Thursday, September 06, 2007

Jackie Thompson, Iconic Thoroughbred Horseshoer, Has Died in Lexington

If anyone is counting, Jackie shod five Derby winners--Dark Star, Proud Clarion, Dust Commander, Gato del Sol and Swale.

More importantly, he taught people to be farriers by taking them on as apprentices. One of the best Jackie stories is when he took on a white apprentice, the first in Lexington. He went around to all the trainers at Keeneland to make sure it was all right with them if a white man helped him work on their horses.

Services are Monday, September 10 at Shiloh Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky.

The Lexington Herald-Leader has a nice obituary of Jackie, who was 81.

I'll never forget him.