While John C. (Jack) Oxley has spent his life around horses and decades as a prominent owner/breeder in Thoroughbred racing, he said receiving the Thoroughbred Club of America's Honor Guest recognition felt like he had finally arrived.
Despite his many accomplishments in the sport, including winning the 2001 Kentucky Derby (G1) with Monarchos; campaigning multiple grade 1 winner, 1999 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) winner, and champion older mare Beautiful Pleasure, and winning a Kentucky Oaks (G1) with Gal in a Ruckus, Oxley said he never felt like he had quite truly earned the title 'horseman,' a term he clearly reserves for a respected few.
"It is only tonight in receiving this honor from the Thoroughbred Club of America that I finally feel entitled to join that select crew who are called 'horsemen,'" Oxley said in accepting the recognition before club members Nov. 15 in the Keeneland clubhouse. "It's been a trip; it's been a route. It's been years. I'm beginning to think I'm there."
Of course many would argue that Oxley had earned that title many times over in a life that saw his father put him on a horse just a couple of months after his 1937 birth in Tulsa, Okla., and a childhood in which he would become captivated by radio broadcasts of the Kentucky Derby and then eventually attending the event.
Besides following in his father John T. Oxley's footsteps in the oil industry, he also followed his passion for polo. After many on-field successes, John C. Oxley eventually would serve as president of the United States Polo Association, as its chairman from 1988-91, and be inducted into the Museum of Polo Hall of Fame.
He would enter the world of Thoroughbred racing in 1974 and noted that his fortunes would skyrocket after his 1994 marriage to Debby. The couple is still busy making racing headlines as Debby Oxley is the breeder of Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Sierra Leone and the breeder of the dam of Kentucky Derby-placed Forever Young, who finished third in the Classic.
"The most important person in my life and my racing career has been my wife, Debby," Oxley said. "Debby has been the love of my life. We married in 1994. Before that time, my 20-year racing career was one of mixed results. I won a few races; but 20 years though?
"However, with the Kentucky girl now joining me, racing results were about to improve. Our love and good chemistry together resulted in our winning 10 grade 1 races over the first eight years of our marriage."
In 1995 Ontario-bred Gal in a Ruckus would pull off a 34-1 shocker in posting a front-end score in the Kentucky Oaks under Herb McCauley. Oxley was just getting started.
In 1997 2-year-old Beautiful Pleasure would win the Matron Stakes (G1), the first of her six grade 1 victories that would include the 1999 Breeders' Cup Distaff at Gulfstream Park under Jorge Chavez. Two years after that race, Oxley would win the Kentucky Derby with Monarchos, who rallied from 13th under Chavez to become the second Derby winner to complete the race in under two minutes (1:59.97).
At Friday's TCA dinner, Oxley recalled a few anxious moments after Monarchos reached the finish line 4 3/4 lengths ahead of runner-up Invisible Ink, campaigned by Peachtree Stable.
"There was a pause of concern that day as Debby and I, with family and friends, were about to cross the racetrack to join the victory procession, when the objection lights began to blink. Horror, terrible, frightening," Oxley said. "Monarchos had crossed over a lane to be in front of invisible Ink. It was little known then that I was the largest owner in the Invisible Ink syndicate. I did not wish to protest my win in the Kentucky Derby!
"Minutes passed as my voice of protest fell on deaf ears. However, smiles soon returned to our group as Monarchos was found to be clear and his win confirmed. A very happy evening ensued for all of us with this win of the Kentucky Derby."
In recalling these successes on the track, Oxley thanked the late trainer John Ward Jr., and his wife and assistant trainer Donna. After Ward's passing at age 75 in 2021, trainer Mark Casse took over the Ward-trained Oxley runners. Oxley noted that Mark's son and former assistant Norm (now out on his own), played an important role developing Oxley's horses.
Clearly, Oxley viewed all of these men and women worthy of the title 'horseman.' Oxley noted that John Ward recommended the purchase of Fawn Leap Farm near Midway, Ky.
"His positive recommendation led to our purchase and now 25 years of happiness in the Bluegrass for Debby and myself," Oxley said.
Classic Empire, trained by Mark Casse, would win the 2016 Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita Park on his way to champion 2-year-old male honors. Oxley has raced other highly notable stakes winners such as Sky Mesa (also a successful sire), Airoforce , Uncaptured, Spring in the Air, Snow Dance, Pyramid Peak, Jambalaya Jazz, Dixie Strike, Pretty Gorgeous, Noble Bird, Skyway, Flameaway , Dynamic Sky, Beethoven, Dancinginherdreams, Strong Contender, La Coronel, and Dream Dancing.
In 2012 Oxley's Uncaptured was Canadian Horse of the Year and champion 2-year-old male, and Spring in the Air was the Canada's champion 2-year-old filly. In 2017 Oxley won his eighth graded stakes at Keeneland with La Coronel and was presented the Keeneland Milestone Tray. Pretty Gorgeous was named Europe's 2020 champion 2-year-old filly (Cartier Award).
The Thoroughbred Club Testimonial Dinner was inaugurated in 1932, the year the Club was founded, to recognize distinguished contributions of leadership as well as success in the Thoroughbred industry. While Friday evening provided Oxley an opportunity to recall the top races and top horses, he noted his love of racing goes well beyond those accomplishments.
"I love the Thoroughbred. I'm addicted," Oxley said. "I love going to the winner's circle. I will continue to seek the excitement and exhilaration of that circle, and also joyful days with Debby at Fawn Leap Farm planning a mating that just might produce a future champion."
