Jonathan Sheppard

Trainer Lauren Robson saddled her first career winner Thursday, bringing a rather extensive resume with her into the Gulfstream Park winner's circle. "I came over from England in 2004. I worked for various, really good trainers. I was an assistant for Jonathan Sheppard, Wesley Ward and Jerry Hollendorfer," Robson said. "I galloped for Todd Pletcher. I rode many good horses for him. There were other good trainers I worked for also, like Richard Mandella." Robson saddled Jabran to a 3 1/2-length victory under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez in...

Jonathan Sheppard, an acclaimed Racing Hall of Fame trainer whose accomplishments extended from steeplechase race meets to the highest levels of Thoroughbred racing, died Sunday, Aug. 27, at his home in Hollywood, Fla. He was 82. The British-born horseman had retired from training early in 2021 with records that will, in several instances, stand forever. He was the National Steeplechase Association's all-time leading trainer by wins with 1,242 victories beginning in 1966, and his horses earned almost $25-million on the jumps circuit. Both are records. He was the steeplechase sport's...

The relationship between trainer and assistant can often be tumultuous and fleeting, while in other instances, it can prove life-altering and enduring. And every once in a while, the spark ignites, paving the road to great glory and even the Hall of Fame. When it was announced that trainer Todd Pletcher would be inducted into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame this summer, most could not have been surprised that the 53-year-old would have been granted the honor in his very first year of eligibility. In truth, there...

The GI New York Turf Writers Cup steeplechase stakes has been renamed in honor of Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard, the New York Racing Association announced Friday. The $150,000 Jonathan Sheppard for 4-year-olds and up going 2 3/8 miles is slated for Thursday, Aug. 19 during the summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course. "It seems fitting that one of the premier steeplechase stakes in the country is going to be named in honor of Jonathan Sheppard," said Bill Gallo, Director of Racing for the National Steeplechase Association. "He...

Jonathan Sheppard, a Hall of Fame trainer whose horses excelled on the dirt, on turf and over steeplechase fences, will retire from American horse racing, but will continue to train a small stable in Ireland, he announced Monday morning. Sheppard, who turned 80 last month, won every race and prize worth winning in American steeplechase racing over a 56-year career. He is the National Steeplechase Association's all-time leading trainer by wins (1,242) and purse earnings ($24,902,442). He has been the champion trainer by wins 26 times, and he has led...

Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard has accomplished everything there is to accomplish in U.S. steeplechase racing. He's been leading steeplechase trainer 25 times, has trained 15 champions and has won every major steeplechase race run in the U.S.-many of them numerous times. But the native of Ashwell, Hertfordshire, England who came to America in 1961 has never won a race in Europe. In the months ahead, he hopes to change that. With the U.S. steeplechase season having ended Nov. 15 and because only a limited number of races were...

Tired of all the bad news? So were we. So, in our new series, we focus on the positive, asking people from non-horse racing families two questions: how they get hooked, and how they'll hook someone else on horse racing this year. KERI BRION, ASSISTANT TO JONATHAN SHEPPARD What was the experience that made you fall in love with horse racing? I grew up down the road from a horse racing training and breeding farm and I used to walk down the road and feed the mares and foals carrots....

Winston C, campaigned by Edward Swyer's Hudson River Farms and trained by Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard, began the year in the maiden ranks, but ended it an Eclipse champion thanks to a pair of Grade 1 tallies at Saratoga. The gelding announced his arrival on the big stage with a widening 3 1/2-length victory in the July 25 G1 A.P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase S. at Saratoga in July. A month later, he romped to an 8 3/4-length victory in the G1 New York Turf Writers Cup H. Winston C...