Sidney Watters, Jr.

Biography

Born in Baltimore in 1917, Sidney Watters, Jr. served in the military during World War II after a successful career as a steeplechase jockey. Following the war, Watters became an accomplished steeplechase trainer. In 1948, he won 21 jump races to lead the standings for the first of six times. He again topped the standings in wins in 1951, 1956, 1961, 1963, and 1971 and led all steeplechase trainers in earnings in 1956, 1963, and 1971.

From 1948 through 1973, Watters won 448 steeplechase races with purse earnings of $1.5 million. He trained steeplechase champions Amber Diver and Shadow Brook. Amber Diver won the Temple Gwathmey, Brook, Langley Memorial, Tom Roby Memorial, Indian River, and Georgetown as champion in 1963. Shadow Brook swept the Lovely Night, American Grand National, Brook, and Temple Gwathmey in successive starts as champion in 1971.

By the 1970s, Watters was also establishing himself as a serious trainer on the flat. He campaigned Hoist the Flag, champion juvenile male of 1970. Watters later won the Wood Memorial and Jockey Club Gold Cup with Hall of Fame member Slew o’ Gold, the 1983 Eclipse Award winner for Champion 3-Year-Old Male. His flat horses also included Slewpy, Love Sign, and Quick Call, and his victories included the Alabama, Matron, Meadowlands Cup, and Beldame.

Watters retired in 1999 and earned his Hall of Fame honor as a steeplechase trainer.

Achievements

North America’s leading steeplechase trainer in wins — 1948, 1951, 1956, 1961, 1963, 1971
North America’s leading steeplechase trainer in earnings — 1956, 1963, 1971