Charles E. Whittingham

Biography

Charles Whittingham was one of the most accomplished and respected trainers in the second half of the 20th century. Winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer in 1971, 1982, and 1989, Whittingham, a California native, led all North American trainers in earnings seven times and trained five Hall of Fame members: Ack Ack, Cougar II, Dahlia, Flawlessly, and Sunday Silence.

Whittingham’s first stakes winner was Porterhouse, Champion 2-Year-Old Colt in 1953. He went on to train 10 additional champions, as well as six of the first 50 thoroughbred millionaires: Exceller, Dahlia, Perrault, Erins Isle, Cougar, and Royal Glint.

Along with Porterhouse, Whittingham was the conditioner of champions Ack Ack (Horse of the Year, 1971), Turkish Trousers (Champion 3-Year-Old Female, 1971), Cougar II (Champion Turf Horse, 1972), Perrault (Champion Male Turf Horse, 1982), Kennedy Road (Canada’s Horse of the Year, 1983), Estrapade (Champion Female Turf Horse, 1986), Ferdinand, (Horse of the Year, 1987), Sunday Silence (Horse of the Year, 1989), Miss Alleged (Champion Female Turf Horse, 1991), and Flawlessly (Champion Female Turf Horse, 1992 and 1993).

At age 76, Whittingham became the oldest trainer to win the Kentucky Derby when he sent out Ferdinand to win the Run for the Roses in 1986. Three years later, he won a second Derby with Horse of the Year Sunday Silence.

During his 49 years as a head trainer, Whittingham won 2,534 wins with purse earings of $109,215,527.

Along with his two scores in the Kentucky Derby, Whittingham also won the Preakness Stakes, Breeders’ Cup Classic (twice), Santa Anita Derby (nine times), Hollywood Gold Cup (eight times), Arlington Million (three times), and Santa Anita Derby (twice). He also won the San Juan Capistrano Handicap 14 times, the San Bernardino Handicap 12 times, both the Californian Stakes and Sunset Handicap 11 times, and the Beverly Hills Handicap 10 times.

Whittingham set records for career wins at both Hollywood Park (859, including a record 222 stakes) and Santa Anita (869, including a record 204 stakes).

Achievements

Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer — 1971, 1982, 1989

North America’s leading trainer in earnings — 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1981, 1982

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the 1986 Kentucky Derby — Ferdinand
Won the 1989 Kentucky Derby — Sunday Silence
Won the 1989 Preakness Stakes — Sunday Silence

Breeders' Cup Highlights

Won the 1987 Breeders' Cup Classic — Ferdinand
Won the 1989 Breeders' Cup Classic — Sunday Silence

Other Highlights

Won the San Juan Capistrano Handicap — 1957, 1959, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989
Won the Californian Stakes — 1956, 1957, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1990
Won the Sunset Handicap — 1973, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1992
Won the Beverly Hills Handicap — 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993
Won the Santa Anita Handicap — 1957, 1967, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1993
Won the Hollywood Gold Cup — 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1985, 1987