Washington Trainer Penney Passes Away

Jim Penney

Washington-based trainer Jim Penney, a charter member of that state's racing Hall of Fame and five-time winner of the Longacres Mile, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 21, at his home in Edgewood, WA. He was 82 years old and had been in and out of hospice care.

“Luckily he didn't suffer,” said his son-in-law, the former jockey Bryson Cooper. “His body just shut down.”

Penney ranks number two all time at Emerald Downs by wins (662), stakes wins (50) and earnings ($8,831,653), while at Longacres, he was tied for fifth with 39 stakes wins and was that track's leading trainer in 1968. At Yakima Meadows, he was first with 490 wins and a record 17 training titles.

“He left no stone unturned. He was on top of every little problem, knew everything about all of his horses,” Cooper added. “He was more than a trainer. Jim was involved with the sport and cared about it, serving as president of the HBPA, and he was respected by his peers.”

Among the best horses Penney trained was Class Included, who won four stakes and became just the second female to be named horse of the meet at Emerald Downs in 2012. Penney, who was preceded in death by his wife Betty, is survived by two daughters. Per his wishes, he will be cremated. Plans for a memorial service will be announced at a later time.

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