Jerkens Headed to Saudi Arabia to Train

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens, a New York mainstay since saddling his first runner in 1997, has announced plans to begin training for Prince Faisal bin Khalid Al Saud next month in Saudi Arabia. He has signed a two-year contract, and 50 to 60 horses will be under his care.

First reported by Daily Racing Form's David Grening, Jerkens' departure to the Middle East will leave just his brother, Steve, as the remaining member of his family to train in New York. Jerkens' father, Allen, a Hall of Famer, was a longtime and cherished presence on the New York Racing Association circuit until his death in 2015.

Jerkens, 64, who has saddled the winners of 846 races in North America, told BloodHorse April 21 that financial considerations played a part in his decision to leave the United States. In recent years, his stable has dwindled in size to its current 10. In 2022, according to Equibase statistics, his stable had just 49 starts, a considerable drop-off from years past. Through April 21 off this year, Jerkens has reached the winner's circle twice with 12 starters.

"This (move) is welcome," Jerkens said. "I will be training for the main barn there and will have the cream of the crop, it looks like. It's going to be a nice opportunity to get some nice horses to train.

"It's kind of bittersweet, for sure. I will miss it here—all my friends—and will just miss training in New York. But it's such a tough go now. I just can't keep going. After a while, you have to be realistic. It's just not sustainable anymore. It's just an endless expense (to train horses). I'm not going to have to worry about the payroll, workman's comp, and the labor board (in Saudi Arabia)—things I worry about now."

Shirley, Jerkens' wife, a physical therapist for New York State's Department of Education, will join him in Saudi Arabia later in the summer.

Jerkens said that jockey agent Ron Anderson was instrumental in him getting the training job in Saudi Arabia. Anderson forged contacts there because of his rider, Joel Rosario, having ridden at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in the past.

Anderson, who was asked for a recommendation from the Saudis, pitched them Jerkens, without reserve. 

"This is absolutely perfect for them and perfect for Jimmy," Anderson told BloodHorse April 21. "Jimmy is an 'A' horse trainer as far as I'm concerned. He's not sought after as much now here, but I think he's more than capable."

Jerkens, who worked for his father for many years before hanging his own shingle, has conditioned multiple grade 1 winners. Among them, the 2005 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) winner, Artie Schiller , and Shaman Ghost  , an earner of $3.8 million and the winner of two grade 1 races, the 2016 Woodward Stakes (G1) and the following year's Santa Anita Handicap (G1).

One of Jerkens' longtime owners is Centennial Farms for whom he has trained for the last couple of decades. He saddled Centennial's first-time starter Meteorite  to a third-place finish in Aqueduct's sixth race April 21. Some of the trainer's biggest successes came for Centennial, including a trio of grade 1 winners: Corinthian  (winner of the inaugural running of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile in 2007), Preservationist  , and Wicked Strong  . 

"Centennial has been so loyal to me," Jerkens said. "I appreciate the people who have stayed loyal to me through the leaner years, especially Centennial."