James “Sweet” Hodges, a longtime trainer based at Louisiana Downs, died Thursday of a heart-related issue at the age of 87, track chaplain Jimmy Sistrunk confirmed.
Sistrunk said services are set for Tuesday at Hill Crest Funeral Home in Haughton, La., which is near Louisiana Downs. There is a visitation from 1-2 p.m. Central, with the funeral to follow at 2 p.m. Sistrunk will be officiating. He is close friends with Hodges and his wife, Phyllis.
“They’ve been longtime supporters of the Backside Benevolence Fund, a non-profit organization that supports the chaplaincy at Louisiana Downs and also provides benevolent needs to our industry,” Sistrunk said. “They’ve also been regular attenders of our Winner’s Circle Church.
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“The racing family at Louisiana Downs is just so heartbroken because he’s been around for years. He was like a dad, but not just to me, but so many people. It’s amazing the influence he had on so many people’s lives. He was so respected.”
Hodges won his first race as a trainer on Feb. 2, 1991, at Fair Grounds, according to records from Daily Racing Form. Overall, he won 681 races from 4,370 starts. His trainees earned a collective $13.7 million. Hodges won 45 stakes races during his career, among his notable winners Zarb’s Dahar, Grand Facile, Foreign Production, and Vale Male.
Hodges had his last starter on Sept. 3 at Louisiana Downs, and his last winner, Cajun Mischief, on Aug. 26, also at Louisiana Downs.
“He was really awesome at getting 2-year-olds ready for their debuts,” Sistrunk said. “He always did well with 2-year-olds.”
Sistrunk said he will miss seeing Hodges at Louisiana Downs.
“He was so humble in his relationship with God – it was beautiful,” he said. “I’ve told people, heaven’s getting sweeter because Mr. Sweet just got there.”
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