William I. Mott
Bill Mott’s career began in his home state of South Dakota, where he owned and trained horses with other members of his family. One of Mott's earliest victories came at age 16, when his horse, Kosmic Tour, won the South Dakota Futurity at Park Jefferson.
1998
July 29, 1953, Mobridge, South Dakota
1973-
5,377
$340,481,741
Racing Record
19.32
Win %
Biography
Bill Mott’s career began in his home state of South Dakota, where he owned and trained horses with other members of his family. One of Mott's earliest victories came at age 16, when his horse, Kosmic Tour, won the South Dakota Futurity at Park Jefferson.
By the early 1970s, Mott was working with Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg while also holding his own head trainer’s license. In 1978, Mott opened his own public stable.
A four-time Eclipse Award winner — 1995, 1996, 2011, 2023 — Mott trained Hall of Fame member Cigar through a streak of 16 consecutive victories, including the inaugural Dubai World Cup in 1996. Cigar won a total of 15 stakes and was voted Horse of the Year in 1995 and 1996. He was retired with record earnings of $9,999,815. Mott also trained Hall of Fame member Royal Delta, winner of three Eclipse Awards. Other champions trained by Mott include Ajina, Channel Maker, Cody's Wish, Elite Power, Escena, Paradise Creek, and Theatrical.
In 2010, Mott won his first Triple Crown race when Drosselmeyer won the Belmont Stakes. In 2019, he won the Kentucky Derby with Country House. Mott has won 15 Breeders’ Cup races, including five editions of the Distaff, and the Classic twice.
Mott has won 10 training titles at Belmont and nine each at Saratoga, Churchill Downs, and Gulfstream.
Through 2023, Mott has won 5,377 races (No. 8 all time) with purse earnings of $340,481,741 (No. 4 all time).
Achievements
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer — 1995, 1996, 2011, 2023
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 2019 Kentucky Derby — Country House
Won the 2010 Belmont Stakes — Drosselmeyer
Breeders' Cup Highlights
Won the 1987 Turf — Theatrical
Won the 1992 Turf — Fraise
Won the 1995 Classic — Cigar
Won the 1997 Distaff — Ajina
Won the 1998 Distaff — Escena
Won the 2010 Ladies' Classic — Unrivaled Belle
Woon the 2011 Ladies' Classic — Royal Delta
Won the 2011 Classic — Drosselmeyer
Won the 2012 ladies' Classic — Royal Delta
Won the 2016 Mile — Tourist
Won the 2022 Dirt Mile — Cody's Wish
Won the 2022 Sprint — Elite Power
Won the 2023 Juvenile Fillies — Just F Y I
Won the 2023 Dirt Mile — Cody's Wish
Won the 2023 Sprint — Elite Power
Trainer Profile | William I. Mott | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information
Media
![Bill Mott at Gulfstream Park, February 1996 (Barbara D. Livingston) Bill Mott at Gulfstream Park, February 1996 (Barbara D. Livingston)](https://racingmuseum.org/sites/default/files/hall-of-fame/trainers/Trainer-Mott_1998.6.4_Livingston.jpg)
![Bill Mott at Saratoga Race Course, August 2018 (Brien Bouyea) Bill Mott at Saratoga Race Course, August 2018 (Brien Bouyea)](https://racingmuseum.org/sites/default/files/hall-of-fame/trainers/Trainer-Mott_Bouyea.jpg)
![Bill Mott at Saratoga Race Course, 2018 (Brien Bouyea) Bill Mott (Brien Bouyea)](https://racingmuseum.org/sites/default/files/hall-of-fame/trainers/Bill%20Mott%20%28Brien%20Bouyea%20photo%29.jpg)
![Bill Mott, after his 1998 Hall of Fame induction (Museum Collection) Bill Mott, after his 1998 Hall of Fame induction (Museum Collection)](https://racingmuseum.org/sites/default/files/hall-of-fame/trainers/Trainer%20Bill%20Mott%20after%201998%20induction%20ceremony.jpg)
![Bill Mott and Mike Smith in the paddock at Belmont Park, May 1994 (Barbara Ann Giove Coletta/Museum Collection) Trainer Bill Mott and jockey Mike Smith in the paddock at Belmont Park, May 1994 (Barbara Ann Giove Coletta/Museum Collection)](https://racingmuseum.org/sites/default/files/hall-of-fame/trainers/1998.6.27BMott%20and%20MSmith-94-BLivingston.jpg)
![Bill Mott and Cigar at Payson Park, February 1996 (Barbara D. Livingston) Bill Mott and Cigar at Payson Park, February 1996 (Barbara D. Livingston)](https://racingmuseum.org/sites/default/files/hall-of-fame/trainers/1998.6.6BillMott-Livingston.jpg)
![Bill Mott at Saratoga Race Course, 2018 (Brien Bouyea) Bill Mott (Brien Bouyea)](https://racingmuseum.org/sites/default/files/hall-of-fame/trainers/Bill%20Mott%20%28Brien%20Bouyea%20photo%29_0.jpg)
![Bill Mott at Belmont Park, October 1995 (Barbara D. Livingston) Bill Mott at Belmont Park, October 1995 (Barbara D. Livingston/Museum Collection)](https://racingmuseum.org/sites/default/files/hall-of-fame/trainers/Trainer-Mott_1998.6.5_Livingston.jpg)