I have found snippets of this horse on the internet, all just quotes from the same source in the same sentence about him achieving the most starts of any horse (307) in 1981. I wondered how long he lived and who owned him - I can’t get him to come up in PQ. Anyone know the story of this horse?
Here’s his pedigree on Equineline…
http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=35332®istry=T&horse_name=Behavin Jerry&dam_name=Look Forward&foaling_year=1964&nicking_stats_indicator=Y
Thanks. What an unusual pedigree. I’m so curious to know what this horse earned and how long he lived. I was reading about some of the horses in S. America and it’s pretty common for them to have 100-200 starts and race until their teens. They obviously breed them differently down there, but these horses don’t earn the money that the fast horses can earn here.
It makes me wonder about the differences in our industries and how it impacts the breed. I love the old war horses and have been drawn to them for their ability to adapt and sustain (sometimes are less fragile). Why don’t American breeders breed for a longer career? Why isn’t that as desirable?
Just curious ~ no real agenda. I’m a TB fan and a racing fan and just love to know more.
he raced between 1976 and 1981, and earned $72K (he’s on equibase)
Behavin Jerry
Hi,
My family owned Behavin Jerry. The owner’s name he ran under is my dad, Tony Brodzinski of Auburn Township, Ohio. Jerry was forced to retire by the racetrack (Commodore Downs) after his final race in 1981 that he won. They were concerned the fans might witness him have a heart attack on the track and didn’t want to risk it. Jerry was not happy. He retired to my parents farm in Auburn Township, Ohio (30 miles east of Cleveland) where he lived out the rest of his life swimming in our lake and enjoying his life. He died of old age at 32 in 1996. He is buried in my parents’ back yard.
He was a small horse with no leg problems (which is rare for thoroughbreds, as you probably know). He was so mean, he wouldn’t allow bandages to stay on. He used to let me swim him in our lake and that was the only time anyone was on his back from the last time he raced. He had a habit of trying to swallow his tongue and weaving in his stall. He remained active doing those things until he died.
Two of his trainers were Tom Romonosky and Larry Henniger. Tom in the earlier days and Larry at the end of his career.
It’s an honor to have had him in our lives. He was definitely one of a kind. Thanks for inquiring!
"Jerry was forced to retire by the racetrack (Commodore Downs) after his final race in 1981 that he won. They were concerned the fans might witness him have a heart attack on the track and didn’t want to risk it. Jerry was not happy."
Love that. Here’s to Jerry and all those like him. Sounds like he had a wonderful life all the way around. Thanks for sharing his story.
Lucky you! And Lucky Jerry!
RealRush’s equineline link has Behavin Jerry as an intact horse. Was he ever gelded? If not, was he ever bred?
Thanks for the update Kelie! What a great life he had
He used to let me swim him in our lake and that was the only time anyone was on his back from the last time he raced.
So cool, what a neat memory.
Sounds like it was a case of “if Jerry ain’t happy, nobody is happy.” 
Kellie, we’d love if you could link to any pics of Jerry!
Thanks for the update. Glad he got his well deserved happy ending.
He was the only foal of his dam. And both sides of his family came from lines which seem to have been notable for the number of starts.
He certainly sounds like a character to be cherished.
Ambehaving sired Be Good Ava, who was the dam of Tumble Dry. He did the **** at Rolex in 2005 & 2006 after nearly dying from WNV in 2002. That is a tough line of horses!
Behavin Jerry’s race record and 5 generation pedigree www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/fc_display.cgi?userfile=P2081031581844179
I hadn’t checked in to see this until now. This made my day to know this horse lived out his days in that way! We have a 32 year old ex-racer on our farm but we don’t know her story - it does my heart good to read stories like his and know there are good people in the racing industry who retire with dignity an care. Thank you and thank your parents from this community!
If she’s a TB then Brisnet or Equibase may have her record online.
