Del W. Carroll
Encyclopedia
Delmer W. "Del" Carroll (October 30, 1919 - May 9, 1982) was an American champion polo
player, Thoroughbred
racehorse
owner/trainer
, and soldier during World War II
.
during World War II. He rose to the rank of First Lieutenant. According to a 1945 Pennsylvania Military College
article, he "was a member of the mechanized cvalry group that did the dangerous advance scouting during the German campaign."
Carroll's knowledge of horses led to his participation in the game of polo
. One of the top twenty-five players in the world during the 1950s and 1960s, he became an eight-goal handicap player. He remained active in the game throughout his life and at the time of his death at age sixty-two still had a four-goal handicap.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980DE5DA1539F930A15754C0A964948260 His interest in horses also led to a career as a professional horse trainer, conditioning Thoroughbreds for friends and fellow polo players, William S. Farish III and Michael Grace Phipps
.
with his best result a fifth in 1966 with Blue Grass Stakes
winner, Abe's Hope. He had had a sixth-place finish in the 1969 Preakness Stakes
but on May 29, 1972 he earned the most important win of his career. In that year's Preakness Stakes, run on a sloppy Pimlico Race Course
, Carroll's colt Bee Bee Bee
took victory in the prestigious U.S. Triple Crown
race.
During his career, Del Carroll won three training titles at Keeneland Race Course
, one at Oaklawn Park Race Track, and was one of the top trainers at Arlington Park
in Chicago
where he won 262 career races.
Alone in the early morning of May 5, 1982 Del Carroll was galloping one of his horses on the Keeneland track when he was thrown by the horse and suffered severe head injuries. He underwent surgery at St. Joseph's Hospital
in Lexington
but died four days later.
.
His daughter, Robin Ann Carroll, who grew up with her father on the race track, is now the owner of Magazin Farms (www.magazinfarms.com) and an established thoroughbred breeder in the sport of polo. Her son, Del Carroll Walton (Del's grandson) is an established polo player and horseman himself. (www.waltonfarmsc.com) On August 11, 2009, Delmer David Walton, Robin's grandson and Del W. Carroll's great grandson was born.
His youngest daughter, Larkspur Carroll, studied Veterinary Medicine at Ohio State University, became a doctor of vet medicine, is a practice owner/member at CORE Therapies - The Veterinary Acupuncture and Chiropractic Clinic. She is also the mother to Aurea, Del W. Carroll's granddaughter.
Polo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Sometimes called, "The Sport of Kings", it was highly popularized by the British. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a...
player, Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
owner/trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
, and soldier during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Biography
Del Carroll had begun riding horses as a boy of ten which as a young man led to choosing to serve in the cavalry in the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II. He rose to the rank of First Lieutenant. According to a 1945 Pennsylvania Military College
Widener University
Widener University is a private, coeducational university located in Chester, Pennsylvania.Its main campus sits on 108 acres , just southwest of Philadelphia...
article, he "was a member of the mechanized cvalry group that did the dangerous advance scouting during the German campaign."
Carroll's knowledge of horses led to his participation in the game of polo
Polo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Sometimes called, "The Sport of Kings", it was highly popularized by the British. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a...
. One of the top twenty-five players in the world during the 1950s and 1960s, he became an eight-goal handicap player. He remained active in the game throughout his life and at the time of his death at age sixty-two still had a four-goal handicap.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980DE5DA1539F930A15754C0A964948260 His interest in horses also led to a career as a professional horse trainer, conditioning Thoroughbreds for friends and fellow polo players, William S. Farish III and Michael Grace Phipps
Michael Grace Phipps
-Biography:He was the son of John Shaffer Phipps. He was a member of Yale University intercollegiate championship team in both 1930 and 1932. He participated in the 1936 and 1939 International Polo Cup.-References:...
.
1972 Preakness Stakes
Del Carroll had four horses run in the Kentucky DerbyKentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
with his best result a fifth in 1966 with Blue Grass Stakes
Blue Grass Stakes
The Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, currently sponsored by the Toyota Motor Corporation, is an American Grade 1 horse race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds held annually in mid April at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky....
winner, Abe's Hope. He had had a sixth-place finish in the 1969 Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
but on May 29, 1972 he earned the most important win of his career. In that year's Preakness Stakes, run on a sloppy Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...
, Carroll's colt Bee Bee Bee
Bee Bee Bee
Bee Bee Bee was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1972 Preakness Stakes. To date Bee Bee Bee is only one of eight Maryland-bred colts to win the Preakness and one of only eleven from the state to win a triple crown race.He was sired by multiple stakes winner Better Bee,...
took victory in the prestigious U.S. Triple Crown
United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
In the United States, the "Triple Crown" is usually the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a series of three Thoroughbred horse races for three-year-old horses run in May and early June of each year consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.While Daily Racing Form...
race.
During his career, Del Carroll won three training titles at Keeneland Race Course
Keeneland
Keeneland is a Thoroughbred horse racing facility and sales complex in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. Operated by the Keeneland Association, Inc., it is also known for its reference library on the sport, which contains more than 10,000 volumes, an extensive videocassette collection, and a substantial...
, one at Oaklawn Park Race Track, and was one of the top trainers at Arlington Park
Arlington Park
Arlington Park is a horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Horse racing in the Chicago region has been a popular sport since the early days of the city in the 1830s, and at one time Chicago had more horse racing tracks than any other major metropolitan area...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
where he won 262 career races.
Alone in the early morning of May 5, 1982 Del Carroll was galloping one of his horses on the Keeneland track when he was thrown by the horse and suffered severe head injuries. He underwent surgery at St. Joseph's Hospital
St. Joseph's Hospital
-In Canada:*St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton — Hamilton, Ontario*St. Joseph's Health Centre — Toronto, Ontario-In the Republic of Ireland:*St. Joseph's Hospital, Dublin — Dublin*St. Joseph's Hospital, Sligo — Sligo-In the United States:...
in Lexington
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
but died four days later.
Legacy
His son, Del Carroll II, who was his assistant from 1970 through 1979, is now a trainer at tracks on the East Coast of the United StatesEast Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
.
His daughter, Robin Ann Carroll, who grew up with her father on the race track, is now the owner of Magazin Farms (www.magazinfarms.com) and an established thoroughbred breeder in the sport of polo. Her son, Del Carroll Walton (Del's grandson) is an established polo player and horseman himself. (www.waltonfarmsc.com) On August 11, 2009, Delmer David Walton, Robin's grandson and Del W. Carroll's great grandson was born.
His youngest daughter, Larkspur Carroll, studied Veterinary Medicine at Ohio State University, became a doctor of vet medicine, is a practice owner/member at CORE Therapies - The Veterinary Acupuncture and Chiropractic Clinic. She is also the mother to Aurea, Del W. Carroll's granddaughter.