Jean Rice, Racing Family Matriarch, Passes Away

[Wandering Eyes]

Jean Rice, matriarch of a family of top horsemen, passed away May 27 at the age of 85.

Born Sept. 9, 1939 in Antigo, Wisconsin, Jean did not come from a racing family, but–alongside her husband of 59 years and top pinhooker Clyde Rice–she created one of the sport's most well-respected and deeply talented families of horsemen.

She earned a four-year teaching degree while raising her four children, all of whom became jockeys and/or trainers. Curt Rice was one of the leading riders of his time and his brother Wayne gave him a run for his money in the saddle before transitioning to the training ranks.

Their eldest son, Bryan Rice, got his start working under his father and Clyde's childhood friend, Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas. Bryan trained under his own name, alongside his wife Holley, at the racetrack before following his parents to Ocala and developing Woodside Ranch, where they give young racehorses their early education.

Jean was one tough lady and she raised another in the nation's leading female trainer Linda Rice, whose career achievements on the New York circuit speak for themselves. Jean's four children have combined to win 3,824 as either trainer or jockey.

That number does not include the many achievements of her grandchildren, almost all of whom are in the racing business. Her eldest grandson, Brandon Rice, operates Ricehorse, a 2-year-old training and sales operation, alongside his wife Alexandra deMeric Rice. Grandsons Adam and Kevin are both talented trainers in their own rights.

Her granddaughter Taylor was a very skilled jockey before transitioning into motherhood and still likes to give her husband, leading rider Jose Ortiz, a run for his money breezing at Saratoga.

Her other granddaughter Ashley is a major player in the western performance horse world, while grandson Cash makes his trade in dairy cows, but spends as much time supporting his family's passion as he possibly can.

Jean was also blessed with 10 great grandchildren, all of whom are too young to add to the family's list of racing achievements just yet, but will surely extend their matriarch's reach in due time.

Jean Rice supported her husband's many ventures and ideas in the horse business from Wisconsin to West Virginia to Pennsylvania before ultimately landing in Florida and developing the well-known Indian Prairie Ranch. She steered the ship at Indian Prairie Ranch, where the family educated the likes of champion Family Style and Grade I winner Titalating, both of whom were also purchased by her husband. While Clyde was traveling between sales and racetracks in search of racing's future stars, Jean kept things going on the home front, handling not only the family, but the business end of things. She was meticulous and exceptionally organized, keeping all the accounting in perfect order.

Anyone who met Jean will tell you she was sharp as a tack, no-nonsense, honest, and funny. She was full of entertaining anecdotes, most of which centered around her family and horses, of course. Her mind was like a steel trap, and she always paid attention, so whenever a horse issue was discussed, she could recall a similar issue Clyde or one of her children had encountered and tell you exactly what they did to fix it.

Jean will be dearly missed and her family welcomes all to attend her celebration of life Sunday, June 8 at 2 p.m. at Hiers-Baxley Funeral Home located at 910 E Silver Springs Blvd. in Ocala, Florida.

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