Rodney Jenkins, who made the switch to training Thoroughbreds after a Hall of Fame show career, passed away the evening of Dec. 5 at the age of 80.
A native of Middleburgh, Virginia, Jenkins was the son of the famous horseman and huntsman Enis Jenkins and dominated the show ring in this country in parts of three decades, retiring in 1989 as the winningest rider in the history of the sport. Jenkins won a pair of silver medals at the 1987 Pan American games as a member of the U.S. Equestrian Team and was elected to the Show Jumping Hall of Fame in 1999.
“I grew up under him going back to the show horse days. Basically, all my life I've known his family,” Jenkins' best friend and fellow trainer Curtis Beale 'Woody' Payne said. “He had a natural relationship with horses. It was instinct. The whole family has it. He was very modest for all the success he had, and he was a very caring and giving person, as well. Just all the kind acts and attitudes over a lifetime is remarkable.”
Jenkins transitioned to Thoroughbreds in 1991 and his horses won a total of 941 for earnings of over $24.8 million. His two best horses were millionaire Cordmaker and Bandbox, both of whom he conditioned for Ellen Charles's Hillwood Stable.
“We had a wonderful time together,” Charles said. “I learned a lot from Rodney. Even though I had grown up around horses, I hadn't grown up as far as breeding them and going to sales and things like that. He was a really fun person to be with. It was great, great experience.”
Hillwood's best horse at present is GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile runner-up Post Time (Frosted), who runs in Saturday's GII Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct.
“I probably wouldn't have had Post Time if I hadn't looked at horses with him,” Charles said. “I was very fond of him. It's sad, very sad, but time goes on.”
Jenkins' son, Patrick, often traveled with his father's horses when they ran out of town and won 60 races as a trainer himself between 2006 and 2021. He now works as an assistant for Woody Payne based in Charlottesville, Virginia.
“Patrick's doing OK. I just sent him up the road to Maryland here a little while ago. Rodney's health had been declining so he was mentally prepared for it, as well. He was just up there about a week ago visiting with his dad,” Payne said.
“He's got a lot on him right now. Patrick would ship around like he would go to Keeneland with stakes horses for his dad and he broke horses. Mrs. Charles was one of his good customers,” he added. “Patrick is still in the horse business and carrying on the family legacy.”
Jenkins's last starter, 3-year-old gelding The Band Runs On, finished fourth in Laurel's Star de Naskra Stakes June 29. His last winner came with 3-year-old filly Lilly Lightning Apr. 19 at Laurel. Both horses were bred in Maryland and owned by Hillwood Stable.
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