Some would possibly say that Charlie Whittingham was the most effective and most well-known coach California has ever recognized.
As true as that is perhaps, Whittingham deserves to be seen in a context a lot higher than even a state as giant as California.
Although synonymous with the Golden State, Whittingham was unquestionably considered one of biggest trainers within the lengthy and wonderful historical past of Thoroughbred racing wherever in the US.
In a record-breaking profession that spanned practically 50 years, Whittingham received 2,533 races. His horses earned $109,206,777, which nonetheless ranks 28th on the all-time record by means of Nov. 9, 2025, although he final saddled a horse on April 18, 1999, simply two days earlier than his demise on the age of 86.
Generally known as “The Bald Eagle,” Whittingham received greater than 250 stakes and was the all-time main coach at Santa Anita Park and Hollywood Park on the time of his demise.
He educated 11 champions.
He received the Kentucky Derby twice. The primary time he did it in 1986 with Ferdinand, when he was 73 years previous and was hailed because the oldest coach to ever win the run for the roses. Three years later, he did it once more, capturing the Derby and the Preakness with eventual Horse of the 12 months Sunday Silence. (Notice: Artwork Sherman received the Derby in 2014 with California Chrome at age 77 to go Whittingham because the oldest coach to win the race.)
On seven events, he led the nation in purse earnings and 3 times he acquired the Eclipse Award because the yr’s greatest coach.
It’s a prolonged record of accomplishments, but one befitting a coach as revered as Charles E. Whittingham.
Born in Chula Vista, Calif., on April 13, 1913, Whittingham began as a sizzling walker in Tijuana, Mexico. Although he took out his coach’s license in 1934, he was launched by actor Bing Crosby to famed coach Horatio Luro and served as Luro’s assistant till 1950.
His first U.S. champion was Porterhouse in 1953, however it will not be his final. Whittingham guided Ack Ack to Horse of the 12 months honors in 1971 and he continued to dominate the California scene for greater than twenty years.
The 1974 Corridor of Fame inductee’s résumé included 14 wins within the San Juan Capistrano, 9 within the Santa Anita Handicap and eight within the Hollywood Gold Cup.
As he entered his 70s, the one evident omission from his résumé was Triple Crown success. That hurdle was cleared in 1986, when Whittingham put Invoice Shoemaker on Ferdinand and the legendary 54-year-old rider introduced him from final to win a colourful version of the Derby that was certainly one for the ages.
Three years later, Whittingham returned to Churchill Downs with Santa Anita Derby winner Sunday Silence, who was anticipated to take a again seat to the closely favored Simple Goer. However Whittingham had Sunday Silence within the peak of situation for the run for the roses and Sunday Silence defeated Simple Goer by 2 ½ lengths.
Two weeks later within the Preakness Stakes, Sunday Silence defeated Simple Goer once more, this time prevailing by a nostril in one of many Triple Crown’s most fun finishes.
Simple Goer thwarted Sunday Silence’s bid to grow to be the 12th Triple Crown winner when he romped by eight lengths within the Belmont Stakes.
However in November, with Horse of the 12 months honors on the road, Sunday Silence held off a late surge from Simple Goer to take the Breeders’ Cup Basic by a neck in what was described by monitor announcer Tom Durkin as “a racing epic.” (Take a race-by-race look again on their basic rivalry in this text.)
Although 76 on the time of Sunday Silence’s Triple Crown heroics, Whittingham’s profession was removed from over. After Sunday Silence was retired, Whittingham went on to win the Santa Anita Handicap in 1993, the Arlington Million in 1990, and the Japan Cup in 1991, amongst many, many others.
In his closing years, he continued to coach whilst he battled leukemia, the illness that finally claimed the beloved Corridor of Famer’s life in 1999.
Now, 26 years later, he stays one of many sport’s most well-known and fondly remembered trainers – in California and each different one of many different 49 states.
Editor’s Notice: This text has been up to date. It initially was printed in June 2016.
Enjoyable Details
- He educated 20 horses who earned at the very least $1 million.
- His son, Michael, was additionally a coach and received the Breeders’ Cup Basic in 1986 with Skywalker.
- There’s a bronze bust of Whittingham in Santa Anita’s East Paddock Gardens in addition to a plaque honoring him at Santa Anita’s Barn 4 the place his horses have been stabled. Corridor of Fame coach Richard Mandella is now based mostly at Barn 4.
- Within the 1986 Belmont Stakes, the highest three finishers have been Danzig Connection, educated by Woody Stephens, who was 72; Johns Treasure, educated by Walter Kelley who was 79; and Ferdinand, educated by the 73-year-old Whittingham.
- A day earlier than the 1989 Belmont Stakes, Sunday Silence reared up and kicked Whittingham within the head, bruising the coach’s proper temple.
- Whittingham’s champions have been: Porterhouse (2-year-old colt, 1953), Ack Ack (Horse of the 12 months, 1971), Turkish Trousers (3-12 months-Previous Feminine, 1971), Cougar II (Turf Horse, 1972), Perrault (Male Turf Horse, 1982), Kennedy Street (Canada’s Horse of the 12 months, 1973), Estrapade (Feminine Turf Horse, 1986), Ferdinand, (Older Male, Horse of the 12 months, 1987), Sunday Silence (3-year-old colt, Horse of the 12 months, 1989), Miss Alleged (Feminine Turf Horse, 1991) and Flawlessly (Feminine Turf Horse, 1992-1993).
