The Beaming Light of Bonnie!
Veteran trainer Bonnie Jenne left us on Thursday, June 26, 2025, after a battle with Lymphoma cancer. She was 76. I waited to write this about Bonnie because although I knew Bonnie from talking with her after a win or an interview, I didn’t really know her or her longtime love of her life, husband Wally, who passed away in 2020 due to complications with Covid.
But when I heard the news on Friday morning my first reaction was, is this really true? Before I shared anything on social media, I needed to confirm it and was unfortunately able to do that, so it was real.
I wrote a short piece breaking the news but knew immediately this passing was different. There was a gut feeling that I didn’t need to simply look up her statistics and write an obligatory piece on her passing with a few notes on her career. There was always something about Bonnie.
Last Friday I wasn’t planning on going to the races, as I live and work in Centralia. It’s not just 10 minutes away to get there so the days I am at the track are planned out ahead of time. But I knew I needed to go and talk with people and find out if what I was feeling was correct.
The 1st person I talked with about Bonnie was jockey Juan Gutierrez and it took 10 seconds to confirm I made the right decision.
I will get to my conversation with Juan Gutierrez and many others but first I am going to reach back and start at the beginning.
The Beginning
Bonnie Jenne was born in Kalispell, Montana on December 30, 1948. Her love of horses and horse racing came from her dad, Ed Lewis, who was a trainer. They were very active on many of the fair circuits, but Lewis eventually made it to Yakima and ran at Yakima Meadows.
It was there that Bonnie met the love of her life Wally Jenne. The two were inseparable from that moment on and would be married for 53 years. The Jenne’s had two kids first came Kandie and then younger brother, Craig.
The Jenne’s would own a home right across the street from Yakima Meadows where her father trained regularly. In fact, Ed Lewis would win training titles at Yakima in 1977 and 1978.
Bonnie would take her first shot as a trainer in 1976 at Portland Meadows and recorded her first win on January 18, 1976, with Bright Courier in an allowance race. It was her 3rd official start. Bonnie only started 6 races with Bright Courier winning and taking 3rd and 4th. Her other starter was Alape who finished 2nd, 6th and 8th.
Jenne then stepped away as a Trainer for 7 years and returned to assisting and working in the barns at Longacres and Yakima. When she returned to lead her barn in 1983 at Longacres she had a small stable and quick success would not come for her this time. In fact, she would not win a race at Longacres in 1983. She started a couple of races at Playfair also without success.
Full Time Trainer
It wouldn’t be until she returned to Yakima where she would get her 2nd career win with Mr I’m It on November 13, 1983. She would go on to win 5 more races that season at Yakima, but those wins were in 1984.
Jenne was starting to build a bigger stable just as her dad was wrapping up his career running one horse at Yakima in 1984 and then retiring.
When Bonnie returned to Longacres in the spring of 1984 she was really getting into a groove and finally got her picture taken in the Renton winner’s circle on May 26, 1984, when Sweet City crossed the line first.
It was a gray Saturday on Memorial Day weekend with overcast skies, rain, a sloppy track and about 60-degrees. This would be the 19th start of the 1984 season and 62nd lifetime start at Longacres when apprentice John M Sellers carrying 110 pounds won the 1 1/16 3rd race at 6-1 in a $6,250 claimer.
Jenne had to hold her breathe to wait for the photo and celebrated with the official neck victory. She won the race for owners R A Wilkens and B D Allen. The celebration was cut short as Sweet City was claimed from her in that race by trainer Ed Moger Jr.
That taste of victory no doubt fueled Bonnie’s fire and she would go on to rack up 9 wins in 1984 with Arlee Abbey winning 4 times, Island Melody and Stevens Creek Road with 2 wins and Sweet City with the 1.
Jenne would also start her first Stakes runner, Imalittleharry in the Lads on September 30th. Thery would run off the board but if the hook wasn’t set already this season re-enforced Bonnie’s choice and she was locked into a career at the track.
1986 Jenne got her first taste of Stakes success when she entered Lafeet Lafast in the Boeing Stakes early in the season on April 13. It was a clear and fast track for Lafeet Lafast and Bryson Cooper in the saddle.
Cooper and LL ran into a little trouble in the 5 ½-furlong dash on the turn in Renton. Cooper had to check to avoid running up the back of a fading horse then swung to the outside and made a great stretch run but had to settle for 2nd.
Despite the disappointment in finishing 2nd, this success further threw wood on the fire so to speak and Jenne knew she could train with the best of them.
Jenne would go on to start Lafeet Lafast in several Stakes races but could never break through and get that elusive win. LL placed 3rd and 4th regularly and was her first “big” horse as he finished his career with 72 starts and an 11-9-14 earning more than $130,000 for the Jenne’s Awesome Stable.
Jenne stayed small and so coming across regular stakes runners is always a challenge to begin with but even more so when you stay fairly small.
Stakes Wins begin to stack up
Jenne would get her first Stakes win in Yakima. Even though it’s not the way you want to win but you take them anyway you can get them. She started Shyster Slam with Mike Allen riding in the Apple Valley Handicap on January 7, 1993.
Shyster Slam ran 2nd to Social Swing but the top finisher was DQ’d and Shyster Slam got the win for Jenne and owners Dave and Ruth Stark.
Jenne would then get her first Longacres level Stakes win on June 27, 1993, when the Longacres group began running their meets at Yakima Meadows during this time while Longacres closed and Emerald Downs was being planned and built.
Jenne sent Break My Heart to the post in the Belle of Rainier Handicap with Mike Allen up and this time as they broke from the 6-hole going 1 mile Break My Heart did just that to the other 9 entries with a wire-to-wire win by a length and at a huge 37-1.
Owners the One Two Many Stable and the Jenne’s, Friendship Stable notched their 1st Stakes win where they finished first in the race.
On June 20, 1996, Jenne had 2 starters on day 1 of Emerald Downs and took 2nd with Oak Street Star in the 3rd race and 3rd in the 5th with Mr Hardball.
Her first win at Emerald was in the 1st race on July 28th with 5-2 favorite Mighty Hit ridden by Frank Gonsalves. It was a front running win at 5 ½ furlongs and was for the Jenne’s Friendship Stable.
Jenne picked up some overnight stakes wins during the first couple of years in Auburn. She would win first black type Stakes at Emerald Downs on May 31, 1999 in the Pepsi Cola Handicap with Naab the Win.
Naab the Win came from the 11 post and closed from far back in the 6 ½-furlong run and jockey Nathan Chaves had it measured perfectly for a ½ length win at 5-1 for owner Charlie Landells.
Jenne went on to win 15 Stakes races at Emerald Downs. Mr Makah was her top earner banking $198,059. Mr Makah had a lifetime record of 6-6-10 from 38 lifetime starts for Jenne’s Friendship Stable and co-owner Frank McDonald.
Mr Makah won the Budweiser Stakes in June of 2005 at 15-1 with Gary Baze riding. Later that season on October 2, 2005, the public was wise to Mr Makah’s abilities and sent him off as the 3-2 favorite when he won the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic.
Ladyledue was Bonnie’s most accomplished winner. Ladyledue ran only 7 times in her career and all of those races in Stakes races. She broke her maiden in the 2008 NW Stallion Knights Choice Stakes.
This was the first of five straight wins taking the Diane Kem Stakes in 2008 followed by 3 straight in 2009 winning the Inaugural Stakes, Federal Way Handicap and Irish Day Stakes.
Her lone off the board finish was in the Washington Lottery Handicap in July of 2009.
Ladyledue then won the John and Kitty Fletcher Stakes on September 13, 2009, and was her last race for Jenne and owner Jon Sather. Ricky Frazier rode Ladyledue for all 7 career starts.
Ladyledue retired from racing after her final race and foaled several successful runners. Emerald Downs publicist Joe Withee believes Ladyledue is the only horse in Washington State history to win her first five races and all being Stakes races. She also may be the only horse to run all 7 of her lifetime starts in Stakes races.
Jenne had 3 stakes wins in Yakima with Break My Heart from 1993-1995 when the former Longacres meets were being held in Yakima prior to Emerald Downs. Naab the Win came along in 1999, Mr Makah 2005 and Ladyledue in 2008 and 2009.
In 2010 and 2011 is when Couldabeenthewhiskey made his run winning 3 in 2010 beginning with the NW Stallion Stakes in July, the Lads in August and the Gottstein Futurity on closing day. Gallyn Mitchell rode ‘Whiskey in the Lads and Gottstein and Ricky Frazier was up in the Stallion Stakes. The owners were Frank Mc Donald, Craig Fredrickson, Stanley Fredrickson and Wally Jenne.
Although competitive, Jenne ran into a dry streak of Stakes wins until 2019 when Makah Lane won the Wa Cup Sophomore Stakes for the Q and Friendship Stables and the 1st stakes win with Juan Gutierrez aboard.
In 2022 the ownership group of the Friendship Stable, Q Stable and Craig Fredrickson came together with a win in the Irish Day Stakes when Itsallaboutheride and Juan Gutierrez finished 1st at 4-1.
This same group struck again last August 11th when Dynamic Secret rolled to the win with Gutierrez again in the saddle at 7-2. This was Jenne’s 15th Stakes win at Emerald Downs which has placed her 17th on the all-time Stakes wins list for the Auburn oval.
This was also such a special race to win. This one had been on her short list of races she really wanted to win and to now see that was her last stakes win makes even more spectacular.
Dynamic Secret Wins the Derby
The Winner’s Circle with Joe Withee
Career Numbers
Bonnie Jenne’s numbers over her 40+ year career are impressive at 472 wins, 523 places and 464 shows from a total of 3,565 starts and career earnings of $4,185,271. This is a 13%-win percent and 41% top 3 finish rate.
For a comparison, Washington Hall of Fame trainer Howard Belvoir has 16,000+ starts and his numbers are nearly identical. A larger comparison would be Kentucky Derby winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who also recently passed away, had a career 30,000+ starts and win percent of 16% and top 3 finish of 42%.
You could argue with a smaller barn that you have to be right about your horses a lot more accurately than those with larger barns.
This was the product that Bonnie Jenne produced over her 40+ plus years. These are the black and white numbers and facts that track her career and ultimately will be used by some to make their decision on just how successful her training career was.
Numbers don’t tell the Bonnie Jenne story
The numbers above track a remarkable career but there is no way they can measure the true impact that Bonnie Jenne brought to the Northwest Racing family.
We talked with many folks about their relationship and friendship they had with Bonnie Jenne. We’re going to include some of those conversations.
Juan and Stephanie Gutierrez
Juan Gutierrez and Bonnie always had a special relationship. We talked with Juan who said, “working for the Jenne’s was really easy. We thought alike in how to handle horses and so from the start we were on the same page.”
The more Gutierrez worked with Bonnie the more comfortable he got and eventually it went from a business relationship to a friendship.
Gutierrez said, “riding for Bonnie was truly a team effort. First, she trusted me and really never gave me any instructions. I also trusted her. I knew she would have her horses ready; I never questioned once whether or not one of her horses was ready to go. It’s that kind of trust that really bring a rider and a trainer to another level and it shows in the production and success we were able to have together.”
Gutierrez says the biggest race I ever won for Bonnie was last year when “Dynamic Secret” won the Derby. That was one of the two races she always wanted to win with the other being the Mile. “I was so happy for her and the owners when we won that race.”
Juan’s wife, Stephanie, was with him when we talked and Stephanie added that Bonnie and Wally and the whole ownership group are such great and welcoming people, it is not going to be the same around the track anymore.
Stephanie says that Bonnie introduced her and Juan, which led to a first date and then she turned out to be quite the matchmaker as well. Stephanie says, “It’s just so hard to imagine her not being here and that smile that just lifted your spirits. She and her family mean so much to both Juan and me.
Stephanie added, “Bonnie was one of the few people who could make Juan smile.” Here’s her favorite picture of Bonnie and Juan in the Winner’s Circle after Dynamic Secret won the Derby.
Kay Cooper
Every couple has that “couple” friend and for Kay and Bryson Cooper they were Bonnie and Wally Jenne. The foursome were together many times off the track, vacationing together, ready to step in and help each other both in the barns and in their personal lives.
Kay said the thing about Bonnie was she was going to do things her way and she knew how and how big she wanted her stable. She never looked into being a mega barn with 100 horses because she knew she couldn’t take care of that many.
Kay said, “As friendly and sweet as Bonnie was, she didn’t trust others handling her horses. It’s not that she didn’t think others were as good or better, but she had her way of running things and didn’t like that to change. You can’t really argue with her about it looking at her success.”
Kay knew that Bonnie was struggling and that her friend was likely sicker than she led on. She said, Bonnie wouldn’t have wanted to burden anyone with what she was dealing with, instead it was her smile and laugh and “things will be fine.”
“When Wally passed in 2020 it really devasted her. They were a couple for over 5 decades and that love never left them, so it was a real tough time for Bonnie. She would come over to our house and have dinner with us on a regular basis and we just wanted to be there for her. When Wally was gone that left a big hole in all of our hearts.”
Kay said, there was a further kinship with us both being female trainers back in the 70’s and 80’s that also brought us together. That shared experience back then was really important for us to be able to lean on each other.
“She and Wally were just such dear friends and we’re missing them every day. It’s still surreal that both are now gone but knowing they are together again and knowing we will see them again one day makes this difficult time a bit more bearable. Bonnie’s optimism and beautiful spirit remain with us all.”
Frank Lucarelli and Roy Schaefer
On the Friday after her passing, trainer Frank Lucarelli started Pirate Red in the Friday night feature race. This was on June 27th.
Lucarelli and his ownership group led by Gary Hendricks claimed Red almost a year ago to the day on June 28th, 2024, from Bonnie, the Friendship Stable, Q Stable and Craig Fredrickson for $15,000.
Pirate Red won on that Friday and Lucarelli believed that Bonnie got one more win on that night.
We talked with Lucarelli and another one of his owners, Roy Schaefer. Both of course knew Bonnie but were more colleagues than friends. Lucarelli said, “How can you not be impressed with how Bonnie and Wally handled their business in racing? This isn’t an easy life and to turn out the quality of runners they did every year is something to be celebrated.”
Lucarelli said he really respected Bonnie and when he was going to put a claim in for Pirate Red he found her that morning and told her he had owners that wanted him. Lucarelli said, “Bonnie just smiled and thanked him for giving her a heads up and understood it was part of the business. But I just felt I had to let her know I didn’t want her to think I was trying to pull a fast one or anything, that’s how much respect she commanded.”
Roy Schaefer simply said, “if you were up against her in a race, especially in an allowance or stakes you really had to take a look because she wasn’t sending anything to the track who wasn’t ready to run.” He says, the Jenne’s just radiated what it was to be a Northwest horseman. They were the definition of Washington racing.”
Lucarelli said Pirate Red winning the 1st feature race after her passing is really appropriate and hope she was pleased with that result.
Craig Fredrickson
Craig Fredrickson has become a big part of the ownership group with Bonnie and Kandie of the Friendship Stable and Doug and Nancy McPhee of the Q Stable. This core group for Bonnie over the past several years has been very successful but beyond that Fredrickson said Bonnie was just a special person.
When Fredrickson got into horse racing years ago his dream was to own a horse. He said, “any $4,000 claimer would have been a dream come true.” Fredrickson connected with trainer Lyle Stark back in the early 90’s and when Stark decided to leave the training profession, he introduced Craig to Bonnie and a lifelong friendship was born.
Fredrickson teamed up with Brad Gering and they claimed Dothedevilin and won his 1st race with Bonnie as his trainer on May 2nd, 2003, when Juan Gutierrez and “Devil” rolled to a 6-length win.
That win cemented the relationship between Craig and Bonnie, and they were way more than just a client and trainer from then on.
This is when Fredrickson began to buy horses and teamed up with the expertise of the Jenne’s and eventually with the McPhee’s.
That group would be part of several horses together and culminated with their 1st Stakes win as a group when Itsallabouttheride won the Irish Day Stakes in 2022. Then winning the Muckleshoot Derby last August with Dynamic Secret.
Fredrickson says the winning of course was exciting and fun but “it’s the friendship with Bonnie and Wally that is leaving a big hole in my life right now.” Fredrickson says both Bonnie and Wally were so welcoming and we all became a big family with so many great times both on the track and off.
“I thought I’d be a part owner of a claimer or two and whomever my partner would be was likely going to be a friend and the trainer would be the trainer. I had no idea this was how it was going to play out. The friendship and love I have for the Jenne’s, Doug and Nancy and everyone connected to the operation is just immense.”
Fredrickson said, “the one thing we could count on amongst all the ups and downs, the chaotic times, the stressful issues was Bonnie. She always made everything ok. She was the rock and always had that big smile.”
“It’s not going to be the same without her. But I know she’d be disappointed if we didn’t push forward. Their legacy is too strong and will be part of the Emerald backstretch forever.”
Kandie (Jenne) Jennings
What does one say when they lose their mom and their best friend at the same time. Some people go a lifetime praying for a relationship like we had. But she was so much more.
A Mom to so many, always taking care of others. Quick-witted, funny, smart and beautiful inside and out.
She was real and would tell you like it is even when you didn’t want to hear it. Her office was a safe space for all where she treated you like family and was always happy to see you.
I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and kindness during this difficult time. It warms my heart that she was so special to so many.
The Specialness of Bonnie
At the beginning of this piece, I stated that I knew Bonnie from our interactions after a big win. But I didn’t know Bonnie like all these folks did and a whole lot more.
It didn’t take me long to understand that when Bonnie passed, this was different. The feeling was first denial, and it couldn’t be as one who had no idea of her battle with Lymphoma.
When you do something over and over such as covering horse racing or working in the industry and you get used to seeing certain faces and you just know those faces belong there. And when they’re no longer there an emptiness can be felt.
I am having a hard time putting in words the feelings I have other than with Bonnie no longer riding up on her pony horse after a win, a huge smile in the winner’s circle after a victory, that bright smile lighting up the world, just a big part of NW racing is now missing.
To me Bonnie represents all the long time NW race trackers. Those who have been here for decades grinding out their living in a life that totally consumes you.
I have been told by many that when they were feeling a bit down or just needed to escape whatever issue or pressure they were facing, they knew they could stop in at Bonnie’s barn anytime and she would listen. She would always welcome them, always have a word of encouragement.
She also was always ready to have a good time and could party with the best of them. Her goodness permeated the entire backstretch.
Sometimes there are certain people you just naturally want to be close to. You’re not sure why but you just know that’s the place to be and that’s Bonnie. Bonnie and Wally are simply classic NW Racing. Their picture should be next to NW Racing in a dictionary, and you would immediately know what that meant.
Her achievements speak for themselves, anyone in this business for any length of time would love to have her resume.
Bonnie’s legacy will hang heavy in the air over the Auburn oval for years to come. Many who had sought the refuge of the Jenne barn for comfort or advice will remember those times and ask themselves what would Bonnie have told me to do? Or I know what Bonnie would have told me and now I need to do it. These life lessons that Bonnie shared with many don’t end with her passing. They’re just beginning.
Her family, extended famly and friends are mourning her passing but also can be joyful with the thoughts of her re-joining her soulmate. No doubt they are raising a glass to a life well done.
We took some liberties and found a bunch of pictures and put together this little slide show of some of Bonnie’s favorite people and moments. Credit to Eva Cassidy’s version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”.
Bonnie Jenne a life of love, laughter, family and friends
This is a brilliant piece on the Jenne’s
Documentary of the Jenne’s by Klem Daniels
www.elisportsnetwork.com