NEWS
Gretchen Jackson
Posted: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 11:23 AM
GRETCHEN JACKSON
Benoit & Associates photo
Lael Stables
Gretchen Jackson was thrust into the public spotlight in 2006 when homebred Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Barbaro broke down in the Preakness Stakes (G1). Her grace in the face of adversity throughout the Dynaformer colt’s fight for survival made her a household name and also allowed her to find something positive in the midst of tragedy.
As Barbaro battled to survive after surgery to stabilize his shattered right hind limb and the laminitis he subsequently developed, Gretchen Jackson, and her husband, Roy, helped elevate awareness of equine safety and research. Spearheaded by the Jacksons, the Fund for Laminitis Research was developed at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center as was the Barbaro Gift Fund to support ongoing patient care and the expansion of the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals, where Barbaro received first-class care. The two funds have raised a combined $4.4-million through May.
In addition to supporting research on laminitis, Jackson became a vocal opponent of horse slaughter and an advocate of retraining horses for careers after the racetrack.
“It was an opportunity that might not have happened had it not been for Barbaro to be involved,” she said. “People responded to Barbaro by asking me to be involved with things that I ordinarily would never have been asked to be involved with. I assume that because of Barbaro and our feeling of how his care should be, people equated that to rescuing horses and anti-slaughter, and that was a natural connection.”
Date of birth: September 22, 1937
Birthplace: Philadelphia
Residence: West Grove, Pennsylvania
Education: Bachelor of Arts, University of Pennsylvania; Master of Science, Neumann University
Family: Married, four children
Career: Taught riding at camp; waited tables at a dude ranch; worked with children of alcoholics; counseled adults at rehabilitation agency in Wilmington, Delaware
Involvement in racing: Started in 1970s and now the owner of 40 horses in training in the U.S. and four in England
Favorite horse: “Sanny, my fox hunting mare—11 seasons of hunting, hunter trials, and horse shows.”
What book are you currently reading? Where White Horses Gallop, by Beatrice MacNeil
Biggest personal achievement: “Mother of four adults I am very proud of.”
Outside interests: Riding with grandchildren, walking my dogs, gardening, farm management, reading, music, history
What women in racing do you look up to? Penny Chenery, Alice Chandler
Personal motto: “Trust in God.”
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READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: MD, Greensboro, NC on September 04, 2010 at 02:48 PM
Grace is synonymous with Gretchen Jackson. Thank you for your care of Barboro, for your graciousness w/his fans, and for your support of looking after race horses after they've left the track. I follow all of Lael's horses.
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Posted by: Verna, Cincinnati, OH on July 08, 2010 at 09:45 PM
I met Mrs. Jackson very briefly at the '08 Celebration of Barbaro's Life in Delaware as she and Mr. Jackson were leaving. She graciously stopped and shook my hand as I thanked her for allowing us so much access to Barbaro, when she didn't have too. She thanked me for caring and fighting for the horses. She even asked my children's names and spoke with them, all as she was leaving, again, something she didn't have to do, but she did. Mrs. Jackson is a woman of grace and integrity, yet humble and down to earth. She asked us, the FOB/Barbaro Nation to help stop horse slaughter, to help in any way we could to find a cure for laminitis and to help horses who no longer had a career in racing. We did. We stepped up and because of one voice, her voice, mountains have been moved in areas where it was once impossible to have movement. Horse slaughter: America's dirty little secret is no more and will soon be a thing of the past. Laminitis research: Millions more in funding so even more in research can be done to find a cure/treatment or prevent this horrible disease that as taken the lives of so many horses. The racing community has come together more than ever before to step up and do right by the horses that are the heart and soul of the industry. Why? One voice, Mrs. Jackson's, has turned into hundreds of thousands of voices. Barbaro's legacy lives on and will continue too, long after many of us are gone. All because of one woman. Mrs. Gretchen Jackson. She and Mr. Jackson are everything that is right not only in racing, but in being a wonderful example of how we should all live our lives.
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Posted by: Carla, Ft. Myers, FL on July 02, 2010 at 08:57 PM
Mr. and Mrs. Jackson funded a Chair - named after Dr. Dean Richardson, Barbaro's surgeon - to the tune of $3 million and those funds help all other equines coming into the facility in one way or another. Mrs. Jackson also appeared before Congress, along with several other notable Thoroughbred owners, taking an anti-slaughter position there.
Personally, I think it's great that they allowed SO much public scrutiny of Barbaro and his racing and subsequent ordeal. I had the opportunity to meet both of them briefly at the unveiling of Barbaro's statue at Churchill Downs and they are both gracious, giving people - of their time, talent, and treasure. Blessings to them both!
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Posted by: anne, albuquerque, NM on July 01, 2010 at 09:04 AM
what does Gretchen Jackson do to help save horses from slaughter , a vocal opponent as she states is fine, but what does she do? "In addition to supporting research on laminitis, Jackson became a vocal opponent of horse slaughter and an advocate of retraining horses for careers after the racetrack."
Does she contribute any financial support to saving horses? speaking up is one thing doing something is another.
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