By Ray Sanchez
Jon Arnett now
king of New Mexico trainers
Like father, like son.
Sunland Pk. NM - February 8, 2010 - Bob Arnett was at Sunland Park Racetrack and
Casino when it opened in 1959. He was an immediate hit as a trainer and went on
to be the leading trainer at the track an amazing 12 different times.
He is still training horses 51 years later, but, as would be expected, age has
caught up with him. Now 77 years old, he handles fewer horses and thus fewer
winners.
He’s proud of his record, of course, and now he has his son to be proud of, too.
Jon Arnett has taken over from Henry Dominguez as the overall winningest trainer
in New Mexico. This past year he won 141 races, more than any other trainer in
the Land of Enchantment. And it made him the 19th winningest trainer in the
United States as well.
In 2009, Jon Arnett finished first in the trainer standings at Sunray Park in
Farmington, first at Albuquerque, second at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino,
third at Ruidoso Downs and fifth at Zia Park in Hobbs.
Jon Arnett, of course, learned a lot of his trade from his father. “Jon always
liked to be around me at the track when he was a kid,” Bob Arnett says. “I guess
he learned some things. And he turned out to be a good man as well as a good
trainer. He takes care of his horses and of himself. He doesn’t drink or smoke.
I’m very proud of him”
Jon takes the compliment with a smile. “My dad accomplished so much but now I’m
trying to see if I can beat him,” he said.
It’s not unusual to see both father and son competing in the same race. It
happened on Jan. 23 at Sunland. Youth must be served. Jon’s entry won while his
father’s horse ran out of the money. But Jon must have been thinking of his
father during the race. The name of Jon’s winner was, ironically, “Go Dad Go.”
Unlike his dad, Jon Arnett has yet to win a trainer championship at Sunland Park
Racetrack and Casino. However, he came close last season. He was second with 44
winners while the champ, Chris Hartman, had 48.
The competition has gotten much more fierce for every trainer this season
because of the track’s increased better prestige caused by the grading of the
Sunland Derby. Trainers seem to be bringing in more and more horses, especially
from California.
But there’s a long way to go until the end of the meet and one can be sure Jon
Arnett, who is still in contention and in the top five in the standings, will
keep churning out winners in quest of the title.