Jonathan Sheppard, one of this country's winningest trainers, announced his retirement
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January 4, 2021
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By SARA CAVANAGH
HOLLYWOOD, Fla.--Jonathan Sheppard, arguably America's greatest trainer, announced on Jan. 4 that, at age 80, he is retiring as a trainer in America, although he still has a small string of horses in Ireland, one of which, French Light, will run in his name on Jan. 7.
Jonathan Sheppard Among his accomplishments are 15 Eclipse Awards, training a stallion that became this nation's Leading Sire, being the National Steeplechase Association's all-time leading trainer by wins, with 1,242 wins, and by purse earnings, with $24,902,442, winning champion trainer by wins 26 times and leading the sport by purses in 29 years, both records, winning a race at Saratoga for 47 straight years, and, as a breeder, breeding an Eclipse Award winner.
But one major accomplishment not so well known is the number of today's top trainers Sheppard "trained".
Sheppard won 15 Eclipse Awards, and, while two trainers, Bob Baffert and D. Wayne Lucas, have won more, no other trainer won multiple Eclipse Awards both on the flat and in steeplechasing, and Sheppard had winners on the dirt, on turf and over fences.
And, to make it even more amazing, in one year, 2009, he won an Eclipse Award both on the flat with Informed Decision as the Top Turf Female and with Mixed Up for steeplechasing.
Never before and perhaps never again has any trainer won both a flat and a steeplechase Eclipse in the same year.
Only one trainer, Sidney Watters Jr., has won even one Eclipse Award on the flat as well as over fences.
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