Brereton C. Jones TCA's Honor Guest

Industry players packed a dining room in the Keeneland clubhouse Sept. 27 to honor former Kentucky Gov. Brereton C. Jones as the 88th Honor Guest of the Thoroughbred Club of America. While the TCA honored Col. E.R. Bradley in its inaugural event in 1932 and Sen. J.N. Camden in 1936, Jones was the first governor to be recognized.

Jones, who operates Airdrie Stud with his wife, Libby, served as Kentucky's governor from 1991-95 after serving as the state's lieutenant governor from 1987-91.

Jones was introduced by James "Ted" Bassett Jr., who briefly breezed through the guest's life history. Jones was raised in Point Pleasant, W.Va., where in his youth he vowed he was going to raise racehorses. He later attended the University of Virginia on a football scholarship and served in the state's House of Delegates.

Following his marriage to Elizabeth Lloyd in the early 1970s, the couple established Airdrie Stud near Midway, Ky., on property that had been part of Mrs. Jones' ancestors' Woodburn Stud.

The couple bred or raised three winners of the Kentucky Oaks (G1): Proud Spell in 2009, Believe You Can in 2012, and Lovely Maria in 2015.

Following an inspiring video put together by the Keeneland team that featured both racing and political speeches, Jones was introduced by his son, Bret.

"The childhood dream that Dad had with seemingly impossible clarity, he's gone on to be incredibly successful in nearly every way a person can," Bret Jones said. "His quote was, 'I want to raise racehorses in Kentucky,' which was a crazy thing for a person from West Virginia to say. Dad possessed advantages that made his childhood dream different from others. It was always possible because he never stopped believing it was.

"Brereton Jones came to the scene as an outsider during inhospitable times for those without a Kentucky or deep family pedigree. As his father taught him, the only way to make it was to never get outworked by anyone, ever. He succeeded and has succeeded for the last 50 years.

"His political ambitions weren't something that he spoke of as openly as his equine, but I suspect they lasted nearly as long. It wasn't the desire for power, but as a moral obligation for a man who has always recognized that he is not only capable of dreaming but doing important things.

"Brereton Jones' innumerable achievements as a respected horseman and public servant will long be his legacy, but of course to the Jones family, it goes far beyond that. Dad, the example you set for (daughter) Lucy and I is the greatest gift you could ever give your children. We've watched you treat people the right way our entire lives, and we've watched the incredible rewards that come with that. You are loved by so many people, Pop, by so many walks of life, and the reason for that is you've always treated everyone the same. The same honesty, the same sincerity, and the same unremitting kindness.

"As everyone knows, Dad found his equal in this regard when he met Libby Lloyd, and their love for each other and service to others serves as the greatest template that I've ever seen for a life well lived. Dad, I'm so proud of everything that you have accomplished. I am so proud of everything you have done for this industry and for the people of this state. I am so proud that my children will come to be inspired by their grandfather's life, strength, and his outright refusal to ever give up. I am so incredibly proud to be your son and your best friend. Congratulations on this wonderful and totally deserved award."

The Honor Guest took the podium:

"It's so enjoyable to do what we do and watch it happen in a very positive and constructive way. Thank you very, very much. This is a very special night for our family and our entire Airdrie Stud team. I couldn't be more grateful to the leadership and members of the Thoroughbred Club of America for this great honor. Thank you.

"Of course, the worst-kept secret in the room is that I would never have been able to stand before you this evening without the endless support of so many incredible people. My friends in this business are of the lifelong variety, and it is their love and counsel that have helped make my career in Thoroughbred racing arguably successful—and inarguably wonderful. So many of you are here tonight, and I am so proud to be able to share this evening with friends.

"We all want to know what we can do to make things better. Those are the greatest and most excitable things for me. I was primarily involved with horses, but I wanted to do more as time went on, and that's what made it that much more fun.

"Everybody in this room has the ability to do what they know is right and are willing to come up and tell you what is right. Be proud in that. I want you to know that you know what is right. Let's make it all happen. God bless you."