Veteran Trainer Plans to Walk Off Into the Sunset

[two gun sid]

Larry Jones has a fist of Silent Reflection’s mane in one hand and an electric razor in the other, coiffing as fussily as any hairdresser to make the pretty filly even prettier. In moments like these Jones believes he can train horses forever. Then his cellphone rings and it’s an owner with a complaint or, worse, someone asking about Eight Belles, the filly who died at last year’s Kentucky Derby, and one of the darkest periods of his career is conjured again.

It helps put Jones at peace with his decision to retire from the racetrack after the racing season. A vigorous 52-year-old, he plans to walk away from the game just when he has reached the top.

He said he would miss galloping horses in the morning, as he did the undefeated Old Fashioned, the early Kentucky Derby favorite, in the rain here on Thursday morning at Oaklawn Park. It brought a smile to his face as wide as his bowed legs.

Jones is also going to miss the frequent visits to the winner’s circle, where he hopes to end up on Saturday with Old Fashioned after the Rebel Stakes. Old Fashioned is hardly his only Triple Crown candidate: his wife, Cindy, will saddle Friesan Fire, the favorite in the Louisiana Derby, on Saturday at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/14/sports/othersports/14jones.html?_r=2&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

[TZ]

1. Well that confirms it.

I'm rooting for Old Fashioned to win the Derby..I think this guy deserves to win it...

[two gun sid]

3. I'm high on Friesan Fire for the Derby...

I think this son of AP Indy, out of a AUSGI winning mare, looks to be his best bet for the Derby. He deserves some recognition.

[Justpat]

2. It'll never happen.

After he wins the Derby, he'll reconsider.

We all get burned out in this business, but we are all in it because we love the horses.
His filly suffered a public breakdown and he received a lot of public abuse. Get used to it.
How do you think Bill felt after the Taylors and Hills took Slew away from him after
winning the TC? Talk about public humiliation. But in this business there is always
a bunch of horses waiting for you back at the barn that need to be trained and cared for.
Quitting will not offer him any peace. Work and winning races is always the horseman's salvation.

[two gun sid]

4. That's probably true.

He wins the Derby, he'll never leave. Still, the thought of walking away from overbearing owners and public criticism has got to be pretty attractive to Jones right now. That gut wrenching feeling you get every time the phone rings is something I don't miss. The bills, the owners that don't pay on time, the help that doesn't show up on time or not at all, etc. I can see how he would walk away. Maybe if you had Shug's gig it might be different. Being a public trainer is hard and stressful work. I hope he does find some peace but, you're probably right. He'll be back.