Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Odds On Racing's

Personality of the Month
for July 2010

John R. Gaines

John R. Gaines was the man who developed Gainesway Farm into one of the leading Thoroughbred farms in the USA, and also, along with his father, Clarence Gaines, bred and raced a high-class stable of Standardbreds as well.

John R. Gaines

1966 Hambletonian winner Kerry Way

Mr. Gaines was well-known in both racing industries, and in the Standardbred world his family was responsible for breeding, raising and racing harness horses for over 100 years.

Gaines is best remembered for winning back-to-back Hambletonians in 1966 and 1967. Gaines bred and co-owned the filly Kerry Way, the 1966 winner, with his parents. In 1967, Gaines, his father and co-owner K.D.Owned won the classic event with the colt Speedy Streak.

Gaines also syndicated the 1948 Hambletonian winner Demon Hanover for $500,000, making him the first trotter ever syndicated in the history of the sport.

1967 Hambletonian winner Speedy Streak
Gaines was also responsible for the idea behind the creation of Lexington's Kentucky Horse Park, which came to fruition in 1978. He also was the prime backer of establishing championship races such as the Breeders Cup, and was a major philanthropist in the Kentucky community, pledging hundreds of thousands of dollars to the University of Kentucky. He also was a major art collector and was prominent in the formation of the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP).