I met Jack and Melissa Preston in the mid 90's. They loved racing and as they owned a home in Rancho Santa Fe, decided to buy a few horses to race on the West Coast, especially at Del Mar.
We were lucky right away; a filly by Caerleon named Auriette (Ire) won the GI Beverly H.; Sicy D'Alsace (Fr) won the GI Del Mar Oaks; Special Ring won the GI Eddie Read twice, and was second in two other Grade Is to the mighty Candy Ride (Arg). Then we bought a filly by Miswaki called Premiere Creation (Fr) who was third in the Del Mar Oaks, but who unfortunately got hurt. She became a really nice broodmare and was the dam of Leo's Starlet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})) and Anabaa's Creation (Ire), both graded stakes winners. We bred Premiere Creation back to Galileo. Melissa called her Starlet Sister. She was a pretty, average-size filly, and could not break her maiden. She was retired, sold privately to Henri Bozo at Haras des Monceaux, and became the dam of Eclipse Award-winner Sistercharlie (Ire), French Derby winner Sottsass (Fr), and Group 3 winner My Sister Nat (Fr).
Let's not forget his two best horses that he owned with his brothers J.R. and Art, two-time Breeders' Cup Mile winner Da Hoss, trained by Michael Dickinson; and of course the Belmont S. winner Victory Gallop, trained by Elliott Walden.
Jack was the epitome of the American gentleman, an engineer and a Doctor of Medicine, very quiet, courteous, generous, and so passionate about racing. It was a privilege to have him as a client, friend, and partner. He will be missed.
Click here to read Jack Preston obituary.
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