H. Allen Jerkens
Encyclopedia
Harry Allen Jerkens is an American
Thoroughbred
race horse Hall of Fame trainer
.
Jerkens' father owned a riding academy
on Long Island that led to his interest in horse racing
and in 1950 he trained his first winner. Sometimes called the "Giant Killer", he is best known for his upsets. Jerkins saddled 1973 Whitney Handicap
winner Onion
(defeating Secretariat
), 1973 Woodward Stakes
and Jockey Club Gold Cup
winner Prove Out
(defeating Secretariat and Riva Ridge
, respectively), and Beau Purple
, who defeated Kelso
in 3 of their four meetings. In addition his horses have defeated other greats such as Buckpasser
, Cougar II
, and Forego
.
In 1973, H. Allen Jerkens was voted the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer
and in 1975 he became the youngest trainer ever inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
at the age of 45. Still active, he has trained more than 160 stakes winners including Duck Dance and Tunex.
His son Jimmy
followed in his footsteps and is also a successful trainer.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
race horse Hall of Fame trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
.
Jerkens' father owned a riding academy
Riding academy
A riding academy or riding center is a school for instruction in equestrianism, or for hiring of horses for pleasure riding.At the time of the Napoleonic Wars large buildings were constructed for them, like Moscow Manege, Mikhailovsky and Konnogvardeisky maneges in St Petersburg....
on Long Island that led to his interest 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 in 1950 he trained his first winner. Sometimes called the "Giant Killer", he is best known for his upsets. Jerkins saddled 1973 Whitney Handicap
Whitney Handicap
The Whitney Handicap is an American Grade 1 handicap race for Thoroughbred racehorses three years of age and older run at a distance of 1⅛ miles. In 2007, the Breeders' Cup Ltd...
winner Onion
Onion (horse)
Onion was a U.S. thoroughbred whose victory in the 1973 Whitney Handicap is considered to be among the most dramatic upsets in the history of horse racing....
(defeating Secretariat
Secretariat (horse)
Secretariat was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, that in 1973 became the first U.S. Triple Crown champion in 25 years, setting new race records in two of the three events in the Series—the Kentucky Derby , and the Belmont Stakes —records that still stand today.Secretariat was sired by Bold...
), 1973 Woodward Stakes
Woodward Stakes
The Woodward Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race and is one of the premier races for older thoroughbred horses in the United States. Named for prominent racehorse owner, George Nicholas Woodward, it is run at 1⅛ miles on the dirt for a purse of $750,000.The Woodward was run as a handicap in...
and Jockey Club Gold Cup
Jockey Club Gold Cup
The Jockey Club Gold Cup, established in 1919, is a prestigious thoroughbred flat race open to horses of either gender three-years-old and up. It is typically the main event of the fall meeting at Belmont Park, just as the Belmont Stakes is of the spring meeting and the Travers Stakes is of the...
winner Prove Out
Prove Out
Prove Out was an American thoroughbred racehorse who, under the training of H. Allen Jerkens, scored a 16:1 upset victory over Secretariat in the 1973 Woodward Stakes, while conceding 7 pounds to the Triple Crown winner...
(defeating Secretariat and Riva Ridge
Riva Ridge
Riva Ridge was a thoroughbred racehorse, the winner of the 1972 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. A son of First Landing out of Iberia , he was owned and bred by the Meadow Stable of Christopher Chenery. The horse's name came from Chenery's son-in-law, John Tweedy, who was a soldier in World War...
, respectively), and Beau Purple
Beau Purple
Beau Purple was an American Thoroughbred racehorse most famous for defeating the legendary champion gelding Kelso in three of their four meetings. He was trained by George P. Odom until mid 1962 when H. Allen Jerkens, a 1975 inductee of the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame, took over...
, who defeated Kelso
Kelso (horse)
Kelso was an American thoroughbred race horse considered among the best racehorses of the 20th century. In the list of the top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century by The Blood-Horse magazine Kelso ranks 4th, behind only Man o' War , Secretariat and Citation...
in 3 of their four meetings. In addition his horses have defeated other greats such as Buckpasser
Buckpasser
Buckpasser was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who won he won nine of his eleven race starts for international record winnings for a two-year-old of $586,090. Buckpasser was leading broodmare sire in 1983, 1984 and 1989....
, Cougar II
Cougar II
Cougar II was a Chilean Thoroughbred racehorse who also competed in theUnited States where he was inducted in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. He was sired by Tale of Two Cities, a son of Tehran, winner of the 1944 St...
, and Forego
Forego
Forego was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that won eight Eclipse Awards including Horse of the Year, Champion Handicap Horse and Champion Sprinter....
.
In 1973, H. Allen Jerkens was voted the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer
The Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor for trainers. Created in 1971, it is part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually.Its Canadian counterpart is the Sovereign Award for Outstanding Trainer....
and in 1975 he became the youngest trainer ever inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
at the age of 45. Still active, he has trained more than 160 stakes winners including Duck Dance and Tunex.
His son Jimmy
James A. Jerkens
James A. "Jimmy" Jerkens is an American Thoroughbred horse trainer. His father, U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee H. Allen Jerkens, and brother, Steve Jerkens, are also trainers....
followed in his footsteps and is also a successful trainer.