Gretchen Jackson

Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1937

Education: 

  • Springside School, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, PA
  • University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (B.A. Degree)
  • Neumann College, Aston, PA (M.S. Degree)

Resides: 

West Grove, Pennsylvania

Family:

  • Married Roy Jackson, 1959
  • Four Children-MacRoy, Lucy, Hardie & Fred

Professional life: 

  • One year teaching Kindergarten
  • Mirmont Care Center – 9 years working with young children of drug and alcoholic parents
  • Y.M.C.A. – Drug & alcohol prevention specialist working with elementary age children
  • Tressler Agency – Counselor for sliding scale clients in Wilmington, DE

Horse Interests: 

Began riding at age three.  Foxhunted mainly with Huntingdon Valley as a child, and then Pickering, Radnor and Andrews Bridge.  Became involved with race horses as an adjunct to the hunters.  Managed our farm and broke yearlings, did lay-ups and foaling until 1995.  Our farm, Lael Stable, has been breeding Thoroughbreds since 1978.  Currently 20+ mares and 15 horses in training, including BARBARO, the son of Dynaformer–La Ville Rouge, by Carson City, a homebred and the winner of the 132nd running of the Kentucky Derby, 2006.

Gretchen Jackson’s quote from the Baltimore Sun, “We’d always try if there is any shot for him to make it. (regarding Barbaro’s catastrophic injury in the Preakness) We have, over in our field right now, horses who are useless, who didn’t do as much as he did.  But they work for you, and you have a responsibility to take care of them.  They’ve given us so much.  No, there was never a doubt that we’d do all we could for him.”

Volunteer Jobs:

  • Board of Thoroughbred Charities of America
  • Board of Trustees of Springside School
  • Board of Overseers, University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School
  • Anna House at Belmont Park
  • Chester County Hospital Development Center
  • National Museum of Racing – Served as President 2014-2017
  • National Museum of Racing – Trustee 2017 to present