emiliana 11 Report post Posted February 8, 2013 News through tonight that Jack has passed away, my thoughts are with the family. A true harness legend Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mardy 475 Report post Posted February 8, 2013 Oh wow...thats sad news.My condolences to Jack's friends and family at this time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
richie 1,025 Report post Posted February 8, 2013 Our thoughts go out to Jacks family.What a great horseman he was and a great fella to boot Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thejanitor 1,206 Report post Posted February 8, 2013 Very sad news. Jack Smolenski was one of our best trainers and drivers, a great horseman. My condolences to his family. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allaboveboard 179 Report post Posted February 9, 2013 Very sad to hear this news. I met Jack many times over the years and viewed him with great respect. The first NZ Cup I can recall watching was the 1973 Cup won of course by Arapaho for trainer-driver Jack Smolenski http://www.themet.co.nz/Timeline.asp?Case=6&ItemId=441&AlphaId=1&CategoryId=1 Gina Marie was a very nice mare for Jack in the mid 70's as was her outstanding daughter Gina Rosa in the mid 80's. I also recall just how good Jack was at getting horses away from a standing start. He'd often win races by the fact his trained horses were always such brilliant beginners from a stand. In saying that not even Jack could get the mighty Lord Module away at the start of NZ Cup about 33 years ago when that great horse put on his "mule" impersonation at the start of the cup. Cecil Devine won many NZ Cups but if he wasn't going to drive the brilliant horse then top of the list to take over was Jack Smolenski. If there is a heaven then I can imagine who Jack will be catching up with. Jack will be missed and remembered as a legend in the harness industry. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tasman man 11 979 Report post Posted February 9, 2013 RIP Jack....a fine horseman over many years. Throughout the 70's and 80's he was among our best and one of the few drivers from that era in the '1000' win club and possibly in the top 'dozen' ever for training wins. Speedy Guest was another top performer and there was a period where he could line up to 3 horses in the 'main race'...I think Vanadium was with him for a while. I think he learned his trade under CCDevine ,hence the Lord Module connection. Seemed a real nice guy !!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashoka 1,179 Report post Posted February 9, 2013 I, also, would like to extend my sympathy to the family and friends of Jack Smolenski. A harness racing legend has passed, that's for sure. A relatively early recollection of Mr Smolenski I have is his trifecta-ing of the Easter Cup when that race was one of the most sought-after on the harness racing calendar. He also "did the double" with Arapaho, winning the NZ and Auckland Cups in the same season. All the best to his family and friends at this time. Ashoka Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelseacol 2,488 Report post Posted February 10, 2013 A gentleman and very skilled trainer. My condolences to family and friends. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
meomy 971 Report post Posted February 10, 2013 Click on the link for the story. http://www.harnesslink.com/www/Article.cgi?ID=103568 A legend Jack Smolenski passes aged 78 Mitchell Robertson 07:46 PM 08-Feb-2013 NZT Jack Smolenski - Will be sorely missed Jack Smolenski - driving his last ever group one winner Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
meomy 971 Report post Posted February 10, 2013 http://www.heavenaddress.com/John-Joseph-Warren-%28Jack%29-Smolenski/432308/obituary http://www.heavenaddress.com/John-Joseph-Warren-%28Jack%29-Smolenski/432308/ http://www.heavenaddress.com/John-Joseph-Warren-%28Jack%29-Smolenski/432308/service_details John Joseph Warren (Jack) Smolenski Passed away on 7 February 2013 Aged 78 years A Memorial Service for Jack will be held in the Members Stand, Addington Raceway, on Wednesday, February 13, at 3.00 p.m Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...