Passing the tourch: Brian and Mandy Jones by George Starks Darke County Ohio

Brian Jones and his daughter Mandy

(This is the first of three stories on local harness horseman that are passing the torch to their children as Brian Jones, Kent Wilcox and Tom Hope turn the keys over to the next generation.)

Harness horse racing now in the hands of the next generation
Passing the tourch: Brian and Mandy Jones
By George Starks

DARKE COUNTY - Unlike many who were born into the horse racing business, Brian Jones, owner of the Snack Shop in New Madison, had no connection at birth to horses.

In fact, Jones hooked up with long time owner/trainer/driver Tom Hope about 30 years ago as the two combined to purchase a horse.

“It was actually 35 years ago when I got with Tommy,” said Jones. “After we sold that horse, I was hooked in this and I bought some more with different people. I was not born into this business but I started training them on my own.”

Thirty-five years after that initial buy, Jones is training the ‘apple of his eye,’ his 22 year old daughter, Mandy. For Jones, training his daughter means more than just teaching his child the ropes.

“I love it,” Jones admitted. “It’s great father-daughter time. We go to the races and get to do a lot of things together. To see her do well at it and the fact that she’s learning and growing in the business really makes me feel good as a dad.”

Along with that good feeling as a dad, the other part of being a parent comes into play as well.

“When she is getting ready to drive, I get very, very nervous,” Jones exclaimed. “”This is a very dangerous sport and horses are very unpredictable. If you didn’t get a little nervous about it, you probably wouldn’t enjoy it as much.”

According to Jones, Mandy was very young when she expressed an interest in horses.

“When she was about three, at the Darke County Fair, I had one I had to train that day and she was in a very fancy dress,” Jones stated. “She had her good shoes on and she was riding with me and her dress was blowing up over her head and she’s been with me every since. This is a hobby for us but we are dedicated to it.”

Even though her first ride in the sulky was at the age of three, Mandy’s desire to be a driver came long after that.

“I think I got the urge to be a driver two years ago,” said the 22 year old Jones. “When I first decided I wanted to try this, I drove up in Mt. Pilliar, Ohio and I drove the same horse two nights, back to back. I got fourth place both nights. That was really when I got really interested in it.”

While Jones is good as a driver, it was another aspect of the business that got her attention.

“I really wanted to be a trainer more than a driver,” Jones pointed out. “It was worth a shot and I thought I’d try it and it’s fun. I’m never nervous when I get in the sulky. Dad’s always nervous. He’s behind the fence, pacing back and forth. There is an adrenalin rush but when you’re out there, you don’t really think about it and the nervousness kind of goes away.”

Even though Jones has yet to compete at the Darke County Fair, she has competed at many other places. Her day at her fair is right around the corner.

“I will drive in the women’s race at the fair this year,” Mandy pointed out. “I will find out how it is to be in front of a bigger crowd in your hometown.”

A graduate of Franklin Monroe, Jones played volleyball, basketball and even cheered her senior year.

In high school it was many athletes working as a team. Now the team consists of her and the horse.

“When we are on the track, the horse and I are a team,” Jones said. “We still have to work together as a unit. There’s no ‘I’ in team.”

To carry on is one thing, but for Brian there’s a pride factor involved.

“I’m very proud of her and you can almost imagine what goes through my mind when she’s out there and gets into something that is a close call,” Brian said. “You just hope you trained them right and they learned well.”

Mandy Jones recently graduated from the IU school of Medicine where she received her degree as a Medical Technologist.

Brain and his wife, Jane, are giving Mandy a summer away from the working world and allowing their daughter to race and train horses.

“The job is not important yet,” Brian said. “She’s been in school all these years. I want her to go racing and have some fun and enjoy her life for a few months.”

“It’s quality time with my dad and I’ve missed it for the past 11 months while I was at IU,” Mandy admitted with a smile. “I always want to make dad proud.”