Retired Trainer Dutton Dies at 87

Retired trainer Jerry Dutton, a mainstay among California horsemen for decades, died July 30 at the age 87, the Del Mar publicity department announced.

 

Dutton also was an early mentor in the Hall of Fame career of trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who as a young man in 20s joined Dutton's shedrow at Bay Meadows Race Course before taking out his trainer's license in 1979.

 

"He came to see us because he needed a job," Dutton said in a 2000 interview with California Thoroughbred. "He told me he didn't know much about horses but had the reputation of being a hard worker. I put my arm around him and said, 'Let's go, son. You've got yourself a job.' Looking back upon it, I think I created a monster."

 

Dutton also is credited with helping the riding careers of jockeys Jerry Lambert and Roberto Gonzalez.

 

Dutton enjoyed success at the highest level, putting the early foundation into 2001 Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I) winner Golden Ballet, a Moscow Ballet filly he bred in partnership with Vladimir Popovich. He also trained outstanding California-bred juvenile champion Century's Envoy, a horse he regarded as his all-time best runner.

 

The son of Envoy was unbeaten in five starts during his 2-year-old campaign and was a multiple graded stakes winner as an older runner, including the 1976 Los Angeles Handicap (gr. II). He also placed third in the 1975 Californian Stakes (gr. I).

 

Dutton retired from training after sending out his final starter in 2006 and returned to his home state of Idaho.

 

Dutton was a horseman's horseman. He bred, raced, bought, and sold horses. His wife, Barbara, selected Golden Ballet's dam, Golden Jewel Box, at Barretts in 1996. The couple also bred 2005 Carter Handicap (gr. I) winner Forest Danger.

 

The Dutton owned horses in partnership with a number of friends and clients, including with Tom Kessler, Rick Awtrey, Tom Capehart, Harry Bettis.

 

Dutton had a lifelong involvement with horses. He raced Quarter Horses during the 1940s in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Canada. Switching over to Thoroughbreds, he moved to California at the end of that decade and signed on as an assistant to trainers Don Collins and Bill Simpson at Santa Anita Park.

 

After a year-long stint with trainer Junior Nicholson, Dutton went out on his own. In 1958 he trained for prominent owner Kjell Qvale in Northern California.

 

According to Equibase, which began keeping detailed racing statistics in 1976, Dutton trained more than 1,600 winners. His starters amassed purse earnings in excess of $20 million.

 

Among other his top runners were grade II winner Starry Ice, a daughter of Ice Age whom he and his wife bred from their mare Forumstar, California's broodmare of the year of 1997-98; and grade III winner Confederate Yankee (Grey Eagle), who was 12th of 23 runners in the 1974 Kentucky Derby (gr. I).

 

Dutton an inductee into the Idaho Thoroughbred Association Hall of Fame in 2007.