Lael Stables

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2009 Record: (151-26-21-15)

2009 Earnings: $1,062,140

2009 Win %: 17% In-The-Money %: 41%

Owner(s): Roy and Gretchen Jackson
Born: Roy, March 1, 1937 in Bryn Mawr, Pa.
Residence: West Grove, Pa.
Family: Four grown children and 11 grandchildren
Education: The Jacksons both graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. Gretchen Jackson (class of ’59) also earned a master's degree in pastoral counseling from Neumann College. Roy (class of ’61) was a three-sport star athlete whose UPenn career was cut short after his sophomore year because of a heart condition. His surgery and subsequent recovery delayed his graduation by two years
Professional Background: Roy Jackson has spent much of his life envolved in the game of baseball, serving from 1983-2000 as president of Convest, Inc., a firm that represented professional ballplayers. He also served as past president of minor league baseball leagues such as the International League (AAA), Pacific Coast League (AAA) and Eastern League (AA). As a club owner, he formerly owned minor league teams in York, Pa. (Pirates) and Tucson, Ariz. (Toros) ... Gretchen actively is involved in several organizations, including the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, where she has been on the board of overseers since 2002 – long before the placement of their ill-fated Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro in the Center’s care. She also is on the board of directors of Thoroughbred Charities of America and Anna House, a day care center based at Belmont Park for children of backstretch employees ... In Feb. 2007, the Jacksons made a $3 million gift to endow a chair at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in the name of Dean W. Richardson, who led the team of surgeons that treated Barbaro . . . Roy Jackson was elected to the Breeders' Cup Board of Directors in 2008.
Racing Background: Jackson’s father, Roy Sr., who passed away when Roy was eight, was involved with horses and was a renowned breeder of foxhounds. Later, his mother and stepfather owned racehorses. Gretchen was involved with hunters and show horses prior to their first foray into Thoroughbred racing. The Jacksons have been involved in Thoroughbred racing for approximately 30 years. Roy Jackson began devoting his full attention to racing as a principal business in 2000
Racing Career: Lael Stables ascended to the pinnacle of American racing in 2006 with Kentucky Derby and Florida Derby winner Barbaro, only the sixth unbeaten horse ever to wear the roses. Not only was Barbaro the stable’s first Derby starter, but he joined stablemate Showing Up in the gate in Louisville. It marked the first time that two previously undefeated horses represented the same owner in the Kentucky Derby ... Sent off as an odds-on favorite in the Preakness, Barbaro had taken just a few strides out of the gate when he fractured his right hind leg in three places. Following the injury, Barbaro underwent nearly two dozen surgeries and procedures to repair the ankle. Though there was a massive outpouring of emotional support for him, Barbaro's gallant fight for life came to an end in late Jan. 2007 when laminitis set in and he was euthanized ... Talking in 2008 about the legacy of Barbaro, Jackson added, “We still get three or four letters a week about him. The interest in him is still there and I believe it will continue to be there for years to come, just like with Ruffian.”. . . Jackson points with pride to the Fans of Barbaro Web site, which has raised more than $950,000 for equine research and has helped save more than 2,400 horses from slaughter . . . “There have been some very positive things to come out of such a tragic event,” Jackson said . . . The Jacksons own two full brothers to Barbaro. The oldest, a colt born in 2006, is named Nicanor and is now a 2-year-old with Michael Matz, who trained Barbaro . . . The other is a yearling named Letanor ... Showing Up subsequently won the grade 1 Hollywood Derby in 2006 and retired after one start in 2007 due to an injury to a suspensory ligament in his left foreleg ... Prior to 2006, much of Lael’s success came overseas. Lael Stables campaigned multiple group 1 winner Grandera for two seasons before selling the colt to Godolphin . . . Other top runners include Superstar Leo, champion 2-year-old filly in England and France in 2000 ... Lael has campaigned several graded stakes winners in 2008, a group that features Precious Kitten . . . Purchased early in 2008, Precious Kitten was victorious for her new connections in the grade 1 Gamely at Hollywood Park . . . Ready Set, an $800,000 purchase at the 2006 Keeneland September Sale, became a grade 3 winner through a victory in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby . . . My Princess Jess gave the Jacksons a graded stakes win at Saratoga when she captured the Lake George (G2)
Breeding/Racing Operation: Lael Stables began breeding racehorses in 1978 at 190-acre Lael Farm, which sits in the midst of steeplechase and show horse country. Lael means "loyalty" in Gaelic. The full-service operation handles lay-ups, breaks yearlings and foals mares ... After more than 20 years in the business, their first graded stakes winner came with Rashas Warning in the 1998 G3 Herecomesthebride Stakes at Gulfstream. They had purchased the filly just 36 hours earlier ... The Jacksons have roughly 45 broodmares, yearlings and weanlings and about 20 horses in active training in New York, Delaware and Florida. Gretchen Jackson’s childhood friend Barclay Tagg trains many of their horses, as does Matz ... Not only did the Jacksons strike gold as breeders of Barbaro, but amazingly won the opening leg of the English classics, the 2000 Guineas, the very same day with George Washington, a half-brother to their Grandera whom they bred and sold for $2,050,335. They also sold a half-brother (by Pivotal) to George Washington at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for $2,378,400 to Darley representative John Ferguson ... George Washington, a two-time competitor in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, is Lael's lone Breeders' Cup starter as an owner or breeder ... George Washington tragically broke down in the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic and had to be euthanized.