James Bracken dies at 90

James Bracken, a former jockey agent and trainer who is a member of the Calder Race Course Hall of Fame, died on Saturday at his home in Florida, according to the racetrack. Bracken was 90.

Bracken led the trainer standings by wins at Calder four times, capturing the 1984 and 1985 titles for the Calder summer meets and the 1984-85 and 1989-90 Tropical-at-Calder fall and winter meets. He is currently fifth on the all-time races-won list for the Calder meet, and eighth on the all-time winner list at Tropical at Calder. He was inducted into Calder's Hall of Fame in 2000.

Among his best horses were Primal, who won the 1990 Grade 1 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park and nine other stakes races during his career. Other stakes winners included Cut the Charm, Cottage Flower, and Ponche, who raced for Tartan Stable.

A native of Missouri, Bracken started his career at Jefferson Park in Louisiana as an exercise rider. He briefly attempted to ride as a jockey, and then worked an outrider, assistant starter, and jockey agent.

Bracken began training full time in 1976. He spent his entire career on the south Florida racing circuit.