William Molter
Encyclopedia
William "Willie" Molter (1910 - April 2, 1960) was an American Hall of Fame
horse trainer
in the sport of Thoroughbred racing
.
A native of Fredericksburg, Texas
, Willie Molter began his career in horse racing as a jockey
at racetracks across the Texas border in Mexico
. He eventually made his way to the bush track
s of Western Canada
and at the modern Polo Park Racetrack
in Winnipeg, Manitoba won the 1935 edition of the Manitoba Stakes
, now known as the Canadian Derby
. That year he turned to training horses, making his way to the modern new racetracks being built in California
where he enjoyed considerable success. He was the United States Champion Thoroughbred Trainer by wins
four straight years between 1946 and 1949, and led all American trainers in earnings
four times, winning the title in 1954, 1956, 1958, and 1959.
During his career, Willie Molter trained for prominent owners such as Elizabeth Arden
, Andrew J. Crevolin
, Travis M. Kerr
, and film mogul, Louis B. Mayer
. Among the horses Molter trained were 1947 Santa Anita Derby
winner, On Trust
, 1956 Santa Anita Handicap
winner Bobby Brocato, and Imbros
, who set a new world record
of 1:20.60 for 7 furlong
s in winning the 1954 Malibu Sequet Stakes
. In addition, Molter won the1956 Kentucky Derby
with Determine
but his most famous horse was 1958 American Horse of the Year and Hall of Fame inductee, Round Table
who retired at the end of the 1959 racing season having earned a world record
US$1,749,869.
William Molter died on April 2, 1960 of a massive cerebral stroke
. That year, the United States' National Museum of Racing
inducted him in their Hall of Fame.
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
horse 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...
in the sport of Thoroughbred racing
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
.
A native of Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg is the seat of Gillespie County, in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census estimate, the city had a population of 10, 530...
, Willie Molter began his career in horse racing as a jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
at racetracks across the Texas border in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. He eventually made his way to the bush track
Bush track
Bush track is a term used in horse racing to describe unsanctioned, informal horse races run in rural areas of the United States and southern Canada. Quarter horses, ridden by amateur jockeys, are raced on makeshift tracks, often set up in the field where the horses are pastured using barrels or...
s of Western Canada
Western Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...
and at the modern Polo Park Racetrack
Polo Park Racetrack
The Polo Park Racetrack was a Canadian horse racing facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Considered one of the finest racetracks in Western Canada, it was built by Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee R. James Speers. The six furlong track opened in 1925 under the charter of the Winnipeg Jockey...
in Winnipeg, Manitoba won the 1935 edition of the Manitoba Stakes
Canadian Derby
The Canadian Derby is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Northlands Park in Edmonton, Alberta. A Grade III event held near the end of August, it is open to thee-year-old horses and is raced on dirt over a distance of one and three-eights miles...
, now known as the Canadian Derby
Canadian Derby
The Canadian Derby is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Northlands Park in Edmonton, Alberta. A Grade III event held near the end of August, it is open to thee-year-old horses and is raced on dirt over a distance of one and three-eights miles...
. That year he turned to training horses, making his way to the modern new racetracks being built in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
where he enjoyed considerable success. He was the United States Champion Thoroughbred Trainer by wins
United States Champion Thoroughbred Trainer by wins
There is recognition for the United States Champion Thoroughbred Trainer by wins but no formal award is given to the trainer in Thoroughbred flat racing whose horses won the most races in North American Thoroughbred racing....
four straight years between 1946 and 1949, and led all American trainers in earnings
United States Champion Thoroughbred Trainer by earnings
There is recognition for the United States Champion Thoroughbred Trainer by earnings but no formal award is given to the trainer in Thoroughbred flat racing whose horses earned the most purse money in North American Thoroughbred racing....
four times, winning the title in 1954, 1956, 1958, and 1959.
During his career, Willie Molter trained for prominent owners such as Elizabeth Arden
Elizabeth Arden
Florence Nightingale Graham , who went by the business name Elizabeth Arden, was a Canadian-American businesswoman who built a cosmetics empire in the United States. At the peak of her career, she was one of the wealthiest women in the world.-Biography:Arden was born in 1884 at Woodbridge, Ontario,...
, Andrew J. Crevolin
Andrew J. Crevolin
Andrew Joseph Crevolin was an American businessman and Thoroughbred racehorse owner in California whose horse won the 1954 Santa Anita and Kentucky Derbys....
, Travis M. Kerr
Travis M. Kerr
Travis M. Kerr was an American businessman in Oklahoma City and a Thoroughbred racehorse owner. Involved in the oil and uranium business, he was a younger brother of Oklahoma businessman and Senator, Robert S. Kerr....
, and film mogul, Louis B. Mayer
Louis B. Mayer
Louis Burt Mayer born Lazar Meir was an American film producer. He is generally cited as the creator of the "star system" within Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in its golden years. Known always as Louis B...
. Among the horses Molter trained were 1947 Santa Anita Derby
Santa Anita Derby
The Santa Anita Derby is an American Grade 1 thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run each April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California and carries a purse of $1 million. Inaugurated in 1935, it is considered the most important West Coast stepping-stone to the Kentucky Derby...
winner, On Trust
On Trust
On Trust was an American Thoroughbred racehorse whom the Bridgeport, Connecticut Sunday Herald called "one of the most distinguised and durable performers to come out of the state of California." His dam was Torch Rose and his sire was Alibhai, a British stallion who was imported by MGM Studios...
, 1956 Santa Anita Handicap
Santa Anita Handicap
The Santa Anita Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade I race for horses four years old and up , and is considered the most important race for older horses in North America during the winter racing season...
winner Bobby Brocato, and Imbros
Imbros (horse)
Imbros was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who set or equaled six track records including a new world record for seven furlongs in winning the 1954 Malibu Sequet Stakes at Santa Anita Park and equaled the world record for a mile and a sixteenth in winning the 1954 Californian Stakes at...
, who set a new world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
of 1:20.60 for 7 furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
s in winning the 1954 Malibu Sequet Stakes
Malibu Stakes
The Malibu Stakes is a race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses of either gender held each December at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California...
. In addition, Molter won the1956 Kentucky Derby
Kentucky 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 Determine
Determine
Determine , was a multiple stakes winning American Thoroughbred race horse. By Alibhai . Determine's dam was Koubis, born with a cleft palate. Her breeder, Dr...
but his most famous horse was 1958 American Horse of the Year and Hall of Fame inductee, Round Table
Round Table (horse)
Round Table was an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse. He is considered the greatest turf horse in American racing history. He was foaled at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, on the night of April 6, 1954...
who retired at the end of the 1959 racing season having earned a world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
US$1,749,869.
William Molter died on April 2, 1960 of a massive cerebral stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
. That year, the United States' National Museum of Racing
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
inducted him in their Hall of Fame.