Longtime Breeder John James Dies at 75

Oklahoma native John Ray James, a longtime Thoroughbred breeder and owner who raced and stood grade 2 winner Dramedy , died July 17. He was 75.

A resident of Dewey, Okla., James was born Oct. 26, 1943, in Lawton, Okla., to Noel Ray and Ellen Ann (Meek) James. He graduated from Dewey High School in 1962 and attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla., where he received an associate degree. 

James worked for Aetna Financial, Plaza Bank, and several oil businesses, and he owned private businesses. 

James won numerous awards and races across the country with his horses. He was particularly proud of freshman sire Dramedy, who simultaneously gained his first winner and his first black-type scorer July 12 when Southgate won the Iowa Stallion Futurity at Prairie Meadows. Dramedy stands at River Oaks Farms in Oklahoma, where his 2019 fee was $2,000.

Dana Aschinger of War Horse Place, where James boarded his Kentucky horses for several years, remembered his passion for Thoroughbred breeding and racing.



"I've boarded his horses for a long time; he was one of my first clients when we started the farm in 2004, and he's had horses with me so long, I don't remember when I didn't have them," she said. "He loved his horses, and he always took good care of them. He had a real passion for the sport."

Dramedy raced for multiple outfits and trainers throughout his career but accomplished his most significant score in the 2015 Dixiana Elkhorn Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland when racing under the silks of the John James Revocable Trust under the care of Aschinger's late husband and co-owner of War Horse Place, Gerald Aschinger.

"They just had such a great time with Dramedy," Aschinger said. "I think the two highlights—after the birth of his daughter and his grandchildren and his marriage to Darlene—the next two highlights outside of his family in his lifetime were watching Dramedy win the Elkhorn and Southgate winning. He was so excited. 

"He called me Saturday and Sunday that week, and he'd been watching Southgate and knew he'd win. He was beyond happy. He believed in his horses. If he didn't like the horse, he didn't keep it, and the way he ran his business was, he loved to get the foals out to people. He would put them in sales just so that if he had seven or eight Dramedy babies, he'd keep his two favorites and he might sell the other six. He wanted to get them in other people's hands so they would get spread out a little bit.

"I don't know how he did it with his busy schedule. He was always looking for mares out of claiming races, and he always wanted his mares to foal fillies so he could continue the bloodlines."

Along with Dramedy, James bought grade 2 winner Wilburn , by Bernardini , to stand at River Oaks Farms. Wilburn's 2019 fee was $2,500.

James married Darlene (Ward) James on Aug. 1, 1975. They were married for 44 years. During that time, one constant source of pride was their daughter, Sami, who brought joy to James like nothing else. The couple were a constant sight in Dewey following Sami's adventures, especially her softball career. One of James' many claims to fame was that he never missed one of his daughter's softball games, from Little League and summer ball to Dewey High School, Northeastern Oklahoma, and the University of Arkansas. 



The absolute best days of James' life were the days his grandchildren were born. They were his pride and joy.

James was preceded in death by his mother and father. He is survived by Darlene; daughter Sami Duffield and husband Zach; grandchildren Jaxson, Jesi, and Jordi Duffield; one brother; several aunts and uncles; and many cousins and extended family. 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggested memorial donations be made to the Dewey Lions Club at 300 E. Angus Ave., Dewey, OK 74029. Funeral services were held July 23 prior to interment at the Dewey Cemetery.