Trainer J. Willard Thompson, a Monmouth Park mainstay for more than 50 years, passed away Saturday night 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 1975-1977 and two at the Meadowlands. After a more than 20-year hiatus, Thompson again captured the 2001 Monmouth title.
“It's very hard to imagine Monmouth Park, and racing, without Willard,” said John F. Heims, Monmouth's racing secretary. “I've had the privilege of calling Willard my friend for nearly 20 years. 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 and earned $30.5 million in purses. With his longtime assistant, Sergio “Victor” Rabadan, Thompson's most recent starter as a trainer was Snowday Oct. 26 at Laurel and the most recent starter for his Quiet Winter Farm was Arnold Ziffle, who finished third at Laurel just a few hours before Thompson's 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 Park's 2019 racing season.
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