Classic Connection Continues For Lael Stable

On one day in May back in 2006, Roy and Gretchen Jackson achieved the extraordinary feat of breeding the winners of two Classics on two different continents, with George Washington (Ire) (Danehill) landing Newmarket's 2,000 Guineas, followed some eight hours later by the Kentucky Derby victory of Barbaro (Dynaformer) in their own Lael Stable silks.

“I had a call from John Magnier the next day and he said that he didn't think we'd ever see anything like that again. We watched George Washington win from our hotel room at about 10am then off we went to see Barbaro. It was quite a day,” recalls Roy Jackson in his measured manner which doubtless helped him cope with the despair which was to follow Barbaro's Derby triumph.

As history relates, the colt suffered multiple fractures to a hindleg a fortnight later in the Preakness S., an injury that would lead to his death eight months later through complications arising from several operations to repair the leg.

“Grief is the price we all pay for love,” said Gretchen Jackson on the day her horse was euthanised, but despite enduring, and ultimately losing, one of the most drawn out fights for survival with Barbaro, today she speaks of the luck she has enjoyed with her husband through almost five decades of ownership and breeding.

“We're passionate about horses and farm life and Roy was a natural to be caught up in the fun of it all. We've had enough luck to keep us going,” she says from their home in West Grove, Pennsylvania.

Both Jacksons grew up with horses as a major influence on their early life. Roy's mother and stepfather owned racehorses, while Gretchen turned her hand to showing.

“Together we got involved with one racehorse in the late 1960s and it grew from there,” says Roy of their breeding operation, which now extends to almost 20 mares, with the majority based in Kentucky and a handful in England and Ireland.

The broodmare band will be enhanced eventually with the inclusion of two recent in-training purchases in England from Hugo Palmer's stable in Architecture (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Hawksmoor (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}). Within a whisker of the deal being done, Architecture shot clear of the Investec Oaks field and for a good furlong looked like becoming another Classic winner for her young trainer and the Jacksons, only for Minding (Ire) to reel her in close home. Forty-eight hours later, Hawksmoor assuaged any residual disappointment by winning the G2 German 1,000 Guineas in Dusseldorf. Quite a start for the nascent link between the American owners and one of England's fastest rising trainers.

“Architecture came so close to winning the Oaks. We can't believe our luck really,” says Roy. “We're always looking for possible broodmares down the road and we have a couple getting older or retiring so we were looking for some younger ones coming along.”

He adds, “We talk periodically to [bloodstock agent] Amanda Skiffington and these two had become available.”

Skiffington, who bought both fillies as yearlings for their previous owner, Chris Humber, and also bought Palmer's 2,000 Guineas winner Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}), was responsible for the Jacksons' initial British purchase, Superstar Leo (Ire) (College Chapel {GB}) back in 2000.

The crack 2-year-old, who was co-bred by Lester Piggott and trained by his son-in-law William Haggas, changed hands after winning the G2 Norfolk S., and subsequently won the Weatherbys Super Sprint and G2 Flying Childers S. for her new owners.

The following year, the couple bought into the James Fanshawe-trained Grandera (Ire) (Grand Lodge), whose prowess led to him being on the shopping list of Godolphin, for whom he subsequently won Group 1 races in England, Ireland and Singapore.

Though he escaped their clutches, the Jacksons' purchase of his dam Bordighera (Alysheba) would reap further rewards, both on the racecourse and in the sales ring. Two of her offspring––George Washington and Nexus (Ire) (Pivotal {GB})––sold for 1.15 million gns and 1.2 million gns at Tattersalls respectively. Sun Central (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Wonderstruck (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) both earned black type while racing for their breeders, while Old Hundred (Ire) (Tiger Hill {Ire}) and Lordofthehouse (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) brought further success in their colours.

Bordighera lives in retirement at Round Hill Stud in Ireland, while Superstar Leo, now 18, is still on active duty at New England Stud just outside Newmarket, where she boards alongside her daughter Enticing (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who delivered a brace of Group 3 victories for the Jacksons.

Roy says of his involvement outside his home country, “We've always admired the British and Irish racing and how much it interests the public. We love racing on turf.”

Their enjoyment of having horses trained in England has been enhanced by the absence of raceday medication, an issue which is proving to be an increasing thorn in the side of American racing from an international perspective.

“For a long time Gretchen and I have been struggling to try to get something done in this country to do away with raceday medication. It's been difficult. It's very controversial. That's one of the reasons we really like English racing, the fact that there isn't the drug issue,” he continues.

“We're the only country in the world really that allows it. We have no commissioner or head of racing, as there is in other sports. It's done state by state and the rules are hotch potch. I think people from Europe are not coming to America to buy horses quite as much. They question if they're buying a chemical horse or not.”

The appeal of competing on a more level playing field is clear, even if it means the horse-loving Jacksons have fewer opportunities to witness their string in action.

Roy adds, “We try to race without Lasix [in the US]. None of our 2-year-olds race with it but you're at a real disadvantage as all the others are on it and it enhances their performance.

“It's been two years since we were over in England for Royal Ascot but we hope to be back soon to see the two new fillies. It's amazing that they've both done so well so soon after we've become involved.”

At a press conference in Newmarket on Thursday, Hugo Palmer expressed doubts as to Architecture's participation in the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot so soon after her good Oaks run, but she may yet attempt to emulate stable-mate Covert Love (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) in the G1 Darley Irish Oaks in July, while the G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) and Belmont Oaks are also under consideration.

Hawksmoor, who already has two Group 1 placings to her name, will doubtless be seeking a win at the highest level but also has a trip to the Curragh pencilled in with the G2 Kilboy Estates S. a potential aim on Irish Oaks weekend. Wherever the new recruits end up racing, it seems unlikely to be too long before the Lael Stable silks are gracing the winner's circle once more.