Jonathan E. Sheppard
Jonathan E. Sheppard (December 2, 1940 – August 27, 2023) was an English Hall of Fame trainer in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He holds the record for the most wins in American steeplechase racing history with 1,242 victories, and led with the most U.S. steeplechase wins per year a record 26 times between 1972 and his retirement in 2020.
Jonathan Sheppard | |
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Occupation | Trainer |
Born | Ashwell, Hertfordshire, England | December 2, 1940
Died | August 27, 2023 82) Hollywood, Florida, U.S. | (aged
Career winnings | $88,679,925 |
Career wins | 3,426, including 1,242 steeplechase |
Major racing wins | |
Steeplechase: Colonial Cup Steeplechase (1975, 1977, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1999, 2000) New York Turf Writers Cup Handicap (1979, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994,1997, 2000, 2001, 2006) Royal Chase for the Sport of Kings Hurdle (2002, 2007, 2008) Flat racing: Breeders' Cup Grand National Steeplechase (1988, 1989, 1992, 1999) Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (2008) Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (2009) | |
Racing awards | |
U.S. Champion Steeplechase trainer by earnings (1973-1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2007) | |
Honours | |
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame (1990) Jonathan Sheppard Stakes at Saratoga Race Course | |
Significant horses | |
Cafe Prince, Flatterer, Highland Bud, Storm Cat, Forever Together, Cloudy's Knight, Informed Decision |
Through his career, Sheppard had considerable success in both steeplechase and flat racing. In both venues, he had a long working relationship with stable owner, George W. Strawbridge Jr., and in 2008 he conditioned Strawbridge's filly Forever Together to victory in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.