James J. Toner

Birthdate: July 7, 1940

Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pa.

Residence: Valley Stream, N.Y.

Family: wife, Gina; son, James; and daughter, Catherine Blaise

Jimmy Toner worked as a hotwalker while in high school and took out his trainer’s license in 1960 at age 19. He recorded his first winner that year on April 20 with Battle Empress at Aqueduct, making him one of the youngest trainers in New York to win a race.

Toner is probably best recognized with his long and successful association with Darby Dan Farm and the Phillips Family. Toner trained their Soaring Softly, who won the inaugural Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Gulfstream Park in 1999 en route to being named the year's champion turf female. Toner also trained multiple Grade 1 winner Memories of Silver, and currently trains her daughter, Grade 1 winner Winter Memories, who won the Beaugay Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park on May 5 to start her 2012 campaign.