HCP Sports

Wishing a very HAPPY RETIREMENT to trainer Jonathan Sheppard. The HOF and Eclipse-award winning trainer announced his retirement today and will continue to train a small stable in Ireland. Kaz Ishida

Happy 80th birthday to Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard! The most successful trainer of steeplechasers in American history, Sheppard has won 3,426 races t...hrough November. He just wrapped up the National Steeplechase Association’s leading trainer title in earnings for the 29th time in his career and the wins title for the 26th time. Also successful with flat champions such as Breeders’ Cup winners Forever Together and Informed Decision, Sheppard was the first trainer to surpass the milestones of 1,000 steeplechase wins and steeplechase earnings or $20 million. A native of England, Sheppard won at least one race at Saratoga for a remarkable 47 consecutive years (1969 through 2015) and has led the Saratoga standings in wins twice. His major victories include 15 editions of the New York Turf Writers Cup, 14 runnings of the Colonial Cup, and nine renewals of the American Grand National. Sheppard was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990. Photo by Brien Bouyea [Image description: Johnathan Sheppard holding a program in the paddock.]

Photographer Douglas Lees just sent us this photo from the 1975 Pennsylvania Hunt Cup. Betty and Charles Bird's Fort Devon won the race, with jockey Buzz Hannum... riding. The cutest part of the whole photo? Our current PHC Treasurer, Buzzy Hannum, Jr, is the tiny baby perfectly placed in the trophy. Jockey Buzz Hannum, Sr identified the photo for us, left to right: "My Wife Molly (dec'd 1988), stepson Michael Poole, Brad Pitt (), trainer Betty Bird, owner Charlie Bird. trophy presenter Barbara West, & my mother Nancy Hannum. In the trophy is my 2 week old son, Richard P.S. Hannum (Buzzy) Jr." Look for Buzzy on the live stream tomorrow - not only is he the PHC Treasurer, but he's also the Chief Patrol Judge. https://pahuntcup.org/race-day-2020/ Thanks, Douglas, for the memory!

"There is no way to do justice to the life of Bob Kinsley in a few words or even pages. It would take books. The success Bob was able to achieve is nothing shor...t of staggering." https://conta.cc/2YoE45R A beautiful tribute to Bob Kinsley from Jay Young, President Emeritus of the Elkridge Harford Hunt Club. (All photos Douglas Lees)