John A. Nerud

Horseracing personalities infobox


name = John A. Nerud
|caption =
occupation = Trainer & Owner
birthplace = Minatare, Nebraska, United States
birth date = February 9, 1913
death date =
career wins = 1,000+
race = Belmont Stakes (1957) Travers Stakes (1957) Peter Pan Stakes (1957) Jockey Club Gold Cup (1957) Hollywood Gold Cup (1958) Metropolitan Handicap (1958) Fall Highweight Handicap (1965) Cowdin Stakes (1966) Arlington Classic (1967) Withers Stakes (1967) Hawthorne Gold Cup (1967) Gotham Stakes (1967) Man O' War Stakes (1967) Vosburgh Stakes (1967, 1968, 1969, 1978) Suburban Handicap (1968) United Nations Handicap (1968) Whitney Handicap (1968) Comely Stakes (1969) Gazelle Handicap (1975) Paterson Handicap (1978) Meadowlands Cup Handicap (1978) Arlington Handicap (1984)
Selected wins as an owner: Breeders' Cup Mile (1985) Longfellow Handicap (1985)
Oceanport Handicap (1985)
Fall Highweight Handicap (1986)
awards = Big Sport of Turfdom Award (1968)
honours = National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame (1972)
horses = Delegate, Gallant Man, Intentionally Dr. Fager, Ta Wee, Dr. Patches, Cozzene
updated = September 14, 2008

John A. Nerud (born February 9, 1913 in Minatare, Nebraska) is an American thoroughbred horse trainer and owner who was inducted in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1972.

Early years

Nerud, who was born on a ranch in western Nebraska, worked as a rodeo cowboy, groom and most notably as a trainer during his youth. Prior to serving in World War II, he was the agent for Hall of Fame jockey Ted Atkinson in New England.

Career

Nerud spent the bulk of his 44 year training career (1935-1978) as a trainer, president and general manager for William L. McKnight's Tartan Farms in Ocala, Florida. When Nerud retired from training in 1978, he remained at Tartan as manager of racing and breeding.

As a trainer, Nerud first drew national attention in 1956 after prepping Switch On to win the Palm Beach and McLennan Handicaps. The following season, in 1957, Nerud lost the Kentucky Derby by a nose to Iron Liege after jockey Bill Shoemaker, aboard Gallant Man, misjudged the finish line. Gallant Man later defeated Bold Ruler in a record breaking Belmont Stakes.

Nerud's most acclaimed runner was Hallo Fame inductee, Dr. Fager. In 1968 Dr. Fager became the only thoroughbred to win four Championships in one year: Sprinter, Turf Horse, Handicap Horse and Horse of the Year. Nerud also trained champions Delegate (1949 Sprinter); Intentionally (1959 Sprinter) Ta Wee (1969, 1970 Sprinter) and Dr. Patches (1978 co-Sprinter). Overall, Nerud is credited with saddling over 1,000 winners including 27 stakes winners.

Nerud helped turned Tartan into one of the nation's top racing and breeding operations. Besides developing an excellent broodmare band, Tartan stood Dr. Fager, Intentionally, In Reality and later, Hold Your Peace, Codex and Smile.

Nerud also bred and owned Fappiano, sire of the champion and top stallion Unbridled.

Founding Director of Breeders' Cup

During the early 1980s, Nerud assisted in the early development of the Breeders' Cup, helping founder John R. Gaines to sell the concept to horsemen across the nation. As a Founding Member, Nerud also served as chairman of the Breeders' Cup marketing committee in its formative years.

In 1985, Nerud won the Breeders' Cup Mile with his homebred Cozzene, who was trained by his son, Jan. Cozzene was voted the 1985 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Male Turf Horse.

He remains a Director Emeritus of Breeders' Cup, Ltd.

John Nerud and his wife Charlotte are resident of Old Brookville, New York.

References

* [http://www.ntra.com/content_print.aspx?type=pr&id=22660&style=red NTRA article title "John Nerud to Receive Eclipse Award of Merit For Lifetime Achievement in Thoroughbred Racing"]
* [http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall/trainer.asp?ID=280 John A. Nerud at the United States' National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame]