Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association
Posted: Nov. 5, 2018
Trainer J. Willard Thompson, a Monmouth Park mainstay for more than 50 years, passed away Nov. 3 after a lengthy illness. He was 83.
Born in Atlanta, Ga., in 1935 Thompson got his start in racing as a steeplechase rider before switching to training in the early 1960s. He dominated the New Jersey racing scene in the 1970s winning three consecutive training titles at Monmouth Park from 1975-77 and two at Meadowlands. He also raced at Atlantic City Race Course, Garden State Park, and other tracks in the Delaware Valley.
After a more than 20-year hiatus, Thompson again captured the 2001 Monmouth title and saw record earnings that year of nearly $1.6 million for his runners, many of whom raced in the colors of Thompson’s Quiet Winter Farm. Some his most recent stakes winners included Jenny Bean Girl in the 2007 Jersey Girl Handicap and Pinot Grigio, who took the 2014 Open Mind Handicap.
In 1996 Monmouth inaugurated the Virgil “Buddy” Raines Distinguished Achievement Award, honoring men and women who have demonstrated a continuing commitment to the sport of Thoroughbred racing and whose conduct has been exemplary for professionalism, integrity and service to the sport. Thompson was the first recipient of the highly-regarded honor.
Thompson was an active member of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association.
“It’s very hard to imagine Monmouth Park, and racing, without Willard,” said John Heims, Monmouth’s racing secretary. “I’ve had the privilege of calling Willard my friend for nearly 20 years. We had spent countless hours in his office, the clocker’s stand, front-side and my office talking horses, politics and everything in between.
“With Willard, the generation gap just slipped away as age made no difference. He was kind and generous to everyone in this sport and his passing is a tremendous loss for our industry.”
From 17,863 starters, Thompson won 2,137 races, good for earnings of $30.5 million. With his longtime assistant, Sergio “Victor” Rabadan, Thompson’s most recent starter as a trainer was Snowday Oct. 26 at Laurel Park, and the most recent starter for his Quiet Winter Farm was Arnold Ziffle, who finished third at Laurel just a few hours before his passing.
Thompson was predeceased by his wife Carol, an accomplished equestrian, in 2013. He is survived by his sons Glenn and Stewart, his daughter Julia, and nine grandchildren: Julia, Parker, McKenzie, Wyatt, Mizuki, Taylor, Landon, Shelby and Bradyn.
A celebration of his life will be held next spring to coincide with the opening of Monmouth’s 2019 racing season.
(Willard Thompson photo courtesy of Monmouth Park)