Jack J. Dreyfus Jr., whose Hobeau Farm colors were adorned by many of
racing’s most famous upset specialists, died Friday in Manhattan,
according to a report in The New York Times. He was 95.
A financier who created the Dreyfus Fund, one of the first widely marketed
mutual funds during the 1950’s and 1960’s, Dreyfus was a longtime participant in
racing both on the track and in the boardroom. A member of the Jockey Club who
also served two stints as chairman of the New York Racing Association board of
trustees, Dreyfus was the recipient of the Eclipse Award of Merit in 1977, the
Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons Award in 1967, and was also honored by the New York Turf
Writers Association in 1966 as the “Man Who Did the Most for Racing.”
Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens earned the nickname “The Giant Killer”
largely due to his work with Dreyfus-owned runners. Among these were Beau
Purple, who upset five-time Horse of the Year Kelso three times during the early
1960’s; Handsome Boy, who downed Buckpasser in the 1967 Brooklyn H.; and Onion
and Prove Out, who each defeated Secretariat during the legend’s 1973 campaign.
Onion upset the Triple Crown winner in the Whitney S. (G2) at Saratoga, while
Prove Out bested the great champion in the Woodward S. (G1).
Other noted Hobeau Farm runners include Grade 1 winners Flip’s Pleasure,
Group Plan, Miss Shop and Poker Night, as well as sprint specialists Duck Dance,
Chas Conerly, Kelly Kip, Put It Back and Smokume.