Hall of Fame trainer H. Allen Jerkens was released from the hospital on Friday and made his first appearance at his barn at Gulfstream on Saturday morning. Driven to the racetrack by his wife Elisabeth, Jerkens didn't get out of the car but did talk to his employees.Jerkens has been hospitalized since Dec. 23 when, complaining of severe stomach pains, he was rushed into the hospital and diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. After a month in the intensive care unit at nearby Aventura Hospital in Aventura he was transferred to Vencor Hospital in Hollywood where underwent rehabilitation treatment.
Mrs. Jerkens had said previously that the long-term prognosis for the 71-year-old to return to training is excellent. "I told him that he'd have to train to get back the way that Kelly Kip did," Mrs. Jerkens laughed.