Jimmy Cruise, Jr. reminisces about his incredible life in harness racing

by Murray Brown

Jimmy Cruise, Jr. is now 75. Like many people of that age or older, this scribe most definitely included, he realizes that his best days are behind him.

Cruise’s best days were spent pursuing a successful career in harness racing.

“I miss it terribly,” he said. “I loved everything about it, most especially the horses, but also the people, the stables, the grooms, everything about the sport which contributed to my having what I considered to have been a very fulfilling life and career.

“Unfortunately, a series of serious health issues have prevented me from continuing in the sport, even on a limited basis. Nowadays, I live in Eustis, FL not too far from three fairly major training centers Spring Garden Ranch, The Burke Center and the Pinske family’s Southern Oaks. This proximity to the training centers allows me to get my ‘horse fix,’ but only as a spectator and only in the off season.

“But the Internet allows me to keep up with the sport. I follow the races, the horses, the horsemen, everything I can learn about the game.”

Cruise was particularly looking forward to last night’s (July 13) racing at The Meadowlands.

“What a fantastic card they have put together,” he said.

On a hot summer’s day, both in Florida and on Long Island, these two old guys got together to reminisce.

You were almost literally born into the game. You spent the bulk of your childhood at Roosevelt Raceway in summer and fall and spring, and winter in California at Del Mar, Santa Anita and Hollywood Park.

“Yes, indeed. I was blessed. I first sat behind a horse when I was 3 years old sitting on my dad’s lap. I first jogged one when I was 10. I began training when I was 12. For someone who wanted to become a horseman, I suppose I was the luckiest guy alive. Not only was I born and raised with horses, but I was fortunate enough to be the son of the man that I consider to have been among, if not, the greatest horseman that ever lived.”

Many people today, might not recognize your dad’s name, Jimmy Cruise, as being synonymous with equine greatness, but ask any of his contemporaries or those who witnessed his amazing Hall of Fame career. The response from them would be that there were few of his equal.

“So true. He was a one-of-a-kind figure. He probably did not get the publicity of some of his contemporaries like the Haughtons, Dancers, Simpsons and Millers, but he didn’t ever want it. When it came down to its component parts, Jimmy Cruise was a simple, hard-working farm boy who loved horses and horse racing. He was a genial figure on the racetrack. He addressed just about everyone as “Pardner.” I have never in my entire life heard anybody utter a negative word about him.”

What was it about your dad that made him as great a horseman as he was?

“Being his son, he was a tough act to follow. If it came down to just a few words, those words would be that he utilized common sense in all he did, with both people and his horses. With his horses, he tried to place himself in their skin. He did things with them that no other horseman to that time had done previously.

“Of prime importance to him was in feeding them well. His was the first stable where they fed great alfalfa hay almost exclusively. His was the first stable to put some baking soda in the horses’ water to aid in their digestion. He had great grooms. People who would work their butts off for him, our owners and most importantly their horses. His owners, primarily the Finklestein family were extremely loyal as he was loyal and honest with them. He was the first to turn out his horses to relieve the boredom of being cooped up in a stall.

“When we were at Del Mar in California, he would break his horses to saddle and we would ride them in the surf of the Pacific Ocean. Dad was a great believer in the healing effects of salt water with sore or lame horses.”

There are and were those who believed that Jimmy Cruise stood alone when it came to helping to make a sore horse sound and getting that horse to throw away its lameness when it raced. What were his secrets?

“There are those who think it was because dad had a whole bunch of secret potions and liniments that he used on the legs of his horses. He did have some of them. They probably helped somewhat, but in retrospect I believe that it was the utilization of common sense more than it was the given product. The liniment might have helped of course, but I feel it was more the rubbing of the legs for hours and hours to keep the circulation going that in so doing increased the healing process.”

You almost literally grew up at Roosevelt Raceway during the halcyon days of the sport where harness racing was literally “America’s Fastest Growing Sport” and truthfully promoted as such.

“It was heaven on earth, almost literally. It was the number one spot on Long Island. Going to Roosevelt Raceway, especially on a Saturday night, was an event. They regularly drew 40,000-50,000 people. There were nights such as when the Roosevelt International was taking place where the parking lots were so full that you had to walk for what seemed like miles to get in. The windows were so busy that if you wanted to be sure of getting your bet in, you had better get in line immediately after the conclusion of the previous race.

“The Cloud Casino was the great dining room at the track. You had better have made your dinner reservation a week or more earlier if you wanted a reservation. It was the place to be on Long Island.

I often think of how great it would be if Roosevelt were still there operating as a racino instead of, or maybe in addition to, Yonkers Raceway…

“The backstretch at Roosevelt was beautiful. It was a world unto itself. Every stable would be looking to outdo its neighbor both on the racetrack and in the appearance of its shedrow. There was a great sense of camaraderie among the horsemen and their families. We worked together and often played and socialized together. This is something that has been lost today due to almost all racetracks having shut down their backstretch areas.”

Let’s talk about some of your dad’s and your greatest feats and horses.

“One of the things I think that dad was most remembered for is that I believe he was the very first driver to win six races on a single card. He did it at Roosevelt with all six winners coming from his stable. The lowest priced one paid $9.80. One of the things I remember most about that evening was that dad liked his chances with two of the winners. He sent up bets on them. The guy that he sent, disappeared never to be heard from or seen again.

“The horses, there were so many good ones, most of them who might have had physical issues which they overcame when they raced.”

Mr Budlong: “As good and as solid a free for all pacer as there was at the time.”

Earl Laird: “He was my all-time favorite. I was his caretaker. My greatest thrill with him was in winning the United Nations Trot. There were times with him when he would get so lame in his stifles, that he could barely walk. But, show him the starting gate and he would throw it all away and become the great racehorse that he was. As a yearling, dad was ready to give him away. ‘You can have him,’ he said. ‘Just give me the first $500 he wins, if he wins it.’  He found no takers.”

Frank T. Ace: “Dad bought him at the Old Glory Sale for $15,000. Within a little more than a year he was racing and winning the free-for-alls.”

Bud T Ace: “This horse was involved in a terrible barn fire. He lost two ears and an eye. They were going to put him down. Dad thought he could save him and he did, using lime therapeutically. He made a still useful racehorse out of him.”

Kash Minbar: “Yearlings never excited dad too much. He had this horse as a yearling. He made a deal with John Schroeder. Schroeder was to race him in the New York Sires Stakes at 2 and 3. Dad would get him afterwards. He did and became a great free for all trotter.”

Magician: “He was by far the greatest horse that I ever trained. He was selling close to the end of the sale. His dam was zero for five at getting them to the races. I had seen his video and man was I ever impressed. I figured that if he sold cheap enough, I would buy him for myself. I bought him for $10,000.

“Now I had to figure out how I was going to pay for him. In the end Billy Augenstein called. He had bought a few other yearlings and said he would take him as well.  He ended up earning over $3.2 million.”