Janis Clements a longtime Sacramento resident and mother to California based trainer, Robin Clements, passed away at age 89 on August 13th 2019 due to complications from Alzheimer’s.

Born in North Dakota, Janis and her family moved to Newton Iowa after losing their farm in the Great Depression. Her grandfather, an immigrant from Germany had built several homes for his children one of which Janis and her family lived.

Being a city girl at heart, Janis moved to Oakland California with an aunt and became a model for hand and foot wear. During this time she met her future husband Ray Caldwell, where the young couple then moved to Sacramento and had two sons, Larry and Michael. Being too young as Janis would later say, the couple divorced amicably. At this time Janis went to work at McClellan AFB where she then met her next husband Dr. Robert Clements a prominent orthodontist in Sacramento. There they had their only daughter, Robin. Again divorced, Janis never married again.

While still working at McClellan AFB, Janis met Milton Ludwig and the two hit it off instantly. After a 35 year relationship, sadly Milton passed away in 2015.

In 1978, Janis went to work for Lloyd Arnold and Golden Bear Racing part time in the gift shop during the races. Janis quickly was a hit with the little gift shop and after a few years Lloyd helped Janis get into the SEIU union for para mutual clerks selling tickets at Golden Bear. Once retired from McClellan, Janis went full time as a clerk where she worked many of the California tracks for almost 20 years.

Also a horse owner in the early 1980’s, Janis would frequent Cal Expo to watch her daughter’s horses race, one horse in particular was Franky Provolone who was Janis’ favorite.

In lieu of flowers etc. donations can be made with the Standardbred Retirement Foundation.

By Robin Clements CHHA