Arrival in Dubai / Death of a Friend

It’s almost 11pm currently here in Dubai on a Wednesday night. After arriving at our hotel, my girlfriend Kristen informed me that Jerry Noss had passed away.   

Jerry was one of those figures in my life that was like a father, as he cared for me as his own son. He was also was one of those rough and tough guys from yesteryear that wasn’t afraid to tell you how he felt about anything … and he did.

That’s why I always considered him “Dad” after my father had passed away six years earlier. He was also a father figure in my Dad’s life when he was growing up all the way until he passed away from cancer in 2009.

Jerry never sugarcoated anything, and that’s most likely the reason why I respect honesty so much in this world today. Jerry was a mentor to me and so many others including Eclipse Award winning riders like Frankie Lovato, as well as many other horsemen, including Dominic Giglio and John Hoctel.  He never stopped sharing the true horsemanship of yesteryear with today’s youth on the backstretch.

Another thing he never stopped sharing, were his stories of a lifetime of unbelievable happenings from fights, to jail time, to accidents on horseback, to tragedy close to his heart among many other tales. Frankie Lovato was right when he said that he wished that Jerry would have written a book in his time. Honestly, I think that was an understatement, as we all would have loved to have seen that.  

It hurts especially after being so jet lagged to hear this awful news, and considering where I am in the world, to not be there for others at this difficult time. His girlfriend, and my partner on the horses we own together, Lynn Boggs was the one that contacted Kristen and told her not to tell me until once we were at the hotel, so I wouldn’t lose it in an international airport unknown to me. My tears are shed for now after finally taking it in.  It’s still so unreal to me.

Yes, Jerry Noss Horse Trainer, Jockey’s Agent, Rider, Horse Hauler, Father and Friend will be truly missed. This is a sad day in our part of racing indeed.  If you did not know him personally I wish that you did, and if you didn’t then ask them about a Jerry Noss story I’m sure they have … it will be worth it. Until tomorrow I sign off after finally making it here in Dubai, and I hope to bring you better news tomorrow as I travel to Meydan.

Best Wishes to All and R.I.P. Jerry Noss a.k.a. “Dad”.

Photo of Jerry on Carry Back at Randall Park in 1962