Acknowledged as one of the best horseman of the last several generations of horsemen and an influential teacher and innovator has passed away.  Very sorry to hear it and condolences to his family and friends.

https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/hall-of-fame-trainer-jonathan-sheppard-dies/

Late stage Lyme Disease I believe?   Tick borne illnesses were terribly under-diagnosed in years past, heck, even in recent years. 

Amazing to me how so many blacksmiths and people who deal with horses, dogs, wildlife, end up contracting tick-borne illnesses.  I've met so many at Oaklawn!  

He was a staunch member of the Water Hay Oats Alliance, and Graham Motion was one of his early assistants, and they both support(ed) what I believe in.  Basically that U.S. Racing had proved themselves unable to police themselves, and that we need to Put The Horse First. 

He will be greatly missed, was a terrific influence on what horsemen should be. 

He was in a League by himself for years in North America  and trained over hill and dale

besides training surfaces and Mental training at its finest in stories I read about him

they had to be true I never heard any thing against them. He will be missed for sure.

Can you even imagine having trained Storm Cat?   Amazing. 

smartyslew said...

He was in a League by himself for years in North America 

As were many who were early adopters of Water Hay Oats Alliance.  Many were slagged and ridiculed.   That includes the best like Sheppard, Alec and Criquette Head, Gai Waterhouse, Mark Casse, Graham Motion, Michael Blowen of Old Friends, Ben Cecil, Ben Colebrook, etc. ...WHOA  were the forerunners that led to the hiring of 5 Stones who coordinated w/feds to nail Navarro and Servis.

Never underestimate the status quo people to make sure justice isn't done though.  They called the WHOA members "crazies".  Imagine that. 

I have the member roster.  I will keep it.  The roster was included with Staci Hancock's letter to congress.  As a matter of fact, the guy who taught me horse racing from scratch, bred horses, was a member on that roster and he was the one who first turned me on to WHOA.   

https://paulickreport.com/news/ray-s-paddock/irwin-whoa-water-hay-oats-alliance-reaches-a-stop-sign/#:~:text=When%20a%20small%20group%20of,legal%20and%20illegal)%20in%20horseracing

Thanks Did you read some of the letters to the editor some were good from that piece.

April Alfarano talked about the emphisis on speed and the breakdown of  Mel

and eight belles on the same nick from  Ran who broke down after 4 races and lived

with to many of his crosses thru Unbridled  Song and in 2008 that was discussed

as the potential culprit and not verified , some of his progeny break down like RAN.

She also talked about the need for speed against Stamina in America.

The UB Song thing has been around forever.  I don't know what to think of that to be honest.  

Lyme put my otherwise healthy son who was 35 at the time, in the hospital for a week and on meds afterwards for many more weeks, as you know.  In fact, he was very grateful for the information you gave him.  Thankfully, he's hale and hearty now.

Sheppard shared a trait with Allen Jerkens.  He quietly helped many people regardless of their status in the sport.  Both of them were better humans than horsemen and they were great, great horsemen.

A huge loss to horse racing.