American horse trainer (1940–2023)
Jonathan Sheppard |
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Occupation | Trainer |
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Born | (1940-12-02)December 2, 1940 Ashwell, Hertfordshire, England |
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Died | August 27, 2023(2023-08-27) (aged 82) Hollywood, Florida, U.S. |
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Career winnings | $88,679,925[1] |
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Career wins | 3,426,[1] including 1,242 steeplechase[2] |
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Steeplechase: Colonial Cup Steeplechase (1975, 1977, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1999, 2000) New York Turf Writers Cup Handicap (1979, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994,1997, 2000, 2001, 2006) Royal Chase for the Sport of Kings Hurdle (2002, 2007, 2008)
Flat racing:
Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (1982, 1983) Diana Handicap (1993, 2008, 2009) Black Helen Handicap (1995, 1997) Man o' War Stakes (2001, 2002) Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap (2001, 2002) United Nations Handicap (2002) First Lady Stakes (2008) Humana Distaff Handicap (2009) Vinery Madison Stakes (2009) Jenny Wiley Stakes (2009) Chicago Handicap (2009) Arlington Handicap (2009) Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (2009) Kentucky Cup Turf Stakes (2009) Valedictory Stakes (2009) Dixie Stakes (2014)
Breeders' Cup wins: Breeders' Cup Grand National Steeplechase (1988, 1989, 1992, 1999) Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (2008) Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (2009) |
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U.S. Champion Steeplechase trainer by earnings (1973-1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2007) |
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National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame (1990) Jonathan Sheppard Stakes at Saratoga Race Course |
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Cafe Prince, Flatterer, Highland Bud, Storm Cat, Forever Together, Cloudy's Knight, Informed Decision |
Jonathan E. Sheppard (December 2, 1940 – August 27, 2023) was an English Hall of Fame trainer in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He holds the record for the most wins in American steeplechase racing history with 1,242 victories, and led with the most U.S. steeplechase wins per year a record 26 times between 1972 and his retirement in 2020.[2]
Through his career, Sheppard had considerable success in both steeplechase and flat racing. In both venues, he had a long working relationship with stable owner, George W. Strawbridge Jr., and in 2008 he conditioned Strawbridge's filly Forever Together to victory in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.[citation needed]