Owner-Breeder Brereton Jones Named TCA's Honor Guest

Brereton C. Jones has been selected by the Thoroughbred Club of America's board of directors as the 2019 Honor Guest, club president Katherine LaMonica announced July 16. 

Jones, who has campaigned three Kentucky Oaks (G1) winners, will be honored by the Club at its 88th Testimonial Dinner at Keeneland Friday, Sept. 27. 

"The Thoroughbred Club of America is excited to name Brereton C. Jones as our 2019 Honor Guest," LaMonica said. "Governor Jones' commitment and success in the Thoroughbred industry, along with the state of Kentucky, make him a deserving recipient of the Honor Guest award." 

Arguably, Jones' greatest racing exploits came when teaming up with trainer Larry Jones to win the Kentucky Oaks three times: in 2015 with Lovely Maria, 2012 with Believe You Can, and 2008 with Proud Spell, who would also won the grade 1 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga Race Course and earned an Eclipse Award for the Outstanding Three-Year-Old filly in America. 

Jones is a founding member of Breeders' Cup and KEEP (Kentucky Equine Education Project) and currently serves as a member of The Jockey Club. In 2008 Jones was the recipient of the Warner L. Jones Horseman of the Year Award for outstanding service to the Thoroughbred industry. 

Jones also was instrumental in the formation of the KBIF (Kentucky Breeders' Incentive Fund), which uses sales tax from Kentucky stallions as breeders' awards to benefit all types of Kentucky-bred horses including Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, and pleasure horses. 

Brereton and Libby Jones' Airdrie Stud near Midway, Ky., stands nine stallions including the successful and fashionable young sires Cairo Prince , Creative Cause , and Collected . To date, Airdrie has bred more than 150 stakes winners and earners of nearly $100 million—an honor roll that includes more than 20 grade 1 winners. Jones is consistently among the leading breeders in the country. 

Jones was born June 27, 1939, and raised in Point Pleasant, W.Va., the son of Bartow and Nedra Jones. 

A successful student athlete with a straight-A average in high school, Jones attended the University of Virginia on a football scholarship. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in commerce and returned home to West Virginia. Upon establishing residency in Huntington and showing a keen sense for business, within three years was a successful developer of residential and commercial properties. Wanting to contribute to his home state, Jones decided to run for public office and became a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates. Two years later, he was chosen as the youngest Minority Leader in state history. 

In the early 1970s, after marrying Elizabeth (Libby) Lloyd of Midway, in Woodford County, Jones moved to Kentucky, where he and Libby established Airdrie Stud as a thriving Thoroughbred operation of international renown. The Joneses have two children: Lucy and Bret, who is married to Tyler Bell Jones; along with three grandchildren: "B", Jack, and Thomas who are their pride and joy. 

Brereton Jones was elected governor of Kentucky, serving from 1991-1995 and Lt. Governor from 1987-1991. 

The Thoroughbred Club Testimonial Dinner was inaugurated in 1932, the year the club was founded, to recognize distinguished contributions of leadership as well as success in the Thoroughbred industry. The first recipient was Col. E.R. Bradley, and other winners include William Woodward Sr., three generations of the Hancock family of Claiborne Farm, plus Ted Bassett, Shug McGaughey, Alice Chandler, Chris McCarron, and Josephine Abercrombie.