‘Old Friends’ Dust Devil, retired Mounted Officer Jupiter die

Hightstown, NJ — Two horses featured in the 2014 book “Standardbred Old Friends,” with stories by Ellen Harvey and photography by Barbara Livingston, passed away recently.

Jo Jo Geronimo, a lightly raced pacer later known as Mounted Officer Jupiter, served for 14 years with the Saratoga Springs Police Department before retiring in 2017. The department on Sunday announced his passing on its Facebook page. He was 26.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of retired Mounted Officer Jupiter,” the post read. “Jupiter has been living out his retirement with Officer Aaron Moore and his family. We thank the Moores for allowing Jupiter to spend the last years of his life receiving their care and their love. Thank you Jupiter, for your service to the city of Saratoga Springs! You will be missed.”

Jo Jo Geronimo, by Landslide out of Lucretia Lobell, won three of nine races in his career, but was forced to retire because of tendon issues. Several years later, then-owner Joanne Hamilton heard the Saratoga Springs Police Department was looking for an equine officer and offered Jo Jo Geronimo to the program.

To read the “Standardbred Old Friends” story about Jo Jo Geronimo/Jupiter, click here.

It also was reported to the USTA that pacer Dust Devil passed away on Sept. 11 at the age of 31.

Dust Devil, by Laag out of Patsy Almahurst, won 36 of 182 races and $432,209 in his career. Among his victories was a triumph over multiple Dan Patch Award-winner Shady Daisy in a preferred handicap at Freehold Raceway in 1994.

To read the “Standardbred Old Friends” story about Dust Devil, click here.

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