Brereton C. Jones was an influential figure in the thoroughbred industry in Kentucky. The man contributed to the success of the racing tracks and shaped the thoroughbred industry in the way it stands today. On his demise, the governor of Kentucky Andy Beshear remembered him as the distinguished thoroughbred owner who worked to strengthen the state.

Jones was co-founder and chairman of the Kentucky Equine Education Project and was also behind the establishment of Equine Breeders’ Incentive Fund to support the breeders. The 84-year-old was the owner of Airdrie Stud, the prestigious breeding farm known for its horses around the world. Jones in his breeding farm left a legacy that will remind the equestrian community of his work in the future.

Famed equestrian’s undying legacy

On September 18th, 2023 Brereton C. Jones, the famed equestrian, and horse lover passed away. He was one of the most successful breeders in North America. He set up the Airdrie Stud back in 1972 with his wife to breed quality horses. Throughout his life, Jones’s main focus was to produce durable and powerful horses rather than the commercial aspect of earning through horse racing. He would sometimes buy stallions for $10,000-$15,000 and match them with a large number of broodmares. In an interview with Blood-Horse, back in 2004, Jones said that he loves visiting the breeding stock sales and observing the mares make decisions in seconds time. He acknowledged that he brought a number of mares in that way.

Since the establishment of the farm, jones has produced many stakes and grade winners. Jones in his name and in partnership bred 269 stakes winners of which 25 were grade 1 winners, 29 were grade 2 winners, and 35 were grade 3 winners. Of his owned or co-owned 59 stakes winners 48 were bred on his farm, Airdrie Stud. Among the most notable were Proud Spell winner of the 2008 Kentucky Oaks, No Such Word winner of the 2010 Gazelle Stakes, Believe You Can winner of the 2012 Kentucky Oaks, and Include Betty winner of the 2015 Mother Goose Stakes. During his life, thoroughbred horse owner and breeder-bred horses won many races and earned enough amount with breeding sales to make his worth $22,946,666.

Equestrian owner cashed on bred horses

Brereton Jones had a simple concept. Breed the mares with your own stallion, and give the stallions that support, and that stallion will come back to give back the support in the future. During the years 1998 and 2022, the horses bred by Jones won 5,256 races in the mentioned period and earned more than $138.8 million. On average, over the course of 25 years, horses bred by his farm had an average yearning of $5.5 million. Jones also had a good eye for identifying good stallions which have shaped the breeding generation.

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Brereton Jones has left a lasting impact on the horse racing industry with his long list of home-bred successful horses and the role he played in shaping the thoroughbred industry in Kentucky.

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