JACQUES DUMAS will be missed.
In Paris, France – oui oui!
JACQUES DUMAS – 1939-2014
From the Montreal Gazette, OCT. 1 1968
…[Blue Bonnets] track president Jean Louis Levesque recognizes the knowledge and ability of the young Montreal horseman and has signed [Jacques] Dumas as contract trainer of the thoroughbreds on his beautiful farm at Ste. Genevieve..
.The 29-year-old Dumas has had plenty of experience in the wintering of horses and had charge of some 25 thoroughbreds for local owners at the Angus Farm in Bedford QC for the seasons…meanwhile trainer Dumas will be shooting for his 11th winner of the meeting tonight….
Canada has lost another successful, personable and popular horseperson.
JACQUES DUMAS was one of the kings of Blue Bonnets in Montreal in the mid 1960s, building his reputation before that wonderful autumn of 1968 when he was hired by Jean Louis Levesque, Blue Bonnets president.
Levesque’s expansive operation was also prominent in Ontario at Woodbine and it was there that Dumas made a name for himself as one of Canada’s top trainers of the 1970s and 80s.
Certainly one of his best students was GIBOULEE , winner of the Coronation Futurity as a 2-year-old and then second to the mighty Seattle Slew in the Flamingo Stakes (Grade 1) in the winter of his 3yo season. Giboulee, by Northern Dancer went on to win the Plate Trial, finish 3rd in the Plate (he hated the slop) and Prince of Wales.
As a handicap horse, he won the Dominion Day Handicap, Vigil, and was second in the Massachusetts H.-G2.
Giboulee was named Champion handicap horse in Canada in 1978.
Dumas trained PAR EXCELLENCE, the champion 2-year-old filly of 1979 and the Canadian Oaks winner in 1980; champion sprinter DIAPASON, champion 3-year-old and turfer BEN FAB plus stakes winners such as Gone to Royalty and Cool Northerner.
In 1982, when this writer went to her first Queen’s Plate, it was a Dumas trained colt who was the star of Canadian racing. LE DANSEUR.
This son of Lord Durham was the big 2yo if 191 winning the Cup and Saucer, Summer and Coronation Futurity, Like Giboulee, Le Dansuer was in Florida with Dumas and tackled the best 3yos in the Flamingo Stakes, finishing 3rd. He by-passed Kentucky Derby stuff to come home where he won the Plate Trial, setting him up for a run in the Plate at low odds.
The bad news was, Dumas had been trying to control a bum tendon on Le Danseur’s leg, an injury that continued to flare up as he made his way to the big race. No matter how much tender loving care Dumas applied, Le Danseur came up a bit short in the Plate – 3rd to Son of Briartic. The colt was soon retired.
Dumas won over 300 races and when he retired from training, did stints as a top assistant trainer and then worked as a jockey agent briefly.
Dumas, who had been in ill health for some time, has one child, Jean-Marc (Marc), who is heavily involved in the local racing industry. Marc sends out his first starter of 2014, Tomtom Drum, at Woodbine today.
Perhaps Dad will have a little influence on that horse?
(A memorial will be held for Jacques on the Woodbine backstretch on July 8. A memorial will be held this Monday for exercise rider Mourad Bourdaa).
JACQUES DUMAS – Career Statistics:
Starts: 2,380
Firsts: 345
Seconds: 338
Thirds: 284
Earnings: $5,945,304
1998 2 0 0 0 $0
1997 37 0 3 5 $12,393
1996 30 1 1 2 $17,478
1995 15 1 4 2 $22,932
1994 26 2 3 2 $33,623
1993 37 6 6 4 $175,079
1992 37 2 2 4 $70,714
1991 112 11 11 10 $133,273
1990 137 18 10 24 $257,965
1989 118 12 9 16 $237,530
1988 135 19 18 15 $335,220
1987 129 12 20 16 $209,713
1986 174 21 19 21 $389,499
1985 158 30 25 19 $481,423
1984 178 34 34 24 $568,663
1983 151 20 29 19 $510,687
1982 119 21 21 9 $401,239
1981 127 22 22 7 $462,228
1980 166 29 31 17 $587,991
1979 139 20 24 17 $260,957
1978 114 25 16 15 $234,885
1977 129 18 11 20 $227,961
1976 110 21 19 16 $313,851
MICHAEL BURNS PHOTO
18 PLATE CONTENDERS ON THE LIST, 17 can run
Queen’s Plate Contenders by Lifetime Earnings
The buzz is loud and wide as to who is in the Plate, who is not, who is riding this horse, or that horse. It’s a fun ride as those with horses in the running for a spot in the race monitor their horses, as well as other people’s horses too.
The list of 18 seems to be complete – excluding FREITAG and PALADIN BAY: the former who may by-pass the Plate if owner Earle Mack deems his big gelding a non-competitor. The filly Paladin Bay surely will go in the Bison City Stakes where she would have a much better chance to win.
THOROUGHBLOG talked a litany of owners and trainers in the last couple of days.
The TORONTO STAR featured one of the longer shots in the Plate line-up who is hoping to get in…ATHENIAN GUARD. This gelding’s journey illustrates how tough it is for everything to go right on the way to the Plate (or any race for that matter). He was slow to come around at 2 but won his maiden with flair late last year. He was gelded and was in Florida. He was all set for his 2nd start of 2014 (he had been a bit behind in training this year) and appeared to be well on his way to win that 1 1/8 mile race until…
Not exactly the way you want to come into the Plate. Same can be said for the others in the race who also are hooping for a Plate start.
WE MISS ARTIE is cozy at Saratoga these days under the care of assistant to Todd Pletcher Tristan Barry. Todd Pletcher was pleased with the colt’s Plate Trial outing:
“We were very happy to have a run over the surface and to not overdo it,” Pletcher told Thorougblog. “I think Javier rode a smart race and saved a little.”
Pletcher and the Ramsays are expected in Toronto for the Plate.
LEADING QP CONTENDERS by Lifetime Earnings
We Miss Artie $699,000?
Lexie Lou $649,250
Asserting Bear $295,827
Matador $268.447
Ami’s Holiday $223,460
Coltimus Prime $120,900
Majestic Sunset $116,646
Tower of Texas $115,196
Heart to Heart $113,670
Man o’ Bear $110,760
Niigon Express $93,593
Lions Bay $65,500
Rhythm Blues 63,705
East Side $55,693
Cap in Hand $51,566
Athenian Guard $44,610
Alpha High $39,790
*One Destiny $37,715
(*number 18 on the list)
