Jones, Benjamin A.
Horse Racing
b. Dec. 31, 1882, Parnell, MO
d. June 13, 1961
After more than twenty years of training and breeding horses on his own, Jones was hired by Woolford Farm in 1932. He trained Lawrin, winner of the 1938 Kentucky Derby, and then went to Calumet Farm, where he was in charge of breeding as well as training.
Under his direction, Calumet became the greatest stable ever, leading the nation in earnings eleven times in the eighteen-year period from 1941 through 1958. Jones saddled Whirlaway, the triple crown winner in 1941; Pensive, Kentucky Derby winner in 1944; Citation, the 1948 triple crown winner; Ponder, the 1949 Kentucky Derby Winner; and Hill Gail, the 1952 Kentucky Derby winner.
Jones is the only trainer ever to saddle six winners of the Kentucky Derby and the only one to produce two triple crown champions. He became general manager of Calumet Farm in 1948 and his son, Horace A. "Jimmy" Jones, took over as head trainer. Jimmy was trainer of record for the winners of two consecutive Kentucky Derbies, Iron Liege in 1957 and Tim Tam in 1958.