Sidney Craig
Encyclopedia
Sidney Harvey Craig was the business partner and husband of Jenny Craig, the fitness expert. Together, they founded the weight management company Jenny Craig, Inc. and expanded the company throughout the United States, Australia, and Canada.
. Sidney Craig was a one-time child tap dancer who graduated from California State University, Fresno
with a major in business and psychology. Later, he would commit $10 million to California State University, Fresno for its School of Business and Administrative Services. Fresno State renamed their School of Business to the Sid Craig School of Business.
While still a senior in college, he taught dancing at night for an Arthur Murray
Dance studio. After graduation, he joined the company, finally ending up owning several franchises and serving on its board of directors.
After Body Contour grew into 200 centers nationwide, it was sold in 1982 to NutriSystem. Because the buyout carried with it a non-compete clause in the United States, the Craigs moved to Australia to start the Jenny Craig weight-loss company there. The company became a great success and, after the non-compete clause expired, the Craigs brought the operations to Southern California, choosing Del Mar
for their corporate headquarters. The couple sold the majority of their interest in the company in 2002. Nestlé
purchased the company in 2006 for $600 million.
Over the years, the Craigs had been actively involved in horse racing
and had owned a number of successful Thoroughbreds. Sidney Craig was a popular figure at the Del Mar Racetrack
, where his horses were at times exceptionally successful. Craig was introduced to the Del Mar racetrack when he was 22 and serving in San Diego with the U.S. Navy. During this time, Craig became friends with Hal King, who was also in the Arthur Murray Dance studio business, and together they began frequenting the track. King would later became Craig's trainer and was his racing manager until he died in 1991.
In 1995, the Craigs purchased a 237 acre (0.95910582 km²) Thoroughbred horse-racing stable, breeding operation and training center in Rancho Santa Fe
called Rancho del Rayo.
In 2003, their horse Candy Ride won six races in a row, including the Pacific Classic Stakes
, setting a Del Mar track record for 1 miles.
Early life
Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, he was raised in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Sidney Craig was a one-time child tap dancer who graduated from California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno, often referred to as Fresno State University and synonymously known in athletics as Fresno State , is one of the leading campuses of the California State University system, located at the northeast edge of Fresno, California, USA.The campus sits at the foot of...
with a major in business and psychology. Later, he would commit $10 million to California State University, Fresno for its School of Business and Administrative Services. Fresno State renamed their School of Business to the Sid Craig School of Business.
While still a senior in college, he taught dancing at night for an Arthur Murray
Arthur Murray
Arthur Murray was a dance instructor and businessman, whose name is most often associated with the dance studio chain that bears his name....
Dance studio. After graduation, he joined the company, finally ending up owning several franchises and serving on its board of directors.
Career
Craig then went onto work for a chain of women's fitness salons called Body Contour Inc.Del Mar, California
Del Mar is an upscale beach town in San Diego County, California. The population was 4,161 at the 2010 census, down from 4,389 at the 2000 census. The San Diego County Fair is hosted on the Del Mar Fairgrounds every summer. Del Mar is Spanish for "of the sea" or "by the sea", because it is located...
for their corporate headquarters. The couple sold the majority of their interest in the company in 2002. Nestlé
Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
purchased the company in 2006 for $600 million.
Personal life
In the process of taking the company national, he hired a woman named Genevieve Guidroz Bourcq as director of the New Orleans center. She became the national director of operations for Body Contour. The couple married in 1979. It was the second marriage for both.Over the years, the Craigs had been actively involved in horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
and had owned a number of successful Thoroughbreds. Sidney Craig was a popular figure at the Del Mar Racetrack
Del Mar Racetrack
Del Mar Racetrack is an American Thoroughbred horse racing track at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in the seaside city of Del Mar, California, 20 miles north of San Diego. Operated by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, it is known for the slogan: "Where The Turf Meets The Surf." It was built by a partnership...
, where his horses were at times exceptionally successful. Craig was introduced to the Del Mar racetrack when he was 22 and serving in San Diego with the U.S. Navy. During this time, Craig became friends with Hal King, who was also in the Arthur Murray Dance studio business, and together they began frequenting the track. King would later became Craig's trainer and was his racing manager until he died in 1991.
In 1995, the Craigs purchased a 237 acre (0.95910582 km²) Thoroughbred horse-racing stable, breeding operation and training center in Rancho Santa Fe
Rancho Santa Fe, California
Rancho Santa Fe known locally as ″The Ranch″, is one of the most exclusive and affluent communities in Southern California. It is also a census-designated place in San Diego County, California and an unincorporated bedroom community of San Diego County...
called Rancho del Rayo.
In 2003, their horse Candy Ride won six races in a row, including the Pacific Classic Stakes
Pacific Classic Stakes
The Pacific Classic Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for runners aged 3-year-old or up run at the classic American distance of a mile and a quarter...
, setting a Del Mar track record for 1 miles.