By Serge Okey
A prominent figure in the horse racing press for half a century, former editor-in-chief of Paris-Turf and a successful trotting owner, Jacques Pauc is full of praise for the “chef.”
Galorama. What does Jean-Pierre Dubois represent to you?
Jacques Pauc. He topped the trotting standings for ten years, once led in NH racing, and was a star with thoroughbreds right up to the 2024 Prix de Diane Longines as owner and breeder of Sparkling Plenty. There’s no one like him in the racing world.
G. What’s his secret?
J.P. He used to tell his childhood friend and neighbor Pierre-Désiré Allaire: “If you wake up an hour earlier than everyone else, you’ll work three or four more horses than the others, and maybe there’s a champion among them.” Jean-Pierre Dubois is a workhorse. He dug his family’s oil wells with his own hands.
G. The Jean-Pierre Dubois signature?
J.P. Easy: a plane ticket. He took the risk to go see the world without a penny in his pocket. And he can ride a horse. Let’s not forget he was crowned best apprentice at just sixteen. Pierre-Désiré Allaire, a top horseman himself, once said: “Jean-Pierre became an adult very young.” At five, he was already hitching up a horse. Do you know how? He threw the oats on the ground, the horse lowered its head to eat, and he slipped the halter on.
G. Is that typical of his character?
J.P. He’s clever, just as skilled at judging people as he is horses. No owner tries to boss him around, none. He’s also a generous man. At the table, it’s impossible to pay the bill. He’s never charged his children or grandchildren for a single breeding with his stallions. He’s a very sharp businessman, who knows exactly who’s who, believe me. When some of Daniel Wildenstein’s friends wanted to buy Hymour and asked him how much he wanted per horse sold to the billionaire, he replied: “Nothing at all.” Mr. Wildenstein would later choose to go fifty-fifty with him and we all know how successful that turned out.
G. He’s always been someone people talked about...
J.P. He’s taken plenty of hits. All the nonsense said about him, I don’t believe any of it. His success made him the target of a lot of jealousy. When people bring up doping, I say: look at his horses, they all breed true. The males as well as the females. That’s a strong argument. The truth is, he gives everyone else a 50-meter head start.
G. Do you think this time he’s really going to stop?
J.P. Yes, I believe so. At 85, he’s come to the end of the road. His age is a factor, and not having a top horse in 2024 as well. His licenses have just been revoked for galloping. But in trotting, he might still keep one or two horses with his children and grandchildren. He’s the number one of all number ones. The most complete figure at every level: breeder, owner, trainer, jockey, driver. There will only ever be one Jean-Pierre Dubois.