NEWS
George Bolton eulogizes Jess Jackson
Posted: Thursday, April 21, 2011 12:05 PM
CURLIN's CONNECTIONS CELEBRATE 2007 PREAKNESS
Maryland Jockey Club photo
George Bolton and Jess Jackson partnered to acquire eventual Preakness Stakes (G1) winner and Horse of the Year Curlin after the Smart Strike colt won his career debut. The two have continued to partner on racehorses and were friends. Bolton spoke with staff writer Jeff Lowe about his memories of Jess Jackson, who died Thursday in California.
I loved him and we were great friends, but he was suffering and he was better off in heaven.
He had Plan A and then it went to Plan B.
Plan A was Brad Martin, Emmanuel de Seroux, and [Bruce Headley] and then when he found out they were taking gigantic secret commissions he had to settle that situation, which he was completely in the right to do. Anyone who wants to pick on Jess Jackson ought to be ashamed. If I came into your house and took a painting off the wall and you asked for it back and called the police, I hope people would think you were right and not me.
Plan B was joining forces with John Moynihan in 2005; I think it was March 18, 2005. It was my son’s second birthday. In that five-year span, they’ve had three Horse of the Year [titles], and I don’t think John or me ever expected a man to be as sportsmanlike as [Jackson] was.
He bought his partners out [to race] Curlin at four. He threw [three-year-old filly] Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness [Stakes (G1)], the Haskell [Invitational Stakes (G1)], and the Woodward [Stakes (G1) against older males]. He did things that most owners would never dream of doing. You look at Zenyatta’s schedule compared to Rachel’s? Now that is a sportsman.
He was right to clean up the situation that he stuck in early, and he was extremely right in finding a great partnership with John Moynihan. The only thing that makes me sad [in his ambitions in Thoroughbred racing] is that this is the first year that the mares that he and John Moynihan and [Jackson’s wife] Barbara Banke bought have foals that are running, and that’s [debut winner] Maclean’s Music and some of these beautifully bred homebreds that are running like hell.
I’m sad that he doesn’t get to see Astrology and Dominus finish out their year, and I’m devastated that he doesn’t get to see some of these homebreds that are so well bred and so beautiful start and finish their careers.
I think you will see as 2010 and 2011 come out, that he not only had a preeminent racing operation, but breeding, selling, and racing operation at the highest end.
I’m devastated to lose him and his energy and his passion to do things so well. What a sportsman he was and also this is a year where you’re going to see these runners out of his mares and the best stallions, and if you look at what Maclean’s Music did, I think there’s going to be a lot of them. Albergatti, Astrology, and Maclean’s Music are three colts that we’ll call home-baked goods.
Not seeing the product of Curlin and Rachel Alexandra is another thing that is sad for me, but he leaves a great legacy in everything he touched. He was a famous man, but a gentlemanly fun, great partner to me.
The first phone call that I would get when a horse won that I owned that he didn’t have a part in would be from him.
When The Factor won his maiden race at Santa Anita, the first phone call was from him. He was just rooting for me.
We had a hell of a time with Curlin, don’t get me wrong, but it really shows how good of a man he was when he would call when he didn’t have a piece of the horse and he still is rooting for his pals.
I have never had more fun than the nine months we had with Curlin. We had ups and downs, now. We lost the Belmont [Stakes (G1)] and the Haskell, but he never lost hope. He let [trainer] Steve Asmussen do his thing. He skipped the Travers [Stakes (G1)] and did the Jockey Club Gold Cup [Stakes (G1)] and Breeders’ Cup [Classic (G1)] and bang, we ended the year at the top.
We had a frustrating [Kentucky] Derby (G1), a wonderful Preakness, a frustrating Belmont, a very frustrating Haskell, and we had two huge wins at the end of the year. Jess was consistent and fun and optimistic, hands’ off to the trainer to let Steve make the big decisions on where to place him in these huge races, and the fact that he decided to race him after he was already Horse of the Year and run him in 2008 was a real tribute to who [Jackson] was.
He bought Rachel [Alexandra] and a week later he put her in the Preakness. They broke the mold with this guy. That was him.
It’s a funny thing. The guy has a reputation being a tough guy, blah, blah, blah. He was a total gentleman and a fun, optimistic partner with me the whole way through.
When I first met him, I was a little intimidated. He had an aura about him when he walked in the room. The second you got to know him, he was just a fun, supportive partner.
He was inflexibly consistent as an optimistic, fun partner. When things didn’t go well—if you’re a first-class operation, you’re still going to lose 75% of the time—he didn’t sit there and sulk for weeks, he just said, ‘Let’s regroup and get it back.’
I can’t answer questions for John Moynihan and Barbara about what they’ve talked about. I can tell you that she loves racing, she loves her foals, she loves her mares, she loves her stallions, so I would think that she would continue, but that’s for her to answer.
READER COMMENTS
|
|
|
Posted by: Jason, Brooklyn, NY on April 26, 2011 at 09:15 PM
Common sense- it's very clear that you don't have two bits of sense in your head since your post was basically copying and pasting mine. But that's OK. After all, I can't expect you to actually think.
Why would I be envious of a horse? I have better things to do, my friend.
Do you honestly think that Zenyatta will not be forgotten when the next good horse comes? It seems like people such as yourself have long forgotten about the truly great mares such as Gallorette and Twilight Tear.
As for the awards, sure, gloat about them if you want. All they are is popularity awards. I could give you an "Idiot of the Year" Award if you like. I bet I could round up more than enough support. You're very shallow, my friend, which is unfortunate.
By the way, I am not a Rachel fan. Nor am I a Zenyatta fan. The last horse I was truly attached to was Skip Away in the '90s. Fantastic horse. I like both RA and Z, but I am not fanatical. I know better. It's sad how quickly some forget....
Report Abuse 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by: common sense 101, chicago, IL on April 26, 2011 at 09:01 PM
Jason, it's very evident that you are insecure for putting it out there, you were hoping someone would reply back to feed your ego because you rachel fans are so desperate since Zenyatta has made the world all but forget RA. Believe you me, Zenyatta fans are laughing all the way to the bank at you RA fans. We feel your envy of our horse. We can't blame you for being so envious of Zenyatta. Why not, darn, she is still being awarded the awards...who could ask for anything more.....Yeah, you guys could...I'm laughing
Report Abuse
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by: Jason, Brooklyn, NY on April 26, 2011 at 07:31 PM
Common sense- You're so easy to provoke. Thank you for giving me a good laugh. It's quite evident that you're very insecure to keep spouting bathroom invective in every post. By all means, if you wish to keep making a fool of yourself, do so. I certainly don't mind the entertainment.
By the way, I don't consider the two far apart. Neither beat stellar competition. I prefer Rachel Alexandra.
P.S. Clearly you're having trouble deciphering what my name is. It's Jason. J-A-S-O-N. Don't worry- even an idiot can get it right so there's hope for you.
Report Abuse
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by: common sense 101, chicago, IL on April 25, 2011 at 09:33 PM
Jason, or whatever your name is, Have you forgot which horse ran for three years without a loss against older females, also ran and won the BCC in her first attempt, also she is still recieving awards for her career, I don't think I have seen RA being awarded for anything since her 2009 HOTY award, now who do you say is the more SUPREME YOU STUPID PUNK. I'd say Zenyatta punk. talk your trash to the back door.
Report Abuse
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by: Jason, Brooklyn, NY on April 25, 2011 at 06:10 PM
Zenyatta reigns supreme over RA? In what way? Let's compare the two- Zenyatta is 0 for 1 against males on the dirt, Rachel is 3 for 3. Zenyatta does not have a victory on the dirt in a race of consequence. RA has 3, and if you count the Kentucky Oaks and Mother Goose, that's 5.
I just think you're bitter that Rachel deservedly won the 2009 Horse of the Year over Zenyatta and rather easily to boot.
Report Abuse
|
|
|
|
|
|
