James P. Conway

Jimmy Conway trained 43 stakes winners during his career, including champions Chateaugay, Grecian Queen, Miss Request, Primonetta, and Pucker Up.

Inducted

1996

Born

Aug. 4, 1910, New York City, New York

Died

May 31, 1984, Oceanside, New York

Career

1946-1984

Biography

Jimmy Conway trained 43 stakes winners during his career, including champions Chateaugay, Grecian Queen, Miss Request, Primonetta, and Pucker Up.

A New York City native, Conway worked a variety of backstretch jobs before beginning his professional training career following World War II. Conway found considerable success with fillies and mares. He prepped champions Miss Request (1948 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly), Grecian Queen (1953 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly), Pucker Up (1957 Champion Older Female), and Primonetta (1962 Champion Older Female). He also trained My Request, winner of 17 stakes, including the Brooklyn, Wood Memorial, and Dwyer.

In 1962, Conway took over as head trainer for Darby Dan Farm. One of his new charges was Chateaugay, full brother to Primonetta. Under Conway’s tutelage, Chateaugay won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes in 1963 en route to Champion 3-Year-Old Male honors.

Other significant horses trained by Conway included Bramalea, Tahitian King, Verbatim, Prince Quest, Talent Show, and Polylady.

Along with his victories in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, Conway won the Delaware Oaks (twice), Diana Handicap, Dwyer Stakes, Grand Union Hotel Stakes, United Stakes Hotel Stakes (twice), Wood Memorial, Beldame Stakes (twice), Excelsior Handicap (twice), Brooklyn Handicap, Coaching Club American Oaks (twice), Delaware Handicap, Massachusetts Handicap, Alabama Stakes, Jerome Handicap (twice), Blue Grass Stakes, Spinaway Stakes, Louisiana Derby, Whitney Handicap, and Haskell Invitational Handicap, among others.