John Shirreffs, the soft-spoken giant who trained Zenyatta, perhaps the greatest mare of all time, passed away in Southern California on Thursday at the age of 80. No cause of death has been announced.
Shirreffs was one of the top trainers in Southern California, with 3,589 starts and 596 wins, resulting in $58.5 million in purses. He was a familiar figure around local tracks, often seen ponying his horses to the track during morning training sessions. Despite his success, Shirreffs preferred to avoid the spotlight after his horses won, choosing to stay on the racing surface rather than entering the Winner’s Circle. He left the post-race commentary to his wife, Dottie Ingordo.
Shirreffs first gained national attention when he trained Giacomo, who won the Kentucky Derby in 2005 at odds of 50-1. Giacomo was partially owned by legendary record producer Jerry Moss, co-founder of A&M Records alongside Herb Alpert. Shirreffs remained Moss’ primary trainer until Moss’s death in 2023.
After Giacomo’s success, Shirreffs trained Zenyatta, a mare whose talent and personality captivated Southern California race-goers. Zenyatta won 19 consecutive races, including a remarkable last-to-first victory against male horses in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita. Race caller Trevor Denman described that performance as “un-believe-able.”
A Marine veteran, Shirreffs stumbled into horse racing by chance. In an interview with The Times before the previous year’s Kentucky Derby, he shared his story:
“When I got back from Vietnam, I had no place to go, but I had a friend who knew somebody, so they said, ‘Come on out West.’ Here I’m in New York, and I don’t know anything about horses except that I’ve seen a lot of cowboy movies.”
He recounted how Jim Matthews pulled up in a horse trailer, backed his horse out, and eventually offered him work. “I went to work for him and didn’t get paid anything, just room and board,” Shirreffs said. “He soon said, ‘I’ll give you this horse and if you sell it, you can make some money.’”
Shirreffs shared how an incident led him to further opportunities in racing: “I was riding this horse across a field and got stuck in a mud box. After I got the horse out, Henry Freitas at Loma Rica Ranch in Central California asked if I would like to work for him. I said, ‘Sure, I get paid here, right? This is great.’”
He worked there for about eleven years until Freitas asked if he wanted to take his horse to the fairs. Shirreffs agreed, marking the beginning of his training career.
Reflecting on his experiences, Shirreffs was asked whether Vietnam or horse training was more difficult. His response was simple: “Well, we don’t want to talk about that.”
Santa Anita Park issued a statement honoring Shirreffs after his death:
“Every horse who races at Santa Anita must first pass by the statue of John’s greatest trainee, the wonderful mare Zenyatta. While John’s victories were plentiful and prestigious, what he accomplished with Zenyatta in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic was a masterpiece and deservedly was voted as the top moment in Santa Anita Park’s 90 years. Our deepest condolences are extended to John’s wife, Dottie, and his family, including those horsemen and women who worked closely with John for so many years. May his memory be a blessing.”
No funeral arrangements have been announced at this time.
https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2026-02-12/john-shirreffs-trainer-of-zenyatta-giacomo-dies-at-80
