Jones Boys
 

Although the Jones Boys sounds like a knock off James Gang, Ben and Jimmy Jones are considered by many to be the best thoroughbred horse trainers in history. Father and son, Ben and Jimmy won two Triple Crowns, eight Kentucky Derbies, 54 Stakes races and had more acclaimed race victories than any other trainers in history.  Born in Nodaway County in 1882, Ben started college, but quit to train horses. He discovered he had a natural talent, and his reputation grew after training Seth, a stallion that sired several competitive foals. He then trained Lawrin, who won the Kentucky Derby in 1938. After Ben’s success, he was joined by his son Jimmy, and they became “The Jones Boys.” They relocated to Kentucky and started a long career of breeding, training, and racing champions. 

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The Jones Boys became the breeders and trainers at Calumet Horses. Bull Lea was their most successful sire. He fathered numerous awarding winning horses. Citation was one of Bull Lea’s sons and was one of the most successful racing horses ever. He was the 8th American Triple Crown winner and the first horse to win $1 million. Ben said Citation was the “most intelligent and greatest horse that ever raced.” Because of their success, Ben was on the cover of the May 30, 1949, edition of Time magazine.  

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Ben turned training responsibilities over to Jimmy in 1947, but remained at Calumet until 1961, when he died at the age of 78. Jimmy left Calumet but continued breeding and training horses until his retirement in 1976. After retiring, Jimmy and his wife Peggy, returned to Nodaway County where Jimmy worked his family’s farm until he sold it in 1986. He died in September 2001 at the age of 94. His wealth (6 million dollars) was donated to St. Frances Hospital, now Mosaic Medical Center in Maryville.

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There is an entire room in the Nodaway County Historical Society dedicated to horses in Nodaway County. In these exhibits, you will find more information about the Jones Boys and their success in racing, along with other horse history in the county.

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Resources

• Stairway of Stars Booklet, Nodaway County Historical Society.

• Bob Bohlken, Famous People of Nodaway County (Instant Publisher, 2010).