Remembering Rodney Jenkins - A Horse Racing Legend
Early Life and Show Ring Success
Rodney Jenkins was a native of Middleburgh, Va., and the son of famous horseman and huntsman Enis Jenkins. He dominated the American show ring over parts of three decades, retiring in 1989 as the sport's winningest rider. At the age of 43, he won two silver medals at the 1987 Pan American Games as a member of the U.S. Equestrian Team and was inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame in 1999. His natural relationship with horses was instinctive, and this talent ran in his family. He was very modest about his success and a very caring and giving person.Throughout his life, he was a familiar figure in the horse racing world, and his influence was felt by many.
Transition to Thoroughbred Training
After starting his career training steeplechase horses, Jenkins made the switch to Thoroughbreds in 1991. This transition was a significant one, and it led to remarkable achievements. He went on to win 941 races and accumulate $24.84 million in purse earnings from 4,654 starters. His best horse was Hillwood's Cordmaker, who was retired in 2023 at the age of 8 after winning 14 of 39 races and $1,004,380 in purses.Cordmaker won 11 stakes, including the 2022 General George (G3) at Laurel, a race that Jenkins and Ellen Charles first won with Bandbox in 2014. Other horses he campaigned for Hillwood included Maryland turf champion Phlash Phelps; Shimmering Aspen, a five-time stakes winner of $415,660; and Malibu Kid, placed in six stakes including the 2009 General George Handicap (G2).
Training Rivals and Friends
Trainer Hamilton Smith, 79, knew Jenkins for decades from their time on the Laurel backstretch. Over five years between 2014 and 2018, Smith and Jenkins won the Maryland Million Turf twice each - Smith with Talk Show Man in 2014 and 2018 and Jenkins with Phlash Phelps in 2015 and 2016. Their rivalry was intense but respectful."He'd beat me and then I'd beat him and it went back and forth. It was always Phlash Phleps and Talk Show Man. It was a pretty good rivalry there," Smith said. "Rodney was top shelf, no doubt about that. I don't see where anybody could fault him for what he did as a competitor in the show ring that carried right over to training horses. He was just a first-class guy."
Jenkins also had many friends and colleagues in the horse racing industry. His best friend and fellow trainer Curtis Beale "Woody" Payne spoke highly of him, saying, "I grew up under him going back to the show horse days. Basically, all my life I've known his family. He had a natural relationship with horses. It was instinct. The whole family has it. He was very modest for all the success he had, and he was a very caring and giving person, as well. Just all the kind acts and attitudes over a lifetime is remarkable."Family Legacy
Jenkins's son, Patrick, often traveled with his father's horses when they ran out of town and won 60 races as a trainer himself between 2006 and 2021. He now works as an assistant for Woody Payne based in Charlottesville, Virginia."Patrick's doing OK. I just sent him up the road to Maryland here a little while ago. Rodney's health had been declining so he was mentally prepared for it, as well. He was just up there about a week ago visiting with his dad," Payne said.
"He's got a lot on him right now. Patrick would ship around like he would go to Keeneland with stakes horses for his dad and he broke horses. Mrs. Charles was one of his good customers," he added. "Patrick is still in the horse business and carrying on the family legacy."