"The opportunity to start with a good horse and make him great is what excites and motivates me."

Why send your horse to me? Every individual horse receives my individual attention, the best feed, an individualized feeding and training program, and the best handlers and riders all carefully handpicked by me. I personally supervise or check afterwards all farrier, vet and dental work on your horse. I am known for keeping horses with physical problems racing much longer than most trainers, this is due to my 30 years experience spotting a potential problem and treating it before it becomes a big problem. My "treatment" for potential problems is usually as simple as a few days off walking the shedrow. Your horse's long term soundness and well being is my daily concern, and I believe this attitude wins more races for my clients.

I love owners who are very involved, and I'm always available by phone or in person to discuss your horse. For our out-of-town owners, we email photos and video of your horse as often as possible, and we always email the race past performances when your horse is entered. My goal is to give my clients a satisfying experience in racing. My day rate is $75. If you're tired of paying $85/day or more for little in return, please give me a call at 502-554-8649.

I am currently rebuilding my stable in the United States after spending 5 years in Saudi Arabia where I trained for King Abdullah & Sons Stable. In April 2009, I returned to the United States and raced in Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio and Indiana through November 2009. In December we moved to Gulfstream Park near Miami, Florida where we raced through March 2010. In April we returned north and plan to race in Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio and Indiana. We are always ready to ship anywhere to race the right horse in the right spot.

Following are some highlights of my experience in Saudi Arabia and my prior career in the USA:

  • Won the training title for most wins with imported horses in my first season in Saudi Arabia. Other highlights from Saudi Arabia include,

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 4 wins in one day, including Saudi bred filly "Moshtadah" who won a race for imported horses.

  • 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 (of 18 runners!) in most races.

  • Trained several Saudi apprentice jockeys that may not have had a chance to become a jockey otherwise, including A. Almohimeedy, winner of the 2010 Riyadh Municipality Cup, and Terki Alanezi, who just completed his 3rd winning season in KSA.

  • Trained employees that have no experience to be excellent grooms, and employees with some racing experience to be foremen or assistant trainers.

  • Developed an efficient system for managing a large number of horses in training while ensuring that owners are fully informed about their horses.


I received my trainer’s license in 1981 after working for my father, trainer JR Smith, from 1976-1981. 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 >>


Henderson, after a huge Calvin Borel ride, November 25, 2009.


Winner of the first race ever held at night under lights at Churchill Downs, June 19, 2009.


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 11) and Jack (13) live in Houston, Texas with their mother Ana. My oldest son Jere graduated from the University of Houston in May, 2009 attends law school. 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 was with me in Saudi Arabia and is key to the smooth operation of our stable. In addition to helping me keep owners informed, plus paperwork and record-keeping, 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 before I moved to Saudi Arabia came at the Turfway Park winter meet of 2003/2004." check out some photos >>

CONTACT

email:  
JereSmithJr@yahoo.com

call:  502-554-8649