©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

Kentucky Derby roses, Springside kudos for ‘lifer’
by ELISABETH TORG

Newbold Strong (left) and Gretchen Schaefer Jackson won Distinguished Service Awards at Springside for co-chairing the capital campaign that raised $25 million for the recent building renovations at Springside School. They are pictured at the opening party for the new Vare Field House.

Looks like everything’s coming up roses for Gretchen Jackson these days.

Kentucky Derby roses, that is. And Springside laurels.

Jackson’s horse, Barbaro, just won the 132nd Kentucky Derby by six lengths on Saturday, May 6, placing Gretchen and her husband Roy in the Winner’s Circle at Churchill Downs. In doing so, Barbaro became only the sixth undefeated horse in the history of the Derby as well as the first horse in 50 years to win the race after a five-week layoff.

The win earned the couple the first place purse plus additional funds through the Kentucky Thoroughbred Breeders Incentive Fund. The win has also put Barbaro and the Jacksons all over the news, including ESPN, CBS, The New York Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Then, of course, there’s the possibility of the Triple Crown.

One week to the day after the win at Churchill Downs, Gretchen Jackson received her own honor – The Award for Distinguished Service – from Springside School. Presented on Saturday, May 13, the award recognized Gretchen’s dedication and commitment to the school’s recently completed capital campaign.

Hilary Mameniskis is one of the many volunteers who help make Chestnut Hill a very special place. As one of the Chestnut Hill Meals on Wheels volunteers, Hilary and two of her children who routinely accompany her cheer up the lives of area shut-ins to whom Meals on Wheels volunteers deliver two nutritious meals every weekday. Read more about Hilary in Paula M. Riley’s ongoing series on Chestnut Hill volunteers, page 28. (Photo by Paula M. Riley)

Under Jackson’s leadership and direction, and that of Newbold Strong (who shared the award with her), Springside School raised $25.1 million in just six years. That’s the largest amount raised in the school’s history. Jackson was a significant influence in the success of the campaign and in helping the school’s field house become a reality. Head of school, Priscilla Sands, thanked Gretchen for her leadership and acknowledged her compassion, dedication to sports and “fierce, fierce desire to win.”

So you see, behind that Derby garland and quintessential Derby hat is a serious horsewoman, athlete, go-get-‘em fundraiser and someone who loves a challenge. Word has it that not only does she love to compete and win, but her heart is in the right place too.

Gretchen Jackson was born at Germantown Hospital and grew up on the corner of Butler Pike and Stenton Avenue in Broad Axe, just minutes from Chestnut Hill. She attended Springside School from kindergarten through 12th grade, making her what private school alums refer to as “a lifer.”

As a child, Gretchen says she really loved people. “Based on my report cards and what others told me, I spent most of my time socializing. I was always looking for companionship and loved being with friends,” she says. When asked if she was competitive as a kid, she says, “I think I was. I always loved a challenge.”

Gretchen excelled in athletics at Springside (more on that later) and went on to The University of Pennsylvania for a Bachelor’s degree and Neumann College for her Master’s. For a decade she worked as a drug and alcohol prevention specialist, working with the children of drug and alcohol addicted parents.

Today, in addition to her involvement in the horse world, Jackson serves on the Board of Trustees of Springside School as well as the Board of Overseers for the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School.

Jackson and her husband Roy were new to the Kentucky Derby scene – Barbaro’s race was indeed the couple’s first time at the event – but horses are far from new to Gretchen.

A dedicated horsewoman for over 50 years, Gretchen started riding horses at the age of three. She took her first riding lessons, she says, at Violet Haines Riding Camp in Gwynedd Valley. “I had a huge gray horse named ‘Skippit,’” Jackson recalls when asked about memories of her first riding experiences. “These lessons were part of a day camp, and I remember we used to have horse weddings.”

Linda Harris Riley has known Gretchen Jackson since they were about three years old, and she remembers their days at riding camp together. “We showed a lot with Miss Haines,” recalls Riley. “She took us around to different horse shows, to The Devon Horse Show and the like.” Both Riley and Jackson showed at Devon as young teens, explains Riley. “Gretchen continued with her riding, while I didn’t. Gretchen has always had a love and knowledge of horses.”

Eventually she became involved with race horses as an adjunct to fox-hunters. Lael Stable, which Gretchen owns and manages with her husband Roy Jackson, has been breeding thoroughbreds since 1978. Gretchen Jackson has done everything from manage the farm to breaking yearlings, doing lay-ups and foaling. She currently serves on the board of the Thoroughbred Charities of America.

And now she’s got a Kentucky Derby win. Barbaro’s next big race, The Preakness, is coming up on Saturday, May 20.

Horses aren’t the only thing Gretchen Jackson has loved for a long time.

Gretchen Schaefer met Roy Jackson at a dance when she was an 11th grader at Springside. “It was at The Merion Tribute House,” she recalls. “It was one of those subscription dances, where we’d pay $100 a year to go to five dances.”

While she doesn’t recall the song for their first dance, she says they went to the movies for their first date. After a courtship that continued through their years at Penn, Gretchen and Roy were married at St. Thomas’ Church in 1959, not far from Gretchen’s childhood home. They had four children together – MacRoy, Lucy, Hardie and Fred – and now boast of a gaggle of grandchildren. Gretchen and Roy will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in a few years.

While many reports of the Jackson’s Derby win have focused on her husband Roy’s involvement in sports, Gretchen Jackson was also a top-notch athlete. At Springside she played varsity lacrosse in 9th grade and varsity field hockey and basketball as a junior and senior. She captained the basketball team her senior year.

“Thank heavens I had some ability to play,” says Gretchen. “I had some challenges with organizing my schoolwork and the athletic program at Springside gave me an opportunity to do well.” Jackson went on to play sports at The University of Pennsylvania, earning varsity letters in field hockey and lacrosse her freshman year. She stopped college sports, though, to attend more closely to her studies.

Today Jackson continues her commitment to women’s sports through her efforts at Springside. She was a key player in convincing opponents of the field house that today’s female athletes deserve top-notch facilities, just like the boys. She was instrumental in raising the funds for Springside’s new Vare Field House. When a consultant told the school they wouldn’t be able to raise enough funds, “That was like throwing down a challenge flag.”

On the value of athletics for girls, Jackson says that learning about teamwork is most important. “Teamwork is what sets you up for life,” she says. “In addition, sports can teach girls to challenge themselves, to compete within and that personal growth is ongoing.”

For all her competitive drive, Gretchen is described by others as a caring, giving woman.

“She joined our Board because of her dedication to youth, and because she is most interested in what goes on in the heart,” explained Priscilla Sands when presenting Gretchen with her Distinguished Service Award last Saturday. “This (the Derby win) is an example of good guys finishing first. Gretchen Jackson is one of the kindest, most compassionate people I know.”