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Billy Turner, the trainer of the 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, passed away peacefully in cancer hospice care at his home in Reddick, Florida, according to a press release from Pavla Nygaard at the Ocala Jockey Club. He was 81 years old.
Turner was born February 29, 1940, in Rochester New York, and grew up riding and fox hunting in Pennsylvania’s horse country. He began his career as a steeplechase jockey as a teenager under trainer Burley Cocks. He rode for five years, until 1963, when his 6’2″ height made it difficult to continue. He worked as an assistant trainer until 1966.
At the age of 26, he went out on his own and was based for most of his career at Belmont Park. Given Seattle Slew as a two-year-old in 1976, he trained the colt to an Eclipse Award as an undefeated two-year-told, and went on to win the Triple Crown and Horse of the Year with him in 1977. The three-year-old was taken away from him in his three-year-old year.
A resident of Marion County, Florida since his retirement from training in 2016, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer almost two years ago which had metastasized. He was admitted to the hospital on Friday, December 17, after suffering significant shortness of breath. He had chosen not to receive further treatment for his cancer. He was transferred to hospice care on Tuesday. His wife Pat was next to him when he passed
“Billy Turner passed away this afternoon peacefully at home,” said Pat Turner. “I want to take a moment to thank every person who contributed to his physical care and lifting him up in your thoughts and prayers. I was able to read him all the messages sharing your kindness and admiration of him. It meant a great deal to me to be able to let him know how loved he was in his last moments.”
A memorial and celebration of life service will be held at a later date.