In Memory of Professor Gordon Jones – A Pioneer, Educator, and Legend in the World of Handicapping
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Professor Gordon Jones, who left this world on April 18, 2025, just four days after celebrating his 95th birthday. A towering figure in the world of horse racing and a beloved educator, Gordon was not only a pioneer in speed and pace handicapping but also a cherished mentor, professor, and friend to generations of students and racing enthusiasts alike.
Born in 1930, Gordon Jones lived a life full of passion, precision, and purpose. Over the course of nearly a century, he revolutionized the field of thoroughbred handicapping and left behind a legacy that will continue to shape the sport for years to come. But beyond the racetrack and the classroom, Gordon was a man of immense kindness, humility, and intellectual generosity—a rare blend of expert and teacher, innovator and friend.
A Revolutionary in the Racing World
Gordon was best known for bringing science and structure to a field that was long dominated by intuition and guesswork. His groundbreaking work in speed and pace handicapping introduced methods that blended mathematical models with real-world racing conditions—offering a new level of precision and insight that transformed the way people approached the sport.
For decades, Gordon was a respected and trusted voice in the racing world. His books and articles became must-reads for serious handicappers, and his appearances on television and at live racing seminars brought his wisdom to fans across the country. He was a fixture at Southern California tracks like Santa Anita and Hollywood Park, where fellow bettors, both seasoned and new, often gathered just to hear his perspective on the day’s card.
Yet for all his expertise, Gordon never hoarded knowledge—he shared it generously, believing that the joy of the game increased when more people understood it.
A Devoted Educator
In addition to his accomplishments at the racetrack, Gordon Jones was a gifted and dedicated educator. He taught at both the University of Southern California and Arizona State University, where his lectures were equal parts engaging and enlightening. Students praised his ability to simplify complex concepts and to make his deep enthusiasm for racing contagious.
Gordon approached teaching the same way he approached handicapping—with passion, precision, and a deep respect for the process of learning. Many of his students went on to build successful careers in the racing industry and in other walks of life, crediting Professor Jones with having sparked their curiosity, discipline, and love of lifelong learning.
He was not just a professor of handicapping—he was a professor of life.
A Legacy That Lives On
Gordon Jones touched countless lives over his 95 years, and the depth of his impact is felt not only in the racing programs and textbooks he helped shape but also in the hearts of those who knew him. His colleagues remember a man with sharp wit and sharper insight. His students recall a mentor who made time for them long after graduation. And his family and friends remember a man whose warmth, humility, and loyalty never faded with fame.
The racing community, in particular, mourns a giant—someone who not only understood the sport but loved it, nurtured it, and taught others to see its beauty.
Plans are underway to honor Gordon’s legacy through a memorial scholarship fund for students pursuing education in sports analytics or equine studies—two fields Gordon was passionate about. More information will be shared in the coming weeks.
Remembering Gordon
As we reflect on Gordon Jones’s extraordinary life, we are reminded that true greatness lies not only in what a person achieves but in how they inspire others to pursue their own passions. Gordon did just that—for bettors at the track, for students in lecture halls, and for colleagues and friends across the country.
He will be remembered for his brilliance, his humility, his sense of humor, and his unwavering belief in the power of knowledge. Though he has left the grandstand, his voice will echo through every thoughtful bet, every eager classroom, and every life he helped illuminate.
Rest in peace, Professor Gordon Jones.
A scholar of the sport. A teacher to us all. A legend, always.
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