John Shirreffs, trainer of Zenyatta and Giacomo, dies at 80

John Shirreffs, the soft-spoken giant who trained Zenyatta, perhaps the greatest mare of all time, died Thursday in Southern California. He was 80 years old. No cause of death has been announced.

Shirreffs was one of Southern California’s top trainers with 3,589 starts, including 596 wins, generating $58.5 million in purses.

He was a familiar face at local tracks, usually leading his horses around the track during morning practice, then avoiding the spotlight when his horse was winning by staying on the racing surface and not going to the Winner’s Circle, leaving control to his wife, Dottie Ingordo.

Shirreffs first gained national attention when he won the Kentucky Derby with Giacomo at odds of 50-1 in 2005. The horse was partly owned by legendary record producer Jerry Moss, the M with Herb Alpert in A&M Records. Shirreffs remained Moss’ head coach until his death in 2023.

Then after Giacomo came Zenyatta, whose personality and skills captured the hearts of Southern California racing fans during his 19-race winning streak that included an “incredible” (according to race caller Trevor Denman) last-to-first victory over the boys in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita.

Shirreffs, a Navy veteran, fell into horse racing by accident.

“When I came back from Vietnam, I had nowhere to go, but I had a friend who knew somebody, so they said, ‘Come West,’” Shirreffs told the Times before last year’s Kentucky Derby.

“So here I am in New York, I don’t know anything about it [horses] except I’ve seen a lot of cowboy movies. So here’s Jim Matthews, he pulls up in his trailer, he’s got his horse ready and he’s taking him out of a trailer.

Shirreffs admits he didn’t really know what he was doing.

“About a week later, Jim calls me and says, ‘Will you come work for me?’ I said, ‘Yeah, that would be great,'” Shirreffs said. “So I went to work for him and I didn’t get anything, just room and board. He quickly said, ‘I’ll give you this horse and if you sell it you can make some money.’

“So I ride this horse across this field and I get stuck in this mud box. I get the horse out of the mud and Henry Freitas [at Loma Rica Ranch in Central California] asked me if I would like to work for him. I said, “Well, of course I get paid here, right?” It’s great.

“I worked there for about 11 years, and one day he said to me, ‘John, do you want to take my horse to the fairs?’ I said, “Sure, I’d love to do that.” And that’s how it all started. You know, I never planned it and the opportunity presented itself every time and when I got lucky and had some experience with horses, and that’s how it all started.

Shirreffs was asked if Vietnam or horse training was more difficult.

“Well, we don’t want to talk about that,” Shirreffs said.

Santa Anita released a statement regarding Shirreffs’ death.

“Every horse that races at Santa Anita must first pass the statue of John’s greatest student, the wonderful mare Zenyatta. Although John’s victories were numerous and prestigious, what he accomplished with Zenyatta in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic was a masterpiece and was rightly voted as the greatest moment in Santa Anita Park’s 90 years. Our deepest condolences go out to John’s wife, Dottie, and to her family, including the riders and women who worked closely with John for so many years. May his memory be a blessing.

No funeral arrangements have been announced.