am watching an episode of Mr. Ed and it was called "Cherokee Ed." Ed has to carry a parrot on his back and it had to do with Custer and the Indians. Ed was in the barn with an Indian headdress on and shooting arrows. Wilbur comes in and says to him, "Are you out of your Alfalfa pickin' mind?"

Cute, eh in light of Princess of Sylmar's recent antics!!!!!

Off for some vac for 4 or 5 days! Happy racing to all.

re: Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

Paula Higgins — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 00:29:01 GMT

Alex'sBigFan I totally agree with you about Paynter. Well said. He is a winner no matter what.

re: Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

Racingfan — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 21:07:41 GMT

Another great article Steve! Thanks!

Alex'sBigFan - I'm with you about Paynter! I read that Mr Baffert said he did not like the track and that together with the bad break and it was all over for him. I also read that he will run next in California in the Awesome Again stakes.

re: Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

Bethany Loftis — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 18:40:37 GMT

Alex'sBigFan- No one could have said it better in regards to Paynter! Thank you so much for saying exactly how I feel! You and I both know Paynter is just saving himself for the right one ;) and you are absolutely right. He is a winner in ever aspect of the word!

re: Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

Pedigree Ann — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 12:25:47 GMT

Jermon -

"Some time ago, in the fall of about 1967, he entered a 2yo against older horses. I can't remember the conditions which enabled him to do so."

This is not an uncommon occurrence overseas. Many of the mid- and late-season sprints in Europe are written for 2 and up. I believe that Lyric Fantasy was the most recent 2yo winner of the G1 Nunthorpe S at York, in 1993.

In 1937, the 2yo Nearco beat his older stablemate and future G1-type winner Bistolfi in the season-ending Premio Chiusura over 1400m (7f). The Prixes de l'Abbaye de Longchamp and de la Foret are both for 2 and up. The Aussie run a G1 stakes in the fall at the Randwick Easter Carnival called the All-Aged S over 1600m (8f) but I haven't seen a 2yo run in it in a while: it has become too competitive for even the massive weight allowance a 2yo gets to overcome the class of horses like Sunline.

re: Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

Davids — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 08:39:18 GMT

Steve, we are blessed that you are collating, through your gifted writing, an historical record of yesteryear's racing 'moments.'

You may have written a previous article on Woody Stephens which I may have missed but if not...

Your ethnographic writing places the reader right back to whichever era, simply wonderful.

re: Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

Alex'sBigFan — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 04:33:52 GMT

Steve nice article here.

Just a side note on Paynter. He can come in last in every race he runs in for all I care, he is STILL a winner. For a colt to be at death's door this time last year and to be up and running and healthy is a miracle in itself. I am assuming Paynter did not care for the wet surface at Saratoga that day. Are they shipping him back or trying the JCGC at Belmont, where we know he likes the surface? Have we heard any future plans since the BCC is the ultimate goal? He also did not break well from the gate in the Woodward and then the wet surface to contend with. I don't think he was comfortable. I think I would have skipped the Saratoga meet and tried the JCGC with him, but Mr. Baffert knows far more than me and he knows what is best to do. Maybe they needed to get a race in him now and timing and dirt was an issue. It gave me chills to see Paynter running after what we saw him go through. I hope Paynter has no recollection of the ordeal and gets to run more races and retire healthy and sound and make us little Paynters one day soon.

If I were Mr. Zayat, I would put Paynter in the Winner's Circle after every one of his next races, regardless if he wins or not, respectfully after the winner of the race gets out of the WC. I would show him see boy you are a winner in every respect of the word. Keep going Paynter, this fan loves you. POWERUPPAYNTER!!!

re: Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

Steve Haskin — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 17:26:07 GMT

lol, Steve. Thanks. But they've been putting an "s" there my whole life for some reason, so I dont even fight it anymore.

Thanks, everyone, for all the comments.

re: Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

Paula Higgins — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 21:30:12 GMT

ITA with those that think 200 horses under one trainer is not a good thing. Give me old school anytime.

re: Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

steve from st louis — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 05:28:40 GMT

B. Brother: There is no question Bobby Frankel is one of the top 10 trainers of the past 60 years (since I've followed the game).

In no particular order I would include Charlie Whittingham, Woody Stephens, D.W. Lukas, Bob Baffert, John Nerud, Ron McAnally,Ben Jones, Jack Van Berg, Bobby and Jerkens. I would say Mandella would be on my also eligible list.

Bobby, as most every one of those named, had a "kiss my ass" attitude except maybe Stephens and Jerkens. I loved Frankel because he did it his way, but his patrons brought him much better stock than Jerkens ever had. Better overall between the two? I'd say Frankel over "The Chief" but if Charles Hatton had Secretariat as his Horse of the Century and Jerkens beat Big Red twice, much less in one year, all of the other big upsets sprung in 1973 by Jerkens are just a bunch of big cherrys on top of the greatest sundae.

And I wish people would just get Steve's last name correct-- no "s"--Haskin.

re: Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

Jermon — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 04:33:28 GMT

Allen Jerkens - Unconventional, you bet!

Some time ago, in the fall of about 1967, he entered a 2yo against older horses. I can't remember the conditions which enabled him to do so. The colt was one of his typical front running speedballs that had been setting blistering fractions, and in this race toted less than 100 pounds, about 98. That was the only time I ever encountered such a scenario. Recalling the race, he got off well enough, getting a short lead, about a neck. Then, perhaps, because it couldn't open up a clear lead the mental aspect chimed in and he dropped the anchor after going about a 1/4 mile.

As important as his reputation as a trainer is his status as a human being. I have always heard it said that he is a very decent person, and anyone hoping to break into the racing game in an area he could help should make an effort to contact him. This seemed certainly true in the case of jockeys. No other trainer can come close to matching the number of apprentices he gave a leg up to, including more than a few triple bug boys. I don't think he did it necessarily for the weight allowance. Most of the horses they rode had been racing at weight levels beneath which any shifts were not going to help much, and didn't. I got the impression at times it was the first ride ever in an actual race for some of these jocks. Not many trainers would give a jock his first ride. He's been unconventional in that sense also.

re: Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

Bill Two — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 03:40:39 GMT

I'll never forget the 1973 Chesapeake Handicap at Bowie where Prove Out was running a winning race until he quite unexpectedly ducked into the fence in the upper stretch. An audible gasp arose from the crowd which had made him the favorite. I cannot remember whether he won that race, but I do remember thinking that the horse was going to have problems if he kept that behavior up. So what does he do? Of course, he beats Secretariat in the Woodward in the very next race. Amazing.

re: Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

Linda in Texas — Sat, 31 Aug 2013 15:02:23 GMT

Coldfacts, Quality Road was one i really mentally fought for. His gate episode that time was uncalled for and it never should have happened.

Did not realize Mr. Jerken's was QR's original trainer. Yep, 200 under the umbrella of one trainer from Texas is unfortunate. If a trainer cannot observe all or most of his horses on any given day, he has too many. All of his assistants cannot possibly think the way he does. But with the plethora of horses at 200 plus or minus, no doubt some will win and elevate his status. i am not impressed. I like the trainers who have a hand's on daily attachment and know when they eat a full bucket of vittles. I am old fashioned and i guess old.

So stand up and be counted old timer trainers. You are not forgotten by many of us.

Thanks Steve. Have a good 2 or so more days of Saratoga, and give my regards to her!

Linda

re: Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

Linda in Texas — Sat, 31 Aug 2013 14:25:35 GMT

I love and respect and honor Claimers and especially those who prove their worth in salt and go on to win large. To that comment i say, Rest in Peace Dear Saginaw. You did yourself and New York Fans who followed you and all of us New Yorker Wanna' Be's very proud. "Took a bad step" i loathe those words. And i mention also Sarava's Dancer and Kris Royal who suffered the same fate last weekend in Saratoga in the same race.

This was off topic Steve and thank you for the history of Mr. Jerkens. I bet he won't mind if i talked about the 3 mentioned here. Seems to be the feared part of the sport.

Linda

re: Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

Saratoga AJ — Sat, 31 Aug 2013 14:10:21 GMT

Brown Brother:

Frankel was indeed a terrific trainer. But if Bobby was still with us, he would also say Jerkens was the best. He admired him as did every other of Jerkens' fellow trainers.

And lets not forget that Bobby had superior runners at his disposal.

One can only imagine what Allen would have accomplished if had the kind of horses the Frankels and Pletchers, etc. have had.

re: Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

Coldfacts — Sat, 31 Aug 2013 12:01:18 GMT

With Mr. Jerkin’s record and list of accomplishments, he certainly deserves a good crop of youngsters each year irrespective of his age. Why should Todd Pletcher have 200, 2YOs each year and a trainer of Mr. Jerkins caliber remains literally MIA. I guess we are in the high tech and high octane era and he is too old school.

If Allen Jerkins is now considered to be too old, his son Jimmy Jerkins carry his genes and it would be safe to assume that his dad has taught him well and he represents an extension of his father. The younger Jerkins obviously has more energy and can be used as a conduit to extend his father legacy. Come on owners!

Jimmy Jerkins had Quality Road before Todd Pletcher. He used him to defeat the Todd Pletcher trained Dunkirk in the FL Derby. Despite this fact the late Mr. Evans transferred QR to Todd Pletcher. What was Mr. Evans thinking? A horse of that caliber in the hands of Allen Jerkins son and with him a backup consultant, the sky was the limit.

Would Quality Road have had finished a floundering last in the BCC had he been in the hands of the Jerkins?

On the subject of trainers performing phenomenal acts, Woody Steven remains #1 for me. Conquistador Cielo won the Met Mile against older horses in a NTR of 1:33 and returned 6 days later to win the 12F Belmont Stakes.

There are trainers and there are horsemen.

re: Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

Saratoga AJ — Sat, 31 Aug 2013 10:03:06 GMT

1973 was indeed a great year for the Chief. Allen Jerkens was elected to the Racing Hall of Fame that year, and at 43 was the youngest man to ever do so at that time.

re: Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

Brown brother — Sat, 31 Aug 2013 01:27:49 GMT

St Louis Steve,

This is what is great about horse racing and Haskins --they both inspire passion. A fee retorts inspired by mine and your reply to my post. First, in 03 Frankel won a record number of Grade ones which draw horses from worldwide and some of which were run at NYRA. Second, the Chief rarely shipped and won in 73, while Frankel did it regularly in 03 and showed superior horsemanship keeping his animals at peak performance levels in different surroundings. Third, even triple crown winners Seattle slew and affirmed were beaten twice in their triple crown years, though not by the same trainer, so you got me there, though it should be noted that Frankel WON a td race in 03, which the chief did not in 73 (or any other year for that matter). Finally, a trainer's ROI is not necessarily a reflection of training ability but rather parimutuel capriciousness. Go back and look at Bobby's 03. Simply the best year by a trainer in the u.s. in the last 40.

re: Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

Saratoga AJ — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 22:11:05 GMT

Steve, thank you for your wonderful article about the Chief. You are so right...all the other trainers from Pletcher to Zito to Mott, ALL of them, idolize Allen Jerkens, that is definitely true. They have said as much at interviews over the years. I have always maintained he was/is the greatest trainer of my lifetime. He has had some nice horses, champion Sky Beauty perhaps being the best, but as you pointed out, he could train average horses or even misfits and get them to run great for a targeted race against the best horses in the last 50+ years. It's too bad he never had a horse good enough to win a Triple Crown race.

I first became aware of Mr. Jerkens when when I was a kid and he beat my beloved Carry Back, (the first horse I rooted for and made me a racing fan for life) and the mighty Kelso in 1962 with Beau Purple. I became a follower of his horses from then on.

I have had the privilege to meet Mr Jerkens a number of times over the years, down in Queens years ago or now while he is up here at Saratoga, including coincidentally last night at Pennels Restaurant a couple of blocks from the track! He is always so gracious, and appreciated my congratulations on his winning the Saratoga Dew Stakes on Monday (and make me some money..had the exacta and triple!). He loves when I tell him I was there back in 1962 at Aqueduct & Belmont to see him knock off Kelso and Carry Back.

It should be pointed out that most of those great upsets were weight for age races where his hoses did not get any weight allowances. For instance, Onion carried equal weights when he beat Secretariat, and Prove Out, as a 4 yr old, actually spotted Sec SEVEN pounds when he trounced him in the Woodward.

Allen Jerkens is the last of the great old time trainers...the last connection to the glory days long ago of legends like Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons.

Again, thank you Steve for sharing your wonderful article about a living legend, especially to your younger readers.

re: Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

steve from st louis — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 19:20:25 GMT

Brown Brother, I think you are "up the track". The NYRA circuit is a much bigger "sand box" than the California circuit where Frankel played. When a trainer can beat the prevailing Triple Crown winner during that Triple Crown year twice with two different horses, that is heady stuff that probably has never been done before or since. As far as wealthy clients, Frankel never chased any empty wagons and was probably favored in the majority of his wins whereas The Chief traveled by "boxcars". No comparison. Sorry.

re: Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

spitting the bit — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 18:53:26 GMT

Great article....I still have the photo of Onion winning the Whitney, front page, above the fold, in the Washington Post. What a list great names from the great 70's in horse racing. thanks!!

re: Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

Jackie WV — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 17:53:46 GMT

Thanks so much for the great story on Mr. Jerkens!! I really didn't know anything about him before this story. I had always heard about "Onion", but never knew who trained him. I've only been a racing fan for 7 or 8 years now, so I love learning about the old timers and the golden days of racing any chance I get!!

I rescued my OTTB in 2005, started researching pedigrees, and eventually fell in love with the horse racing world. I've been a huge fan/follower ever since. Isn't it amazing how a lovable ex-racer could ignite such a passion for the sport?

Anyway, please keep the stories coming Steve.....I have learned so much from you in the past few years!! Thanks again!

re: Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

Daniel Jividen — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 15:23:45 GMT

What I love about Steve Haskins's nostalgia pieces are the behind the scenes anecdotes. For example this column - the quotes from exercise riders, grooms and assistant trainers, the touch football games behind Jerkens's barn. Haskins gives us such rich and vivid pictures of life on the backstretch. Steve Haskins is maturing into one of the best turf writers since Joe Palmer.

re: Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

phdiers — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 10:09:19 GMT

Love the history lessons you give us, another wonderful story that every racing fan should know.

re: Allen Jerkens and the Greatest Year Ever

The Deacon — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 07:19:09 GMT

Love your trips down memory lane Steve. You mention a lot of great names of the past many of us had forgotten about.

Moccasin, Numbered Account, and Wajima to name three.

I just shake my head when I think of all these memories you have stored up. I just don't know how you do it.....