Slade Jones: Looking to reach new heights in 2026

Slade Jones, Canada’s 2022 Outstanding Apprentice Jockey Sovereign Award winner, is thinking big when it comes to the 2026 racing season.

Canada’s leading bug rider at only 16 years old in 2022, Jones’ mounts earned $1,928,304 in purse money in his rookie campaign.

Big on talent, he is also big in stature.

“I’m about 5’11’’, maybe even 6 feet, but I tell people I’m 5’11’’,” said Jones.

His height presented him with the age-old jockey challenge of meeting weight requirements.

Now at 19-years-old, Jones reflected on his past approach to his craft.

“To be honest, when I was 16, I was young and I was a bit dumb,” he said. “I was not thinking things through so good. And I had a great season in 2022, but I used to struggle with my weight. I didn’t really understand how to diet properly.”

Weight struggles frustrated him to the point of considering giving up on his riding career.

“I just kind of just went a little haywire and did some radical stuff around the world a little bit,” said Jones. “Then I realized that horse racing is for me and, you know, it’s time to get back.”

Jones, representing the third generation of jockeys in his family, shared, “Some of the guys who I’d been really friends with when I was riding and stuff, I see them start to do really good,” he said. “And it’s just, you know, my brain, you know, you mature a little bit and you realize that you’re kind of wasting talent and you should be really doing it as well.”

After taking the 2023, 2024 and half of the 2025 seasons off, he returned to Woodbine.

Despite his strong first year in the saddle, Jones, son of former Woodbine rider Jono Jones, had trouble finding rides upon returning for the 2025 campaign.

“I lost the bug right after I stopped,” he said. “So, it’s kind of hard to sell people on why you got to ride and it’s hard to get rides.”

Trainer Zeljko Krcmar saw Jones’ talent.

“He listens to what I say, what I expect from him, and he does it,” said Krcmar. “That’s the number one quality. Second thing, he’s a good rider, well balanced. He has a big family tradition as a rider. That gives him a lot of plus points in the races. But yes, I can tell you, the kid is good. He’s a quiet rider, good hands. That is so important.”

Krcmar doesn’t see Jones’ height as an issue.

“It doesn’t matter how tall he is. He can lay down and ride,” said Krcmar. “Point is, as long as you don’t put on more weight. That’s the only thing I worry about.”

Krcmar said the horses that Jones rides for his barn can handle a tall rider, including one of the early King’s Plate favourites, Fire and Wine.

“A horse that he rides for me, a big horse, he’s a big horse and he can carry a little bit overweight. My biggest problem is the distance. You know, a mile and a quarter, a mile and a half. You know, every ounce counts. Let’s hope he keeps his weight. Now, I’ll be happy with that.”

Gail Lunan, who works at the Krcmar barn, pointed to Jones’ dedication as one of the young rider’s top qualities.

“He is very good with the horses. He works hard,” said Lunan. “He’s determined to win and get his reputation back. He was the leading bug rider before he left. And he’s just a really nice, determined, honest young man and a great rider.”

Jones, whose first mount of the year, on Apr. 25, yielded a fifth with Devon Gittens-trained Gray Dee One, is looking to make his mark this season and beyond.

“I’m going to shoot for the stars, and I really want to do really good here,” said Jones. “But right now I just want to have a safe year, win as many races as I can. And that’s all I could really ask for at the moment.”