Racing Industry mourns the loss of Jean Rice, matriarch of one of the sport’s most respected horsemen families, who passed away May 27 at the age of 85.
Rice, born Sept. 9, 1939, in Antigo, Wisconsin, did not come from a racing background but created a remarkable legacy alongside her husband of 59 years, top pinhooker Clyde Rice. Together they built a family dynasty that has left an indelible mark on the Thoroughbred industry.
She earned a four-year teaching degree while raising four children, all of whom became jockeys and/or trainers. Her son Curt Rice emerged as one of the leading riders of his era, while brother Wayne competed successfully in the saddle before transitioning to training.
Their eldest son, Bryan Rice, began his career working under his father and Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas. Bryan later trained under his own name alongside his wife Holley before following his parents to Ocala, where they developed Woodside Ranch to provide early education for young racehorses.
Jean’s daughter, Linda Rice, has established herself as the nation’s leading female trainer with numerous achievements on the New York circuit. Her four children have combined to win 3,824 races as either trainers or jockeys.
That impressive total doesn’t include the accomplishments of her grandchildren, nearly all of whom work in the racing industry. Eldest grandson Brandon Rice operates Ricehorse, a 2-year-old training and sales operation, with his wife Alexandra deMeric Rice. Grandsons Adam and Kevin have both developed into talented trainers.
Granddaughter Taylor was a skilled jockey before focusing on motherhood, though she still competes with her husband, leading rider Jose Ortiz, when breezing horses at Saratoga.
Her granddaughter Ashley has become a major figure in the western performance horse world, while grandson Cash works in dairy farming but remains actively supportive of the family’s racing endeavors.
Jean was also grandmother to 10 great-grandchildren who, while too young to contribute to the family’s racing achievements yet, will likely extend their matriarch’s influence in coming years.
Throughout their partnership, Jean supported her husband’s ventures across Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania before settling in Florida to develop the renowned Indian Prairie Ranch. She managed operations there, where the family educated champions including Family Style and Grade I winner Titalating — both purchased by Clyde.
While her husband traveled between sales and racetracks seeking future stars, Jean maintained the home front, handling family responsibilities and business operations with meticulous organization and perfect accounting.
Those who knew Jean describe her as sharp, no-nonsense, honest, and funny. She possessed a wealth of entertaining anecdotes, primarily about her family and horses. Her remarkable memory allowed her to recall specific horse issues and solutions from her family’s extensive experience.
A celebration of life will be held Sunday, June 8 at 2 p.m. at Hiers-Baxley Funeral Home located at 910 E Silver Springs Blvd. in Ocala, Florida.
