William Molter
Texas native William Molter was a jockey for 10 years, riding at Juarez in Mexico and Western Canada. He was the leading rider at Tanforan twice and rode five winners in one day in Canada before becoming a trainer at the age of 25.
1960
June 2, 1910, Fredericksburg, Texas
April 2, 1960, Monrovia, California
1935-1960
2,158
$11,983,635
Biography
Texas native William Molter was a jockey for 10 years, riding at Juarez in Mexico and Western Canada. He was the leading rider at Tanforan twice and rode five winners in one day in Canada before becoming a trainer at the age of 25.
During the next decade, Molter became a popular and efficient trainer in California, winning many races with ordinary horses. He saddled his first stakes winner in 1945.
Molter led the nation’s trainers in races won each year from 1946 through 1949. He broke a 24-year-old record by saddling 155 winners in 1947, then exceeded that mark in 1948 with 184 winners. The first good horse he developed was On Trust, and his first champion was Shannon II, imported from Australia and voted best handicapper in North America as a 7-year-old in 1948.
Molter went on to lead all trainers in earnings in 1954, 1956, 1958, and 1959. In 1954, he saddled Kentucky Derby winner Determine, as well as Imbros, and Decorated. In 1956, he sent out nine stakes winners, including Bobby Brocato.
In 1958, Hall of Famer Round Table came into Molter’s barn and the three-time grass champion was voted Horse of the Year and retired as the world’s greatest money earner. Round Table won of 43 of his 66 starts, including 27 stakes wins. Molter won 16 stakes with Determine, 12 with Imbros, 11 with On Trust, and 10 with Bobby Brocato.
Molter suffered a heart attack in 1960 and died at the age of 50, the day T. V. Lark won at Bay Meadows to become the 51st stakes winner for Molter, who won 2,158 races overall.
Achievements
North America'sleading trainer in wins— 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949
North America's leading trainer in earnings — 1954, 1956, 1958, 1969
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1954 Kentucky Derby — Determine
Other Highlights
Won the San Felipe Stakes — 1953, 1954, 1957
Won the San Gabriel Handicap — 1953, 1954, 1958
Won the malibu Stakes — 1954, 1955, 1957
Won the Santa Anita Derby — 1947, 1954
Won the Hollywood Derby — 1948, 1949
Won the Hollywood Gold Cup — 1948, 1957
Won the Santa Anita Handicap — 1956, 1958
Won the Hawthorne Gold Cup — 1957, 1958
Won the Arlington Handicap — 1958, 1959
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