Jim French
 

I came across this article when looking at a pedigree.

It seemed kind of funny, what with the licensing nonsense going on in NY again.

Nice horse too!

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/article/34761.htm

I'm sure I'm not getting the whole story, but I believe there is a connection between the owner of Jim French and Devil His Due.

Yes, although there is a great deal to the story -- Libutti, then his daughter Edie, owned Devil His Due.

Eric

More importantly, great story about Jim French and Johnny Campo.

Eric

yes what a horse..cant believe this thread got no play..so unheard of in todays game..

Yeah, no kidding. I probably shouldn't have named this thread though with a name that not many people would have recognized and that happened to have a human sounding ring to it.

Maybe I can try an experiment and repost that link with a subject title of "Pamela Anderson's big boobs".

Nice to see Jim French remembered for the tough little guy he was ...

I worked for Campo at that time, and I remember Jim well as an energetic little putz and a biter ... But a real tryer ... I hotwalked him back then when Zito was but a loud mouthed groom for the Fatman ...

I left Campo's barn to go back to school, but a vist there probably during the ownership debacle revealed something unusual ....

Jim French was imprisoned in his stall, under guard by a gaggle of unsmiling Pinkertons ... No one was allowed near him, and nobody was saying nothin' ...

For me, it was great to see his name come up, as I knew him and was quite fond of him ...

Jim French was my first 'Derby horse', the first one I latched onto as a 2yo and followed all the way to the big race. He was a great one to choose, because he ran so often! :) I put on his racing colors every time he went to post. And then that Venezuelan runner flew in and kept my Jimmy boy from becoming the Derby winner! I realize, Jimbo was not as good a horse as his contemporary Hoist the Flag, but with The Flag out of the picture. Jim was as good as any of them. And tougher. He was an old-fashioned hickory-type dirt horse and was totally wasted at stud in France.

Interesting story... I vaguely remember "Jim".. Sad to hear that there is no memorial or recognition anyplace for this little guy. Thanks for posting the link Charlie.