Owner-trainer Jimmy Iselin dies at age 84

Jimmy Iselin, a veteran horseman who trained and owned horses that ran mostly in New York for more than four decades, died at his home in New York City on June 8 after a brief illness, according to his son Jamie. He was 84.

Iselin was described as an “old-school horseman” by his son and “conscientious” by fellow trainer and longtime friend Eddie Barker. Though Jimmy Iselin won the 1976 Bold Ruler Handicap, Equibase shows Iselin having won 343 races from 2,286 starters from 1977-2017.

Barker said he spoke with Iselin Monday night, less than an hour before he passed.

“He was a good guy, I liked him a lot. He was a good mentor and a really good horseman,” Barker said. “He was a very conscientious guy, very analytical. In his lifetime, he trained some really good horses.”

Iselin was best associated as the trainer of Crafty Prospector, a son of Mr. Prospector, who won 7 of 10 starts, including the Marigold Stakes at Hialeah and became a notable stallion in the U.S. and Japan. Crafty Prospector sired 92 stakes winners, including Japanese champion Agnes Digital.

Iselin’s top money-earning horse was the New York-bred mare Willet who compiled a record of 10-9-7 from 31 starts. She won five stakes and earned $869,900 during a career that went from July 2011 through March 2016.

“That was the type of horse he was really good at training,” Barker said. “When he had a good horse, he got it to run.”

Other stakes winners trained by Iselin included Diver, Royal Roberto, and Dominion.

Jimmy Iselin was the son of Philip Iselin, who played a key role in the launching of Monmouth Park and was appointed treasurer of the track in 1946. Philip Iselin succeeded Amory Haskell in 1966 as Monmouth president and served in that role as well chairman of the board until he passed away 10 years later.

Philip Iselin and Leon Hess were part of the group that purchased the New York Titans in 1963, changed the name to the Jets and won Super Bowl III in 1969, that franchise’s last championship. Iselin and Hess gave Jimmy Iselin the first three horses he trained, including Chief Tamanaco, a horse purchased from Lucien Laurin.

“He won the Bold Ruler [in 1976] so my father got to see me win a stakes race,” Jimmy Iselin said in a 2012 article ridden by Lynne Snierson. “My father had a heart attack and died two days later.”

In a 2005 Blood-Horse article, Iselin talked about learning a lot from the likes of Hall of Fame horsemen Jimmy Jones and Woody Stephens.

"Jimmy always said, 'In one day, a horse can make your career,' and Woody always said, 'Don't bring over the best horse, bring over the right horse,' " Iselin said.

Jamie Iselin said his father “had a few interests but he loved the horses and the people he met at the racetrack.”

Jamie Iselin said a celebration of life would be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.

Jimmy Iselin is survived by his wife Ruthanne – they would have celebrated their 63rd anniversary on June 13 – son Jamie and daughter Robin; a sister, Kay; and grandchildren Philip and Lucy.

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