James E. Jones, Farrier (1952-2009) — Award accepted by Daughter, Linda Jones
James E. “J.J.” Jones, a farrier from Lexington, KY began his career in the horse industry by helping his dad clean horse stalls at Spendthrift Farm. One day, James caught the attention of farrier John Madison who later taught Jones the trade. James learned the art of making horseshoes for horses and devices to correct, improve, or aid with performance. But he also perfected his skills by going in the shop to practice for hours making specialty horses. Occasionally, while working as an apprentice, he would take this supplies and tools to the Thoroughbred Center and Keeneland to drum up business.
He serviced many farms in thirty-eight years of business including Hamburg, Dixiana, Darby Dan, Gaines-Gentry, and Patchen Wilkes. He shod famous Thoroughbreds including Mr. Greeley, Affirmed, Alysheba, His Majesty, Roberto, Graustark, Congaree and Chilukki. His parents, Rev. Joseph L. Jones and Hattie Farris Jones, lived in Jimtown and had eleven children.
James graduated from Bryan Station High School in 1971. He and Linda Denise Gay married in 1974. They were parents of Jarrod “Jerard’, and Linda. Their farm was adjacent to Spendthrift. He was a member of Jimtown Baptist Church and the Jimtown Male Chorus.
Sources: Bloodhorse Magazine. March 20, 2009. Conversations with Linda Jones, Joshua Jones, Jonathan Figgs, Sam Green. Written narrative by daughter, Linda Jones. Obituary: Lexington Herald-Leader. March 19, 2009. 33.
Jerry Smith, Exerciser
Smith, born in Birmingham, Alabama, moved to KY in 1960 with his family. In late 1966, when looking for something to do, he went with a friend, who worked on the backstretch, to Keeneland. He found that he liked working with horses. By the time Smith was seventeen, he had grown to 5’7’’, a tall skinny teen. With his growth, becoming a jockey was out of the question but he had “good hands” and handled horses well. He became an exerciser, breaking yearlings first for Tommy Stevenson, a trainer, based in Lexington. With the stable, Smith traveled to Florida Downs, River Downs, Ellis Park, Liberty Bell, and Monmouth Park. He worked with John Massa trainer for Ben Annarella at Holly Crest Farm in New Jersey through the 1970s.
Smith explained that the job of an exerciser was to ‘school’ yearlings. In other words, getting them use to being ridden, limbering them up during morning workouts, walking through paddocks, walking around the shed, walking past grandstands crowded with fans, being led by a pony rider, entering and breaking out of starting gates, galloping on all types of tracks, galloping at time (clocking) and of course racing to win.
Dean S. Toller, Exerciser
Toller, a native of Lexington, at the age of seventeen began riding for trainer Herb Stevenson. During his career he was employed by Doug Davis, Dick Spiller, Perry Smith, Tommy Stevenson, Joe Bolero, T.W. Kelly, Leroy Jolly and Theophilus Irvin (Phoenix Rising honoree of 2020). He worked at stables and tracks in Kentucky, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Michigan, and Florida. He breezed Dust Commander, winner of the 1970 Blue Grass Stakes, at Keeneland and the KY Derby. Mike Manganello was the jockey.
Johnny Washington, Exerciser — Award accepted by Daughter
Mr. Hocker was born in Lexington, KY. He was an outstanding master farrier for over 45 years, who shodded thoroughbred horse winners. He was a co-owner of a horse called Sterling Prospect. Additionally, he was a member of the Board of Horseshoers, a certified CTA in Lexington, Kentucky and National Farriers. Joseph was the first African American Commissioner for the Kentucky Horse Park (for 9½years). Furthermore, he was a Kentucky Colonel and Arkansas Traveler.
He was inducted into the Black Sports Hall of Fame, 2011 Horseshoeing Union and the Blue Grass Board of Horseshoers. He was married to Polly Hocker and father of three children: Amira Young (Jonathan C), Lance (La’Tonya) and the late Joseph.
Ron Hill, Keeneland Ringman
Hill says of himself that he is a smalltown boy from Urbana, Ohio who has traveled to twenty-three countries working in the equine industry.
Hill attributes his longevity with the horses to Kenny Underwood and to Dr. Wayne Nichols, a friend of his father. Underwood loaned Hill a pony to ride at a 4-H event. “If not for Kenny and that pony, I don’t know where I would be now.” Dr. Nichols took him to racetracks all over the country, taught him a lot about horses and how to be a professional. He had a great impact on Hill’s life.
Hill’s career began as a nine-year-old. Hill was an exerciser for close to forty years working in Ohio, Texas, and Florida before making a career change.
Hill now wears the green jacket as a ringman during the Keeneland Sales. He puts the yearlings at ease as they enter the sales ring and are showcased before bidders. Hill works with other ringmen who do their best every time to comfort the horse from beginning until the end of the bids. They are skilled handlers of horses. He said in an interview with Keeneland.com that “When the yearlings walk in there, they are looking for a friend. I let them stand there for a moment and take it all in. I wait for the horse to take the first step. I don’t want to move him – I want him to move himself. Then we have a little rapport.”
Source: Keeneland Library interview
Larry Demeritte, Trainer — Award accepted by Philip Jones
In 2024 Larry Demeritte achieved his dream of running a horse in the Kentucky Derby. He is the first Caribbean trainer who has had a Thoroughbred in a Derby.
Born into a family of eight brothers in 1950, Larry Demeritte grew up in Nassau, Bahamas. He began at a young age, caring, walking and grooming the horses his father, Thomas, trained in a backyard corral. He learned how to feed and condition horses to reach their peak and not to push them beyond it.
In 1976, fellow Bahamian Archie Donaldson, a physician, employed him as a groom. When Donaldson moved his stable to the United States, Larry Demeritte came with him. Donaldson employed trainer Oscar Dishman, Jr. (2018 Honoree). Demeritte was part of the team that conditioned Silver Series for his 1977 win of the American Derby. It had been ninety-one years since an African American trainer had won the Derby in 1886 when Albert Cooper did it with Silver Cloud, Isaac Murphy up.
Demeritte earned his trainer’s license in 1981 and went out on his own. None of the six horses he saddled won. But he was determined and kept at it. Forty-nine races later on December 19, 1984, Tom Tale hit the board at Latonia Race Course in Northern Kentucky. Other successes followed including running West Saratoga in the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby.