If you stay long enough, you are likely to meet a lot of people and see a lot of things. And Jackie Ward Ramos, who turns 90 April 8, will celebrate her birthday at Keeneland Friday the way she has lived her life – surrounded by family, friends and horses.
“It’s a normal thing. People are going to come and enjoy some appetizers and drinks – very easy,” she said of her birthday party at the track. “Of course, that would be everyone in the horse business. At this point, I just want to know all of them. They are all my friends! ”
Born in Harrogate, Yorkshire, England in 1932, she recalls the chaos caused by the Second World War, as well as the years that followed. However, her early entry into racing will prove life has changed, with the horses remaining constant throughout her life.
She was introduced to the sport by her father, Jack Hylton (nee John Greenhalgh Hilton), the famous English pianist, composer, bandleader and lead actor. Dubbed the “King of British Jazz” and “Ambassador of British Dance Music” by the music press, he rose to prominence during the British dance band era and is credited with providing a Several successful artists of the era, including Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong, arrived in England in the 1930s.
“Before the war, I traveled with him and his band around Europe and we also went to America,” she recalls. “I never really settled into one place because we toured all over the place. But, he loves racing so I’ll do races with him. ”
According to Ramos, racing was limited to Windsor and Ascot during the war, however, the nation’s beloved past time provided an outlet for the custom.
“We moved around because of the war and then we got a place in Oxford, not far from Lambourn,” she said. “Thankfully, they kept racing throughout the fight and the near miss was a way out.”
An avid horseman, Ramos won the Newmarket Town Plate in 1956, a race first held in 1666 and later instigated by the winner of the 1671 event, King Charles II, The only ruling monarch to win a marathon. Competing three miles and six laps around the Newmarket Round Course, the race – the first run under the ‘Rules’ guidelines – was open to amateur riders only and it continues to this day.
“In those days, women couldn’t do anything like that,” she explains. “Newmarket Town Plate is the only place where women can race. We couldn’t even train under our own name when I first arrived. So the race is very important. And then, when they started staging [amateur] all women’s races [England and Ireland]I also won five of them over the years. ”
Ramos began raising horses in the 1950s, initially developing Ashleigh Stud in Hailsham in Sussex, England in 1958 before moving to Dunboyne, Ireland, just outside Dublin, in 1962 after marrying the champion Irish equestrian Liam Ward. She continued to build up her vast client base, which at one point included the late Robert Sangster.
Following on to Ward’s equestrian career, Ashleigh Stud proved successful, largely due to the influence of her prolific cub Zanzara (GB) (Fairey Fulmar {GB}), whose descendants include the heroine Queen Mary S. Farfalla, Middle Park S., Coventry S. and Queen Anne S. Showdown (GB) Winner and British champion sprinter Matatina (GB) who respectively produced Japanese champion Sunny Ciboulette.
“I bought her for £500,” she said of Zanzara. “She’s been a great mom to us.”
Partly due to a client request, Ashleigh Stud was again moved to the US in 1980. Taking over the former Creakview Ranch in Paris, Kentucky, she runs the nursery with her second husband, racing driver Frank Ramos. retired, until his death in 2020.
Among the Ashleigh Stud crossbreeds that have stood out on the track is Toast of New York (Thewayyouare), group 2 winner, who finished behind Bayern in the 2014 GI Breeders’ Cup Classic.
His first class double winner is Claire Marine (Ire) – gifted to Ramos at the end of her breeding career and her penultimate foal, Claire Soleil (Syncline), will continue the ‘ Toast’ in 2011. After producing a foal built by Bernardini. in 2017 and a year by Mendelssohn in 2020, Claire Soleil dies in 2021.
Among Ashleigh Stud’s residents over the years have also been numbered dual-placement bet winners and Fighting Fit millionaires, who stood on the farm early in his career and Turf Mare Possible Perfect Champion. 1995, who resided at the nursery until her death in 2019.
Now focusing only on livestock, Ramos sold part of the land that was originally Ashleigh Stud to Coolmore. She currently lives on a smaller farm and considers the Flying Wendy (North Light {Ire}) unrated as her only mother flock. The 11-year-old mare, a half-sister to GSW and GISP Millie’s Quest (Quest for Fame {GB}), belongs to the family of MGI/G1SW Doctor Dino (Fr).
“Of course, I cut back a lot, but I watch racing every day and I go to the track when I can. That’s all I live for.”
The once-horsewoman is now retired and her legacy is continued through her daughter, Nicole Ward, assistant to trainer Ian Wilkes, and niece Pamela Deegan, who founded Oxmoor Sales in 2015 and currently holds the role of account manager. with Eaton Sales.
“I retired all together. Now I just save greyhounds off the track,” she said. “At the moment we have three. They will live to the fullest here. “
When asked how she feels the business has changed since she joined, she replied, “It’s all very different now, a lot has to do with money. Owners/raiders, like Mellons, are not what they used to be. When I visited Kentucky for the first time, all [Kentucky] The farm is owned by the owner/raiser. Now it has become a very commercial business. “
However, according to Ramos, a common theme remains unchanged.
“It was a passion,” she said. “If you don’t have a passion for it, you probably won’t do well.”
And in the face of all the changes, Ramos admits the life force that has driven her through nine decades remains unshakable.
“My life is a quagmire,” she said with a laugh. “My life is not like others, very straight forward. I always march to my own tune.”
“But I have never regretted a single day in my life. I enjoyed all the people I met. And I know a few. Racing is a real community. We all know each other. And that’s what makes it so special.”
