Jere Smith, 68, one of the most successful trainers on the Chicago thoroughbred racing circuit for more than three decades, died of cancer Wednesday, Jan. 14, in his Barrington home.
A cigar-chomping man of a few words, Mr. Smith won six trainer titles at the now-defunct Sportsman’s Park. He won five at Hawthorne Race Course and one at Arlington Park, where he is second on the all-time victory list.
Although he worked primarily for modest-budget owners during his 48 years as a trainer, he developed some of the horses into the winners of major races. The most notable were Recoup the Cash and Chicago Six, horses he claimed for owner Richard Trebat.
When a horse is entered in a claiming race, which designates the monetary values of the horses competing, it can be “claimed” from its owner for that price.
“When it came to claiming horses, Jere was the king,” said trainer Joe Kasperski, president of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. “He had a great eye for horses and you admired his work ethic. He never missed a day of watching horses in the paddock [to see which of them he was interested in claiming].”
Mr. Smith took Recoup the Cash out of a claiming race for $15,000 in the summer of 1993 at Arlington. The gelding went on to earn nearly $700,000 and win such nationally important races as the Hawthorne Gold Cup, the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs and the National Jockey Club Handicap at Sportsman’s Park.
Chicago Six was claimed from Arlington Park Chairman Richard L. Duchossois in 1999. After Mr. Smith became Chicago Six’s trainer, the horse was voted the champion Illinois-bred older male in 2000 and 2001 and won the 2001 National Jockey Club Handicap.
Smith, who was born in Marion, Ind., was infamous for chastising jockeys when he was displeased with their riding, but he had a soft spot in his heart for his horses. Tears were streaming down his cheeks in the Sportsman’s Park winner’s circle when Recoup the Cash won the National Jockey Club Handicap.
He is survived by his wife, Lauren; a son, Jere; and a stepson, Bennett Beau Renfro.
Services have been held.
