J. R.’s Ripper

J.R.’s Ripper was the winningest dog in the United States during his time, and he made Tucson Greyhound Park his home. His owner and trainer, Irene Billie Jenkins, treasured him. Each night of his life, she rubbed him with baby oil, fed him the best food money could buy, and made him a fresh bed on shredded paper. She fed him a piece of hot dog or a cookie after each race. He won 143 races of the 240 starts before Jenkins caretakingly retired him after a fall in 1986.

Jenkins was the first woman to be licensed as a trainer at TGP in the late 1950’s. Her license was issued under Billie Jenkins, and she was asked to stay out of sight in the early days, so that those who thought she was a man might continue to think so. JR’s Ripper was inducted into the Greyhound Hall of Fame in 1992, and a statue of him stood near the finish line at TGP. Jenkins followed him into retirement and died at the age of 85, just months before he did.