J. Larry Jones

Larry Jones
Occupation	Trainer
Born	September 2, 1956 Hopkinsville, Kentucky, United States
Career wins	1,001+ (ongoing)
Major racing wins
Fantasy Stakes (2003, 2008, 2011) Acorn Stakes (2004) Delaware Handicap (2005) Nassau County Breeders' Cup Stakes (2006) Prioress Breeders' Cup Stakes (2006) Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (2007) King's Bishop Stakes (2007) Lane's End Stakes (2007) Alabama Stakes (2008) Allaire duPont Distaff Stakes (2008) Fair Grounds Oaks (2008, 2012) Kentucky Oaks (2008, 2012) Remsen Stakes (2008) Honeybee Stakes (2008, 2009, 2011) Lecomte Stakes (2009) Risen Star Stakes (2009) Louisiana Derby (2009) Southwest Stakes (2009) Carter Handicap (2009) Monmouth Oaks (2008, 2009) Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (2009) Bourbonette Oaks (2011) Azeri Stakes (2011) Apple Blossom Handicap (2011) Obeah Stakes (2011) Woodward Stakes (2011) Beldame Stakes (2011) Tempted Stakes (2011) Peter Pan Stakes (2012)
Racing awards
Big Sport of Turfdom Award (2008) Red Smith Award (2007, 2008)
Honours
Larry Jones Day at Delaware Park Racetrack (2009)
Significant horses
Hard Spun, Eight Belles, Friesan Fire, Old Fashioned, Wildcat Bettie B, Island Sand, Ruby's Reception, Josh's Madelyn, Just Jenda, Honest Man, Solar Flare, Proud Spell, Havre de Grace, Believe You Can, Lovely Maria, I'm a Chatterbox, Joyful Victory

J. Larry Jones (born September 2, 1956 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer. A former commercial farmer, he embarked on a career as a professional trainer in 1982.

Jones trained at principally at Ellis Park Racecourse in Henderson, Kentucky, and at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkansas, before coming into national prominence in 2007 with the front-running bay colt Hard Spun. Hard Spun brought Jones into the spotlight with his runner-up finishes in the Kentucky Derby and Breeder's Cup Classic, as well as impressive victories in the Lane's End, King's Bishop, and Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes.

In 2008, Jones was again in the nation's spotlight, this time with the talented fillies Proud Spell and Eight Belles. He saddled Proud Spell to a decisive win over a sloppy track in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). (Proud Spell went on to win the Eclipse Award as top three-year-old filly that year, becoming Jones's first Eclipse Award winner.)

The day after the Kentucky Oaks, Jones saddled his other top filly, Eight Belles, to run in the Kentucky Derby. Following the race, Eight Belles, the first filly to run second in the Derby in over one hundred years, broke both front legs and was humanely euthanized on the track.

After Eight Belles' breakdown, Jones was accused of drugging the filly or running an unsound horse and received hate mail from people who felt that he was to blame for the tragedy. Tests done on Eight Belles proved she had run clean. In the summer, Jones announced that after one more year of training, he would retire, partially because he wanted to spend more time with his family.

In 2009, Jones had two top Kentucky Derby hopefuls in Old Fashioned and Friesan Fire. Old Fashioned won the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct in a romp and became the early favorite for the Derby. He also won the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park by open lengths before he was upset by Win Willy in the Rebel Stakes. In the Arkansas Derby, Old Fashioned finished second to Papa Clem and was retired after it was discovered the son of Unbridled's Song had slab-fractured his knee. Friesan Fire impressed on his way to the Derby, sweeping the Lecomte, Risen Star, and the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds in Louisiana.

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