William C. Winfrey

Biography

During a 10-year period training Alfred Vanderbilt’s homebreds, William C. “Bill” Winfrey developed Hall of Fame members Native Dancer and Bed o’ Roses and champion Next Move, as well as standouts Social Outcast, Find, Cousin, Loser Weeper, and nine other stakes winners.

Native Dancer won 21 of 22 starts for Winfrey, including the Preakness and Belmont in 1953, and was a champion in each of his three years on the track.

Stepson of Hall of Fame trainer G. Carey Winfrey, Bill Winfrey was around the track his whole life, riding a stable pony at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans as a youth before competing in races at Hialeah at 16. Winfrey outgrew his six-month jockey career and obtained his trainer’s license in Maryland while still 16. Six years later, he saddled his first stakes winner, Postage Due.

After resigning from his position with Vanderbilt, Winfrey was in semi-retirement in California until 1963, when he succeeded Hall of Fame trainer James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons as trainer for the Phipps family’s powerful stable. In 1964, he set a single-year training record of $1,350,534 for purses earned.

For the Phipps family, Winfrey developed successful 2-year-old champions Castle Forbes, Queen Empress, Bold Lad, and Hall of Fame member Buckpasser.

Winfrey retired in 1969 but came back with a few horses in 1977 and 1978. Overall, Winfrey trained 38 stakes winners. 

Achievements

North America's leading trainer in earnings — 1964

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the 1953 Preakness Stakes — Native Dancer
Won the 1953 Belmont Stakes — Native Dancer

Other Highlights

Won the Sunset Handicap — 1955, 1957, 1959, 1961
Won the Metropolitan Handicap — 1949, 1954
Won the Hopeful Stakes — 1951, 1952
Won the Saratoga Special — 1951, 1952
Won the Queens County Handicap — 1954, 1955
Won the Champagne Stakes — 1964, 1965