Jack Arterburn's Obituary
Jack Arterburn passed away peacefully in his home in Woodside, CA on May 31, 2017. He had been dealing with lung cancer for over 2 years. Sue was at his side when he passed and surrounded by his loved ones and just went to sleep.Jack was born in French Lick, Ind. on December 2, 1935 to Pauline Condra and John Arterburn, a Chef by trade.When Jack was only 7 years old he knew he wanted to ride the train out West to live with his grandmother Stella. She bought him a horse and that set him on the road to racing horses for his future and lifetime career.After a little education on a small track, Sage Acres in Idaho he went to Portland Meadows with a trainer, John Nazworthy and his wife Lulu.It was in 1951 at Portland Meadows that Jack met Sue Ann Pollard and fell in love at the age of 16. He really loved her family and they loved him (new money at the poker table) haha!. Damon “Buster” Pollard became his brother-in-law and they were best friends ever. Three years later in 1954 Jack and Sue Ann were married in Winnemucca, NV. with a notarized permission slip from her mother, Donna Pollard. Sue Ann was 17 and Jack was 19. They were married for 63 years in October 2017.If researching racing can take you bak to the 50’s you will find that Jack’s riding career in the mid West; Southwest far West or back East he name Jack Arterburn is synonymous with success. He won nearly 2,500 races and many of them wer ebig Stake Race. His accomplishments earned him entry into Arizona Downs/ Turf Paradise Racing Hall of Fame in 1963/1964, Sunland Park’s Walk of Fame in 1965 & The Jack Robinson Memorial Award in 1976. He rode horses for many of the best horse trainers at that time. Such as BUSTARD POLLARD, his brother-in-law, RICHARD HAZELTON & WALTER GREENMAN. After leaving the Rainy lush forested Pacific North West we moved to the beautiful blooming dessert of Phoenix, Arizona; Valley of the Sun where we raise-dour ranch. Jack built a perfect white wooden fence around the property and paddocks. It is still standing today! The kids did 4-H with their horses, cattle and sheep and they progressed to Grand Champions!.When racing started year round in the San Francisco Bay Area, Jack was able to make a better living there. So the family had to leave Camelot in Phoenix and move to the Golden State and the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area bursting with opportunities. Jack retired from riding and took up training race horses in the 80’s. He is best know for his horse Greager, named after an attorney in Denver that Jack had bought Candy Canyon (Greager’s mother) from. He was a special man to respect and remember and so was the horse. It was son Lonnie and Bradley Rollins that called Jack from Denver and told him about some good horses to buy from Mr. Greager that really got Jack started in training. He was very successful at training because he knew horses and was blessed with wonderful owners that provided him with good and talented horses. Also Blooming Hills Ranch in Clements owned by our forever friends Ron and Fran Stolich helped maintain and created a strong stable of horses on their breading farm. The grooms that worked for Jack were more like his sons. We will forever remember and respect and be thankful to them for their 24/7 work days. For their thankless hard work and loyalty daily, weekly, monthly and yearly.Over the year and over the American continent from Canada to Mexico and from San Francisco, CA. to Toronto, Canada, Jack and Sue Ann have made many wonderful friends that have lasted a lifetime! All of the awards and sucess that Jack had was because of the support and love of his family. That is his thoroughbred trainer in Tampa, FL.,Tim Arterburn, retired trainer, drives ure Russell Baze #1 winning est jockey in the world (12,842) winning rides. Jacalene Calvario of Payson, UT. She worked at Bay Meadows for 30 years and raised 6 beautiful daughters. We have 13 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.Jack lived well and he died well… and he married well.
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