Lexington in Fayette County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Warner L. Jones Jr.

1916 - 1994

Photographed by Ken Smith, July 11, 2012

1. Warner L. Jones Jr. Marker

Inscription. For more than 50 years, Warner L. Jones Jr. was on the board of Churchill Downs, which a great-great-great uncle, Col. M. Lewis Clark, founded in 1875. For 12 years, Jones was chairman. Thus, much of his career was involved in protecting and promoting the track's revered Kentucky Derby. Jones established Hermitage Farm outside Louisville in 1935 and operated it for the rest of his life. He bred 131 stakes winners, including winners of the two most distinguished races at his home track: Dark Star, winner of the 1953 Kentucky Derby, and Nancy Jr., winner of the 1967 Kentucky Oaks. Jones was also on the board of the Breeders' Cup Ltd. and saw another Hermitage produce, Is it True, win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill in 1988. In Lexington, Jones was instrumental in forming Breeders' Sales during World War II, and it became the forerunner of the Keeneland Association sales. In two separate eras, he sent yearlings into the Keeneland sale ring to bring world-record prices. The first was the $170,000 colt One Bold Bid in 1964 and the second was the astounding, $13.1-million Seattle Dancer twenty years later. In 1969, Jones

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became a driving force in formation of the American Horse Council, which represents the horse industry in Washington, D.C.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Entertainment • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1875.

Location. 38° 2.508′ N, 84° 29.447′ W. Marker is in Lexington, Kentucky, in Fayette County. It can be reached from the intersection of East Main Street (U.S. 60) and Midland Avenue (U.S. 60), on the right when traveling west. Located in Thoroughbred Park (Triangle Park). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Midland Avenue, Lexington KY 40508, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Bluegrass Region.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Arthur B. Hancock, Jr.

Photographed by Ken Smith, July 11, 2012

2. Warner L. Jones Jr. Marker

(here, next to this marker); Bing Crosby (here, next to this marker); Dr. Elisha Warfield (here, next to this marker); E. P. Taylor (a few steps from this marker); James R. Keene (a few steps from this marker); Isabel Dodge Sloane (a few steps from this marker); Sheikh Mohammed (a few steps from this marker); August Belmont II (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lexington.

Also see . . . Thoroughbred Park (video). YouTube (Submitted on July 23, 2012, by Ken Smith of Milan, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Ken Smith, July 11, 2012

3. Warner L. Jones Jr. Marker

Thoroughbred Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ken Smith, July 11, 2012

4. Thoroughbred Park

Credits. This page was last revised on October 30, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 22, 2012, by Ken Smith of Milan, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,307 times since then and 58 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 22, 2012, by Ken Smith of Milan, Tennessee. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.