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In 2004 I was named trainer for the stables of
HRH Crown Prince Abdullah (now King Abdullah) & Sons of Saudi Arabia. Following are some highlights of my experience in Saudi Arabia:
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Won the training title for most wins with imported horses during the 2004 season.
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Won with 4 year old imported colt "Hadaar" (Comic Truth) at 1 mile 1/2 in his first start after a 7 month lay off due to a tendon injury.
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Won an Equestrian Club Award and Ministry of Islamic Affairs Cup at 2000 meters with Saudi bred gelding "Zerfaal", following a long layoff from a severe tendon injury.
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Returned imported stallion "Sattaie" (Zakocity) to racing after a long lay off, 2 times. The first time he won 2 in a row and his first try at 2000 meters. After his second layoff due to a fractured sesamoid, he returned to race at his highest level with a 4th in the 2008 G2 Godolphin Mile in Dubai.
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Broke the track record for 1650 meters and defeated imported horses twice at 1600 meters with Saudi bred gelding "Walad". Tied the record for most number of wins by a Saudi bred horse, with Walad's 15 wins. We will try to break the record in his next start.
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4 wins in one day, including Saudi bred filly "Moshtadah" who won a race for imported horses.
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24% wins at the 2007 Taif meet, with a record of 58-14-14-7 (60% runners finished 1st, 2nd, or 3rd), significant due to increased purse money, a new grandstand and track surface, resulting in full fields for most races.
I received my trainer’s license in 1981 after working for my father, trainer JR Smith, from 1976-1981. I've been a licensed trainer for 27 years, and worked at the track for more than 30 years. My father was a thoroughbred trainer for 50 years, he won 12 training titles, and is a member of the Chicago Racing Hall of Fame.
At Arlington Park he is second in all-time wins for trainers. He claimed "Recoup the Cash" in 1993 for $15,000 and went on to earn nearly $700,000 with that gelding in 1994. My father trained two-time Illinois Horse of the Year "Chicago Six", another claim that became a graded stakes winner of the G3 National Jockey Club Handicap.
I've been around horses all my life and I learned from one of the greatest. My father instilled in me the high standards that have brought consistent success through the years. I have won over 800 races (20% wins/starts). I hold the record at Arlington Park for the most races won in a single day (4 races). I have trained many good horses in the US, most obtained at very modest prices:
- Boundlessly won the G3 $100,000 Sheridan Stakes and G2 $300,000 Arlington Classic, 2nd in the Arlington-Washington Futurity and Ohio Derby, 5th in the Illinois Derby, earning $450,000 after I purchased him for $11,000.
- Mount Lemon won the $50,000 Kentucky Cup Starter Handicap and 2 weeks later the G3 $100,000 Turfway Park Fall Championship Handicap after I claimed him for $25,000.
- Cumberland County won a small stake race after I claimed him for $14,000.
- A Storm Is Brewing equaled the track record at Churchill Downs for 1 mile 1/2 while under my care.
- Recoup the Cash, who I selected for one of J.R. Smith Sr.'s owners to claim for $15,000, won the G2 Hawthorne Gold Cup while under my father's care.
check out more of JR's and Jere's old win photos >>
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Imported mare Natalie Jane, Cup winner at 2000 meters in Saudi Arabia. She also won at 1600 and 1800 meters.
Jere R. Smith, Jr. and his father, trainer J.R. Smith, Sr. watched RECOUP THE CASH win the Hawthorne Gold Cup.
Boundlessly became a multiple graded stakes winner after Jere Smith Jr. bought him for $11,000.
Mount Lemon won two Stakes in a row after Jere Smith Jr. claimed him for $25,000.
Before moving to Saudi Arabia, I spent most of my career based in the Midwest United States, training and racing in
Illinois, Louisiana, and Kentucky. My sons Joe (age 10) and Jack (13) live in Houston, Texas with their mother Ana. My
son Jere (21) attends the University of Houston.
I'd like to thank my family for the continuing support that inspires me every day to put 100% into everything I do.
My wife Amy has been with me in Saudi Arabia since 2005. In addition to helping me with my paperwork, she maintains my web site as well as many other web sites for customers in the U.S. We are pictured here at a "goat grab" in Riyadh.
"In April 2004, I was named private trainer for HRH
Crown Prince Abdullah (now King Abdullah) & Sons of Saudi Arabia.
I'd like to thank all my former owners for their support and confidence in me over the years.
Some of my last wins as a public trainer came at the Turfway Park winter meet of 2003/2004."
photos from Jere's last meet in the states >>
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