Larry Jones

This Month's Guest: Larry Jones, trainer of Friesan Fire, Old Fashioned and Proud Spell

Podcast Available - 3/27/2009

A native of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Larry Jones was a commercial farmer before becoming a Thoroughbred owner in 1980 and took out his trainer's license in 1982. He recorded his first stakes win with Capt. Bold at Ellis Park in 1986.

From that point forward, Jones split his time between Kentucky and Oaklawn/Fair Grounds in the winter until 2006, when decided to move his summer operation to Delaware Park.

Larry and wife Cindy work together at the barn. In recent years, the pair has had much success as their stable has grown. He first became widely regarded after his victories with grade 1 winners Island Sand and Wildcat Bettie B and graded stakes winners Ruby's Reception, Josh’s Madelyn and Hello Liberty, giving him a reputation of having special talent for training fillies.

At Delaware Park, Jones met Rick Porter, for whom he now trains. For Porter, Jones trained the last two horses to finish second in the Kentucky Derby: Hard Spun in 2007 and Eight Belles in 2008 as well as current Kentucky Derby hopefuls Friesan Fire and Old Fashioned. He also trains the 2008 3-year-old champion filly Proud Spell, who won the Kentucky Oaks, for former Kentucky governor Brereton C. Jones (no relation).