After 21 years in the irons as a professional jockey, Barbadian born Jonathon Jones has stepped down from the saddle.
Jono, as he is affectionately known to race fans, had his last mount on July 8 astride Whippit at Woodbine race course where he spent 11 seasons prior to his retirement.
In a fairly successful career, Jones’ statistics make for interesting reading. from 5 602 rides he rode 658 winners, 664 seconds and 724 third place finishes for total earnings of $40 112 245.
The gruelling demands of this sport on the athlete’s body could have been one of the deciding factors that have led to Jono pulling up at the young age of 35.
The son of Diana and Challenor Jones M.B.E (former champion jockey and now trainer) started his career at the tender age of 14 on May 26, 1990, at the Garrison Savannah aboard Gin N Ginger.
Seven months later on December 8, Jones rode his first winner aboard G.H King-owned Ruby Lass for trainer Liz Deane over 1 800 metres. It was not long before his career started to blossom as trainers valued his qualities as a jockey. He became champion apprentice in 1991 and 1992. During that period, at age 15, he teamed up with his father’s trained and Herbert Gonsalves-owned Overdraft (91) to win his first major race – the Barbados Derby.
He then explored other surfaces venturing as far as Europe and England where he rode for Barbadian trainer Sir Michael Stoute to nearby Martinique where he was the leading rider in 1994 and 1995. Having quickly lost his apprenticeship he was then crowned Barbados’ champion jockey in 2000.
Jones’ resumé makes for spectacular reading and dazzles the naked eye in just over two decades in the steels. Highlights among his greatest achievements are winning five local Derbys astride Major R.A. Stoute-owned Winsome Lass (92), Sylvie Beuzelin-owned Zarmela (94), Blair Down-owned Incitatus (96) and Paul Locke-owned Alaska Pete (2000).
He also shares the record for wins in the Caribbean’s most celebrated horse race – the Barbados Gold Cup – four wins with veteran jockey Venice (Pappy) Richards. Jono’s unprecedented beaver trick was aboard the Sally Arbib-owned Blast Of Storm 2000-2003 for trainer W.C Marshall.
After his first Canadian Stakes victory on board D. Morgan Firestone-owned Alexis in the Dance Smartly Stakes, his international career would not only glow but as the years went by it flourished.
From his last win in Canada on board Mendocino Beano on July 1, to his last victory on home soil aboard Gay Smith-owned Mystical Magic, race fans were not only thrilled by Jonathon Jones’ immense display of talent, skill, dedication and determination, but the professionalism for which he approached his job.