BEN JONES ESTATE ITEM: J EDGAR HOOVER SIGNED HALL OF FAME LETTER - CALUMET FARM!

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Thoroughbred Racing Collectibles, Inc. has been fortunate toobtain a small hoard of items from the estate of Ben A. Jones who trained for and managed Calumet Farm in the 1940’s and 1950’s. These extraordinary collectibles came to us from Ben’s nephew, Mr. Gary Zenda, who’s dad was the brother of Ben’s wife, Elizabeth (Betty) M. Jones. Mr. Zenda has provided us with signed Letters of Authenticity for each of the items that we will present on Ebay. Additionally, winning bidders will receive a letter from TRC to serve as a Lifetime Guarantee that these estate finds are authentic. Both letters are printed on high quality photo paper and both will have actual pictures of the item you are buying in order to provide better provenance and protection for you, the buyer. You will also receive a 4 X 6 inch photo of Mr. Zenda as a young man with his uncle Ben at his Faraway Farm in Weyauwega, Wisconsin in 1959. The authenticity is unquestionable and winning bidders will receive Mr. Zenda’s email address. Thoroughbred Racing Collectibles has been an Ebay member for over 17 years, please check our flawless feedback and . Benjamin Allyn Jones was born in 1882 in Parnell, Mo. and died in 1961 in Lexington, Ky. In 1914 Jones began breeding and training horses in the U.S. Midwest and in 1932 he joined the Woolford Farm, where he trained Lawrin, winner of the 1938 Kentucky Derby. In two short decades in the business, Ben was recognized as one of the best trainers ever. In 1939 Ben Jones became the contract trainer for Warren Wright’s Calumet Farm, where he also headed up the breeding operation. Thanks in large part to Ben’s natural talent and extensive knowledge, Calumet Farm became one of the greatest racing stables in thoroughbred racing history. Ben won the Kentucky Derby six times from only 11 starters, with victories in 1938, 1941, 1944, 1948, 1949, and 1952, an accomplishment no other trainer has yet succeeded in repeating or surpassing. He also trained two winners of the U.S. Triple Crown, Whirlaway in 1941 and Citation in 1948. At the height of his career, Jones led all U.S. trainers in earnings 11 different times. In addition to Whirlaway and Citation, Ben’s trainees included Sun Again, Pensive, Twilight Tear, Armed, Coaltown, Fervent, Faultless, Bewitch, Wistful, Pot o’ Luck, etc. He retired from thoroughbred racing in 1953 and in 1958 Ben was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Some of the highlights for upcoming auctions include: a Whirlaway horseshoe from the 1941 Belmont Stakes, a 1959 letter to Ben from President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Whirlaway’s Pimlico Special invitation from the Maryland Jockey Club, a 1939 Warren Wright signed letter of employment to Ben, track programs used by Ben, books dedicated to him, letters, track admission tickets and lots of original photos! Please make us one of your favorite sellers to avoid missing any of these gems! John Edgar Hoover (1895 – 1972) was the first Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States. He was instrumental in founding the FBI in 1935, where he remained director until his death in 1972 at age 77. Hoover is credited with building the FBI into a larger crime-fighting agency and with instituting a number of modernizations to police technology, such as a centralized fingerprint file and forensic laboratories. Late in life and after his death Hoover became a controversial figure having amassed a great deal of power from his position with the FBI. You are bidding on a hand signed letter of congratulations from J. Edgar Hoover to Ben Jones of Calumet Farm. The letter is written on Federal Bureau of Investigation letterhead and has the Director’s seal. It is dated August 11, 1958 and compliments Ben Jones on his election to Thoroughbred Racing’s Hall of Fame. In addition to the letter, high bidder will also receive an original 8X10 photo picturing Jimmy Jones, Clyde Tolson (FBI Associate Director), J. Edgar Hoover and Ben Jones at Del Mar race track in 1954.... read more

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