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Orville Blades with Linda’s father O.D. Jamison.
he managed to touch deeply the lives of his biological family as well as dozens of people within his New Mexico racing family.
Johnnie Jamison, O.D. and Fannie’s son and Linda’s oldest brother, was frequently touted
for two talents. He was known as a stellar trainer and was also recognized as a highly distinguished “trackman,” as Linda described him. Stan Fulton, one-time owner of Sunland Park and one of Johnnie’s clients, said, “Every day of his life was about his love of horses.” Many people said Johnnie was the kind of person who exemplified the true face of racing.
Johnnie served as track superintendent at Canterbury Park, Palm Meadows and Sunland. He was a sought-after starter. He designed, sourced and oversaw the installation of a new racing surface at Indiana Grand in 2013. There wasn’t one aspect of operating and maintaining a racetrack that wasn’t familiar to him.
Johnnie Jamison once said, “I will not compromise safety. A racetrack is a living, breathing thing. The track yesterday may not be the same track today.” He was about horses. He was about making their lives better. And safer. His sudden passing in 2020, at the age
of 64 and just two years after his father, was a shock as well as a tragedy for his family and the racing world.
Unfortunately, the Jamison family shed tears for a second time in 2020 when 51-year-old Jimmy, Linda’s younger brother, passed away. He expressed his deep passion for racehorses during the entire 25-years he worked shoulder-
to-shoulder with his dad O.D. and his Uncle Johnnie, training and working the gates.
A large man with a smile that seemed to never leave his lips, many people referred to him as Big Jim. They all said the same thing about him, insisting his famous smile never failed to brighten their day.
Three major losses in less than three years was a heavy burden of grief and, as usual, Linda and Fred handled it as a team.
Fred has always adhered to two steadfast rules. First, he refuses to discuss industry politics in public. It’s likely he’d endure the agony of his fingernails being extracted with pliers without breaking that self-imposed restriction. Second, he
does not like talking about himself. Convincing him to do so brings us back to the fingernails and the pliers. He certainly doesn’t toot his own horn. He doesn’t even have a horn to toot.
For purposes of this article, he was asked what he considered as the major challenges facing New Mexico racing. His answer, “Rumors.” S’cuse me? “Rumors,” he repeated. That was his one word answer and he refused to elaborate.
That may not seem like much of an answer. Maybe a bit brief but think about it for a minute. He’s actually on the money with it. Rumors characteristically plague our industry but few of us seldom, if ever, stop and examine them as challenges - at least, not serious challenges. But they are, and they’re highly destructive.
What are rumors and what are their effects and results?
They cause uncertainty, confusion, and fear. They sow distrust, undermine positivity and breed negativity. They destroy an individual’s courage to plan for a future, especially if such plans require even modest risks. “Did you hear, they’re going to get rid of the Thoroughbred racing?” Or, “Did you hear, this is the last year for Quarters?” And, “Somebody who knows this stuff told me all the tracks are cutting purses by at least 50-percent next year.” There is no confidence when living in uncertainty. We push ourselves back several steps each time we react to rumors rather than to facts.
“What’s happened to us since the day we walked around the farm taking pictures and talking about the things we needed to do has been totally incredible,” Alexander said, “Never, in our wildest imaginings, did we anticipate how we would be blessed with such stallions and clients. We have an unbelievably good life and there are times when we still pinch ourselves to prove it’s all true.
“I will not compromise safety. A racetrack is a living, breathing thing. The track yesterday may not be the same track today.”
– Johnnie Jamison
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Courtesy Pete Herrera