ENGLISH TEXTS have much choice. They had to help. They all started working young. They’ re good guys, brave, passionate. It’ s not a clan, but we all support each other. It’ s our life.
G. Your first Prix d’ Amérique with High Echelon in 1979— unforgettable?
J-P. D. Oh yes. The story is, my dad was in Argentina at the time. At the airport, he meets a French speaker who says,“ You should buy a trotter— go see my son.” It was the Count of Senneville, a great composer who worked with Polnareff, etc. His first purchase didn’ t work out. He said:“ I’ ve succeeded in everything in life— so I must buy another.” The next one was High Echelon.
G. Is the mare essential in producing a good horse?
J-P. D. The stallion matters too. If you breed a mare to several stallions and suddenly she produces a good one, it tells you something. And the people doing the work around the horse matter a lot. It takes very little to miss a good one.
G. Are you a bon vivant?
J-P. D. Yes, I love good times with friends. Laughing is healthy.
G. What’ s next?
J-P. D. I might travel. I love South America. I want to see flat races there, how they breed in Chile.
G. Still horses— do you ever do anything else?
J-P. D. I tried a vacation once, stayed two days. My wife went mad. Swimming all day— enough already. But I do love the sun and the sea. A friend wants to take me on a cruise. If he invites me again next year, I’ ll go.
G. Jean-Pierre Dubois— a tribute to simplicity?
J-P. D. It comes from my childhood. At one point, my mother didn’ t have enough money for groceries. That leaves a mark. When we came to Vincennes with my father, we finished first and second. So we wanted to stay. But all the boxes were full— except one that leaked. We put tarps up and slept in the tack room all winter. But we were happy. We’ d win a race and my mother could go shopping. The day I got an old house, I was thrilled. Sleeping in your own bed— that’ s something incredible.
G. Did you miss out a lot as a child?
J-P. D. We had no electricity. We fetched water from the well. We had the ugliest truck, but my father said:“ Only one thing matters— what’ s inside.”
G. A strict upbringing, but lots of respect for your parents …
J-P. D. They deserve huge credit. They believed. My father was a force of nature. Could work day and night. He died young. I was lucky to have amazing parents— and to inherit their health. My mother died at 96.
G. If you could do it all again?
J-P. D. People aren’ t happier being born with money. It’ s not the same emotions, the same joy. If I had to choose, I’ d live the same life all over again. I had a great time.
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By Serge Okey
“ STOPPING? THAT’ S NOT LIKE HIM”
LOUIS BAUDRON
Louis Baudron has the rare triple distinction of being the grandson of Jean-Pierre Dubois, as well as of Roger Baudron, another racing star, and of the Presidence of the AUCTAV sale on August, 13 at the Haras de Bois-Roussel. Behind this prestigious“ pedigree,” people say he’ s the worthy heir to the famous blue and red silks with the yellow cap. Gifted in all three disciplines himself, this natural-born entrepreneur didn’ t wait until 38 to follow in the footsteps of his illustrious forebear. Because he knows him so well, he doesn’ t believe he’ s truly ready to bow out.
Galorama. This sale marks the end of an era for you too …
Louis Baudron. I think I’ ll only fully grasp its significance on the day itself, or maybe after. For now, I’ m just happy my grandfather thought of us.
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