UNIONVILLE, Pa.--Russell Jones of Unionvile received the Lifetime Achievement Awad from the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association at its annual meeting in early June.

Russell JonesBut in fact Jones' actual lifetime achievements far exceed those for which he was honored by the PHBA.

He was a top amateur steeplechase rider who won against the best professionals at major tracks, he was a realtor, he was a leading bloodstock agent who founded and led Walnut Green, one of the biggest bloodstock agencies in the country, he served a term as President of the PHBA, he was a Master of Foxhounds of one of the top foxhunts in the nation, he has served and still is serving as a commissioner for the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission and is currently a member of a syndicate that buys and sell top race horses internationally.

He was inducted into the Parx Hall of Fame in September, 2018.

And at 90 years of age, he is still going strong.

"I started hunting when I was 7," said Jones. "I won my first point-to-point when I was 13, but I couldn't ride at Brandywine until I was16. I won the Men's race at Brandywine when I was 16."

"Burley Cocks gave me a horse, actually, I paid $100 for him, and I hunted and point-to-pointed him, then I got Jacko off the racetrack. I won over hurdles at Delaware Park and over brush at Aqueduct. I rode at Belmont in the 1969 Temple Gwathmey, where I was leading but got caught in the stretch," he said.

In the sixties, races were run over natural brush fences that were over 4 feet in height.

At Belmont, there was a huge water jump right in front of the stands, and steeplechase races were run five times a week.

After running over brush, Jacko was converted to timber and was Timber Horse of the Year for four years.

"I won the Maryland Hunt Cup in 1975 and won the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup thee times," said Jones.

 

"I WAS IN investments in Philadelphia,and my father was in real estate," said Jones. "Mu father had some property he need help selling, so I want into real estate. I was a realtor for five or six years in the 70s. While I was still in real  estate, I started consigning horses. My brother Richie and I stated Walnut Green in1980."

Russell Jones on Jacko"We sold six or seven every year at Saratoga," he said. "That was an unmovable part of our schedule.

"I started working for Morven Stud in 1990." Jones said. "I said `I can come work for you, but I can't give up Walnut Green.' I worked there for 10 years."

Jones said that he and Richie had started talking about the fact that they were getting older and the clients they worked for were getting older, so when Mark Reid approached Richie to ask if they were interested in selling, they agreed and sold Walnut Green to Reid in  September of 2005.

Jones remained associated with the Pennsylvania-based business, serving as its president.

“When I sold the company, I had a three-year contract that expired at the end of 2008,” Jones said. “There was a non-compete agreement for three years, so I couldn’t be competing with them in any part of what they do, but I was doing stuff for myself."

"I was a commissioner with the State Racing Board for the first time in the 80s," he said. "That was for five or six years. About 10 years ago, the PHBA started putting up names to then Governor Wolf, and he appointed me commissioner. Then Shapiro appointed me, so I've been appointed by both Republican and Democratic governors."

Jones is still serving as a commissioner. 

In 2003, Jones was elected Master of Foxhounds of Mr. Stewart's Cheshire Foxhounds, and served there for10 years, during which time he and his co-masters hired Ivan Dowling as huntsman.

With his great love of hunting, he continued riding to hounds until just a couple of years ago and still is a car follower almost every time hounds go out.

"Some friends and I started a small syndicate, buying a few yearlings in England every year," said Jones. "They go into training with Jessica Harrington. We don't keep anything past 3 years old."

On June 25, Jones flew to Ireland to watch one of their young horses run.

"We had a filly win today," said Jones as he was being driven to the airport by his wife, Donnan, nee Sharp. "She won a very good group 3 race, so she'll bring a good price. This business has blossomed into something great. We're really having fun with it."