Robert Jones (jockey)
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bobby" Jones was an American
Champion
jockey
in Thoroughbred horse racing
.
From San Ysidro, California
, Bobby Jones was the son of Alfred L. Jones, who was involved in horse racing and who raised Thoroughbred
s.
Bobby Jones rode professionally at Agua Caliente Racetrack
in Tijuana
, Mexico
but rose to prominence riding at racetracks in Chicago
. In 1931 he was a contract jockey for the stable of Mrs. Emil Denemark, and others, and was the leading jockey at Arlington Park
. The August 8, 1932 issue of the Chicago Daily Tribune
wrote that Jones was considered "one of the greatest jockeys ever to come out of the west." The December 26, 1932 issue of the Tribune reported that he had signed a contract with racing stable owner Willis Sharpe Kilmer
that could earn him $50,000 in 1933. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/440467602.html?dids=440467602:440467602&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&date=Dec+26%2C+1932&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=HIGHEST+PAID+JOCKEY%3F+HE'LL+BE+BOBBY+JONES&pqatl=google While he met with little success riding for the Kilmer stable, Jones had also signed to ride for the Whitney family's
famous Greentree Stable
in 1933. That year, he led all jockeys in the United States in purse money won, finishing ahead of greats such as Silvio Coucci
, Charlie Kurtsinger, Raymond Workman
, Wayne Wright
, and Mack Garner.
Bobby Jones made three straight appearances in the Kentucky Derby
between 1933 and 1935 but finished off the board each time. In 1934 he rode for Isabel Dodge Sloane's
Brookmeade Stable
and for Liz Whitney
. His 1934 successes included a win aboard High Quest
in the Preakness Stakes
, the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown
series.
Following the building of Santa Anita Racetrack in 1934, Bobby Jones returned to ride in California where he won the 1936 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap
. In 1937 he was competing at Tanforan Racetrack
in San Bruno, California
when he was severely injured in a fall. Although he later returned to racing on a limited basis, Jones never fully recovered and in a weakened condition died of pneumonia
on March 10, 1938 at his parents' home in San Ysidro.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Champion
United States Champion Jockey by earnings
There is recognition for the United States Champion Jockey by earnings but no formal award is given to the jockey whose mounts earned the most purse money in American Thoroughbred racing. The American Racing Manual shows that since 1910 the following jockeys headed the annual earnings list the most...
jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
in Thoroughbred horse racing
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
.
From San Ysidro, California
San Ysidro, San Diego, California
San Ysidro is a community in the southern section of San Diego. It is located in the southernmost part of San Diego County, immediately north of the U.S.-Mexico border. It neighbors Otay Mesa West to the north, Otay Mesa to the east, and Nestor and the Tijuana River Valley to the west...
, Bobby Jones was the son of Alfred L. Jones, who was involved in horse racing and who raised Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
s.
Bobby Jones rode professionally at Agua Caliente Racetrack
Agua Caliente Racetrack
The Agua Caliente Racetrack is a greyhound racing and former horse racing track in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. It opened in December 1929 at a cost of $2.5 million.One year before, the Agua Caliente Casino and Hotel opened in June 1928....
in Tijuana
Tijuana
Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
but rose to prominence riding at racetracks in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. In 1931 he was a contract jockey for the stable of Mrs. Emil Denemark, and others, and was the leading jockey at Arlington Park
Arlington Park
Arlington Park is a horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Horse racing in the Chicago region has been a popular sport since the early days of the city in the 1830s, and at one time Chicago had more horse racing tracks than any other major metropolitan area...
. The August 8, 1932 issue of the Chicago Daily Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
wrote that Jones was considered "one of the greatest jockeys ever to come out of the west." The December 26, 1932 issue of the Tribune reported that he had signed a contract with racing stable owner Willis Sharpe Kilmer
Willis Sharpe Kilmer
Willis Sharpe Kilmer , son of Jonas M. Kilmer and Julia E. Sharpe, was a marketing pioneer, newspaperman, and horse breeder. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he graduated from Cornell University in 1890. Kilmer was perhaps best known for advertising and promoting his uncle's Swamp Root patent medicine...
that could earn him $50,000 in 1933. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/440467602.html?dids=440467602:440467602&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&date=Dec+26%2C+1932&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=HIGHEST+PAID+JOCKEY%3F+HE'LL+BE+BOBBY+JONES&pqatl=google While he met with little success riding for the Kilmer stable, Jones had also signed to ride for the Whitney family's
Whitney family
The Whitney family is an American family notable for their social prominence, wealth, business enterprises and philanthropy, founded by John Whitney who came from London, England to Watertown, Massachusetts in 1635.-Rise to prominence:...
famous Greentree Stable
Greentree Stable
Greentree Stable, in Red Bank, New Jersey, was a major American thoroughbred horse racing stable and breeding farm established in 1914 by Payne Whitney of the Whitney family of New York City. Payne Whitney operated a horse farm and stable at Saratoga Springs, New York with his brother Harry Payne...
in 1933. That year, he led all jockeys in the United States in purse money won, finishing ahead of greats such as Silvio Coucci
Silvio Coucci
Silvio Coucci was an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.A New Yorker, in 1931 Silvio Coucci rode Thoroughbreds at Agua Caliente racetrack in Tijuana, Mexico under contract with brothers John and George Coburn. His performance brought him to the attention of the extremely wealthy Mrs...
, Charlie Kurtsinger, Raymond Workman
Raymond Workman
Raymond "Sonny" Workman was an American Champion and Hall of Fame jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. During his fifteen years as a professional rider from 1926 through 1940, he won an exceptional twenty percent of his starts....
, Wayne Wright
Wayne D. Wright
Wayne Danforth Wright was a Champion American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey who won all three of the Triple Crown races in different years....
, and Mack Garner.
Bobby Jones made three straight appearances in the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
between 1933 and 1935 but finished off the board each time. In 1934 he rode for Isabel Dodge Sloane's
Isabel Dodge Sloane
Isabel Cleves Dodge Sloane was an American heiress and socialite who owned a major Thoroughbred horse racing stable and breeding farm....
Brookmeade Stable
Brookmeade Stable
Brookmeade Stable was a successful thoroughbred horse racing stable owned by heiress and socialite Isabel Dodge Sloane. Sloane first won using the name Brookmeade Stable at the Manly Memorial Steeplechase at Pimlico in 1924....
and for Liz Whitney
Liz Whitney Tippett
Mary Elizabeth Whitney Person Tippett was a wealthy American socialite and philanthropist who was a champion horsewoman and for more than fifty years, a prominent owner/breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses.Born in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of Elizabeth Dobson and her husband...
. His 1934 successes included a win aboard High Quest
High Quest
High Quest was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1934 Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown series of races....
in the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
, the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown
United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
In the United States, the "Triple Crown" is usually the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a series of three Thoroughbred horse races for three-year-old horses run in May and early June of each year consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.While Daily Racing Form...
series.
Following the building of Santa Anita Racetrack in 1934, Bobby Jones returned to ride in California where he won the 1936 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap
Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap
The Santa Margarita Invitational Handicapis an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California...
. In 1937 he was competing at Tanforan Racetrack
Tanforan Racetrack
Tanforan Racetrack in San Bruno, California was a thoroughbred horse racing facility that operated from September 4, 1899 to July 31, 1964. Tanforan was constructed to serve a clientele from the nearby city of San Francisco. The facility was named after Toribio Tanforan, the grandson-in-law of Jose...
in San Bruno, California
San Bruno, California
San Bruno is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States. The population was 41,114 at the 2010 census.The city is adjacent to San Francisco International Airport and Golden Gate National Cemetery.-Geography:San Bruno is located at...
when he was severely injured in a fall. Although he later returned to racing on a limited basis, Jones never fully recovered and in a weakened condition died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
on March 10, 1938 at his parents' home in San Ysidro.