California racing lost an invaluable, long time patron this weekend when Warren Williamson passed away at the age of 89. He will be remembered by his racing friends for his spirited love for his horses, his great success in California racing over four decades, and his ability to enjoy the good times but roll with the bad just as easily. For me, I will remember him as my close friend and mentor. We have a hard time replacing the owner/ breeder in this business. The person who has around eight or ten mares and never considers putting “the good one” in the sale to cash in. He patiently waits for the day to see that horse in his silks. Just that “old school” owner/ breeder, binoculars in hand, who would have a runner every Saturday and would be in his box by post time of the first race, usually surrounded by family and friends and buying rounds of drinks well before the first stake is run.
You would walk into his house and win photos would cover virtually every wall, while his TOBA Breeder of the Year trophy sat proudly displayed. He had so much appreciation for the people who worked day in and day out with his racing and breeding stock. He loved the business, he loved the horses and he loved the idea of developing pedigrees and building families, creating a foundation mare, which he did with seven-time black type producer Blending Element and multiple graded stakes producer Nashoba, a pair of race fillies Carla Gaines bought for him in the late 90's from Ireland.
He relished the challenge, and was an eternal optimist. In my eyes, he will be impossible to duplicate but for the sake of the Thoroughbred business, I hope horse racing has many more owners like him in the future.
Joe Miller
Kern Thoroughbreds USA
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