Page 5 - September 2005 The Game

Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper The Game, September 2005 5
J.C. MEYER CONT. FROM PAGE 4 Brenda Stemmler, Jerry’s Daughter:
“He was a great man, a great trainer and a great father. His record speaks for himself. He took me to Saratoga. I went to the sales there. He took us to Churchill Downs. Just last year we went to the Kentucky sales. He loved going to sales. He loved to look at and buy young horses. That was his forte. He picked out some great horses -Good Old Mort, Pine Point, Northernette, Brilliant Sandy, Dr. Giddings, Classic Gogo, Bold Ruckus.
Many times I have gone into the winner’s circle with him. There are so many pictures of him. It’s unbelievable.
My dad never had a son - he had three daughters, but he was like a father to so many young men at the track. Michael Rogers came to us at Fort Erie as a teenager and started as a hot walker. Today he’s Frank Stronach’s financial manager. Hugh Chatman is the assistant trainer to Sam-Son Farms, but before that he was riding for my dad. And Ray Sabourin became a top notch jockey under my father’s wing.
I saw him the day before he passed away. I spent about 5-6 hours with him. He was totally all there with his mind. He told me to call him at 8 o’clock the next morning. He was hoping to get back to the barn as soon as possible but he passed away at 5 o’clock that morning. Two weeks before he passed away he was at the barn. Basically he passed away with his boots on. He was a fighter right to end.
There were hundreds of people at his funeral. People from the United States came in. I’ve never seen so many flowers. Now that he’s gone, it’s a big void in my life.”
Donna Meyer, Jerry’s Wife for 58 years:
He took us all to Maryland to the racetrack at Pimlico. It was a beautiful trip. Maybe once a week I would go to Woodbine with him. We would always go every year to the Queen’s Plate. He would take the whole family, then he would take us all out to eat. He was very good to us. He was an excellent father. He would go to the airport to fly out to a race- track, but he would always call to say good- bye even when they were announcing final boarding. He would always be the last person on the plane. He was up early every morning. I would get up to make him breakfast. I still wake up every morning at 4:30 or 5am. He would call me every day from the track. He died at 5 o’clock in the morning. I swear to God, he was getting ready to go to work one more time.”
James Regan (1928-2005)
Larry Regan, James’ Brother:
“My brother was a partner with me in the sand and gravel aggregate business. I had a horse before I was married in 1953 and had some fun with it and he joined me in 1955. He was in the horse business with me from 1955 until 1984. We had some great horses and had a lot of fun we had a great trainer by the name of William (Red) Millar.
We travelled across the United States running horses. We won a stake with Sergeant Hunt at Laurel. We beat the champion sprinter of 1974, Gallant Bob who came into the race undefeated. I remember I bet on it and placed a bet for Jim. Sergeant Hunt paid over $130.00.
Jim’s got a great family. He got married in 54 and raised a great family, two boys and three girls and nine grandchildren.
I‚m very proud of him. He was well known around the racetrack. He started Alcoholics Anonymous in the backstretch. He was a great guy to communicate to people. He had a knack of talking to them
about booze. He could sit down and have a coke with anybody. There must be hundreds of guys at the racetrack that he straightened out.”
Kelly Regan, James’ Nephew:
“Uncle Jim was in partnership with my father. They were one of the most powerful outfits at Woodbine in the 70’s. They were in the top five most of the time. There was Conn Smythe, Jack Stafford, George Gardiner and JJ and LD Regan Stables. They were partners right down the middle 50-50 with the horses.
Some of the good horses that they had were Dawes Road, Sergeant Hunt, Admiral Twit, Umbrella Chief, Trusty Forester and Fly Ash which for a long time held the record at Woodbine for a mile and a sixteenth.
I grew up with him and saw him every weekend at the racetrack. He was one of the people that got the A.A. group started at the racetrack. He was quite proud that he beat his drinking problem and he helped a lot a people at the track.”
Tim Regan, James’ Nephew:
“My uncle was a good guy. He helped a lot of people. He was always kind to me. I played hockey in the 1970’s in Markham and he used to show up at every game. He was
always very supportive and helped a lot of people.”
Jim McKenny, TV Sportscaster:
“I met him through his association with Howie Young (former NHL hockey player). Whenever Howie got into a jam, Jimmy was the guy. My relationship with Jim was mainly about talking hockey and recovery, not necessarily in that order. Anything you need- ed, he’d try and get it. He was a low-key guy, didn’t take himself too seriously. He pretty well knew everybody in downtown Toronto. You mention his name to anyone in the down- town core and there would pretty well be smiles on their faces.”
Joanne Smith, James’ Daughter:
“He introduced me to the Racetrack. He even named a horse after me ‘Jumpin Jo-Anne’ let’s just say it broke its maiden in its third start at Greenwood. Dad used to bring me to the racetrack every weekend and he introduced me to all the famous trainers like Frankie Merrill, Johnny Starr, Art Warner, and of course, Buddy Carter and Jerry Meyer. If Dad’s horse won a race and he bet on it, he’d share the winnings with everyone and then pick up the tab at dinner. My dad was very handsome and dressed stylishly. He just had
so much compassion for people and he treated everyone the same way. He could dine with E.P. Taylor and just as easily share a cigarette and a story with a groom on the backside.”
Roma, James’ Wife for 51 years:
“He was a wonderful, very kind man. I went to the races pretty well every Sunday with him. I loved to go to the Queen’s Plate and all the big races. We went as a family and took the children. When he first started owning horses, I was too nervous to even watch the races. I used to hide when the races were run. I wanted Jimmy to win every race. He had 48 years of sobriety and I loved him to bits for that. He helped so many people. One of the people he helped was Chris Rogers (former jockey) When Chris was dying of cancer, Jimmy visited him daily at the hospital in Hamilton. Probably his greatest joy was his family. He really was a terrific family man. I always felt I was blessed. He was a wonderful husband and wonderful father. We had five children and eight grandchildren and all of them miss him dearly. And of course, I miss him.”
Put your stamp on the 2005 Breeders' Cup!
you could
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1 of 10 Prize Packs
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•
Free Breeders' Cup Race Program
•
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•
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•
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Just visit any Champions location between September 1st and October 15th and pick-up your free Breeders' Cup Stamp 'n' Win Card. Have it stamped every time you visit and when your card is filled, just enter it into our draw!
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