By Bloodhorse.com
WOODSIDE, Calif. (June 28, 2017) — Jack Arterburn, a retired Northern California-based trainer who initially competed as a jockey for nearly 30 years, died May 31 at his home in Woodside, Calif. Arterburn. Arteburn, who has family ties throughout the industry, was 81.
Based in Northern California, Arterburn conditioned horses from 1978-2000 and saddled stakes winners like Greager, winner of the 1988 Determine Stakes at Bay Meadows; and three-time stakes winner Pleasant Power, who won stakes at Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields.
Some of Arterburn’s stakes winners as a rider include Any Time Lady, winner of the 1976 Santa Clara Stakes at Bay Meadows, and Never Slipping, winner of the 1977 Silky Sullivan Handicap at Golden Gate.
According to wife Sue Ann Pollard Arterburn, Jack Arterburn began his riding career at Sage Acres in Idaho before going to Portland Meadows in 1951 with trainer John Nazworthy. Jack and Sue Ann met at Portland Meadows and married three years later, a bond that would last 63 years.
“After going through our memorabilia, I fell in love all over again,” said Sue Ann Arterburn in a letter to BloodHorse. “I miss the miserable Son-of-a-Gun.”
Arterburn won nearly 2,500 races and is in the Turf Paradise Racing Hall of Fame (1964) and the Sunland Park Walk of Fame (1965).
Jack Arterburn is the father of trainer Lonnie Arterburn, who also enjoyed success in Northern California; and retired trainer Tim Arterburn. Daugther Tami is married to Racing Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze. Daughter Jacalene Calvario worked at Bay Meadows for 30 years.