A True Partnership Prado, who “understand what we’re about, equals. For many years, Donna ran their
May 5, 2001, saw Donna standing up in that we won’t sacrifice the animal to win a operations single—handedly in Florida,
a Churchill Downs seat, shouting “Oh, my race,” John says. while John took care of things elsewhere.
God!” and hammering John on the head With one Derby win under his belt, John That taught her, she says, to trust herself
with a pair of binoculars as she watched says that particular pressure has lessened a and make decisions.
Jorge Chavez on Monarchos. The roan colt bit. He’s knows what it feels like to win The couple — who are active in their in—
they had trained for owner John Oxley and racing’s most elusive title, and he knows he dustry, John having served on the Ken—
his wife, Debby, was breaking free of the has the skill set to win it again when he tucky Racing Commission and other posts,
pack and running at a blistering pace. finds the right talent. Now, he says, he’s and Donna a longtime member of the
When he crossed the finish line at 1:59:97, more like a lion “lying in wait [for the next Kentucky Horse Park Foundation Board
4 3/ 4 lengths in front of the pack, he was Derby winner] instead of on the prowl.” of Directors — offers advice to one an—
just 2/ 5 of a second off Secretariat’s record. As sweet as the Derby win was, for other freely, they say, though they laugh
Later, Chavez told them that he could have Donna it was Beautiful Pleasure’s 1999 win that sometimes one might not want to
gone faster, had he known the record was in of the Breeders Cup Distaff and her gar— hear what the other has to say.
reach. They both laugh at the memory. nering of the Eclipse Award that year for While John is “the dreamer, always look—
“It was just meant to be,” Donna says. “It Champion Older Mare that was the defin— ing five years out to try something new,”
has to be your day. To be able to win the ing accomplishment of their careers. Donna is “the accountant at heart,” she
Derby with no more than three or four colts Donna and the mare have a special rap— says, whipping out a legal pad and pencil to
at your disposal when some other trainers port: In her championship year, Donna find out whether the bottom line for his
have hundreds, that’s an amazing thing.” rode and trained Beautiful Pleasure exclu— plans will put them in the red or black.
The couple now trains almost exclusively sively. Husband John and John Oxley had The one drawback of working together:
for Oxley, and currently they have about all but washed their hands of the tempera— Donna is a self—admitted workaholic and
30 horses in training. They also run a mental mare, after a disappointing three— John, who can compartmentalize his work
broodmare stable and oversee Oxley’s Mid— year—old year. After a year of constant and home life, can’t “turn her off,” he jokes.
way, Ky., farm. Keeping their stables small work, Donna turned the horse around, But still going strong after 35 years of
and focusing on one owner allows the leading her to the championship as a four marriage, their system appears to be work—
Wards to give their horses the attention year old. When Beautiful Pleasure was re— ing just fine for them. “1 think we work
they feel they deserve. tired from racing and had her first colt, the very well together to spend as much time
“The Wards, my wife, Debby, and 1, we mare allowed only Donna to visit with the together as we do,” Donna says.
all share the same respect and love for the foal while in the field. Given their record of more than 500
Thoroughbred,” says Oxley by phone from When people askJohn to name the most wins and 45 stakes winners to date, the
his Palm Beach home. talented horse the couple has trained, he horses of these two Kentucky hardboots
“Do you know what the numbers are for surprises many by saying Beautiful Pleas— seem to agree.
winning the Derby?” John asks, leaning ure, not Monarchos. “She was an unbeliev—
back in his chair. “There are 40,000 foals in ably talented animal that was big and Robin Roenker ’98 AS is a freelance writer
the crop each year, of which 20,000 are fil— strong and tough and durable,” he says. in Lexington.
lies and 20,000 are colts. Of the 20,000 And he gives all the credit for harnessing
colts, you’ve got to be the one horse that’s that talent to Donna.
ready to go on the first Saturday in May.” “1 had to get her to do what I wanted her
In the fanfare preceding the 2001 Derby, to do,” Donna says. “But the greatest thing
the media spotlight was focused on Bob it taught me was that sometimes she had to
Baffert’s horses, Point Given and Conga— win. She was so strong—minded, and
ree, which were favored to win. The rela— just so talented.”
tively little notice given to Monarchos John, who served as chief
keyed in on John Ward’s unorthodox deci— operating officer for .3 ‘
sion not to run him hard in the weeks lead— Calumet Farm for a .1”
ing up to the Derby. Before the race, turf period in 1991, once . . :1 ‘ &
writers called Ward old—fashioned. After told a reporter that . f r ,
the race, they called him a sage. Donna wasn’t his vi. / k j . 2’ . :1 k ,5,
“Call it one for tradition,” Ward said at right hand, she 1, - :fi‘ ¢ riff/liffd ‘
the time, noting he preferred to gradually was both his “ '- t}; _ “' ,2 '5 bill“
work a horse up with consistent improve— hands. While _ . I. _» j 1 ~.; . l-x ‘_f7" *5 k» ,\r\
ment so he’s nearly at his peak at the time John’s name I - ' 1 ; :r a; «SEE-Q
of a race, rather than overworking him. might be on . , .7 7 5 A ,4
That remains the Wards” style, and it their stables, 5’ x ‘ ,j—l ; “<2 ,
means finding jockeys like Ward—favorites the pair works 3 , A g , , l ,. ' ‘ 7. J I
Chavez, Herb McCauley, and Edgar together as / i i g. j ,
John and Donna Ward, with jockey Jorge Chavez, savor the ‘ ‘ I @ \;‘“fl
2001 Kentucky Derby win of Monarchos. , x , l ' M 7 ”“5”
g\ V $67 1
' 4. . ~ .' V ‘:‘- 5 » r