Stucki, Trainer of Ancient Title, Dies at 96

Keith Stucki, trainer of Racing Hall of Fame member Ancient Title, one of the greatest California-breds of all-time, died at his home in Bradbury, Calif. April 5 at the age of 96.          

 

"He lived a full 96 years, believe me," said his granddaughter, Shannon Hinkley. "He shared the same birthday as John Wayne, May 26, and he was always so proud of that. He met John Wayne on the backside here at Santa Anita many years ago."

          

Stucki, patriarch of a fun-loving racetrack family that included three daughters and two sons, was born in 1919 in Paris, Idaho. The son of a trainer, Stucki aspired to be a jockey and his first "big time" racetrack experience, according to Hinkley, came at Longacres, near Seattle.

          

Stucki then gravitated to Southern California, where he galloped the legendary Seabiscuit for trainer Tom Smith.

          

Inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 2008, Ancient Title, a dark bay or brown gelding by Gummo, was foaled in 1970. He went on to become a multiple stakes winner on turf and dirt, both sprinting and routing.

          

Undefeated at seven furlongs, Ancient Title first garnered national acclaim in 1975, when at age 5, he won the seven-furlong San Carlos Handicap (gr. II), the1 1/16-mile Californian (gr. I), the 1 1/4-mile Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I), and, in a performance that proved pivotal in eventually persuading voters of his Hall of Fame worthiness, the 1 1/8-mile Whitney Handicap (gr. II) at Saratoga Race Course.

          

Media savvy and quick with a quip, Stucki often referred to "Title," with his hands stretched out to frame his face, as "The best horse who ever looked through a bridle." 

 

A homebred for William and Ethel Kirkland, Ancient Title retired with 24 wins, including 20 stakes victories, from 57 lifetime starts and earnings of $1,252,791. 

 

Stucki opined that Ancient Title's best performance may have been a third-place effort in the 1977 Oak Tree Invitational (gr. IT), run at Santa Anita Park over 1 1/2 miles on turf. 

          

Ridden by Darrel McHargue, Ancient Title forced the issue with champion Crystal Water every step of the way and was coming back on at the wire to be beaten a neck and a nose, by Crystal Water and Vigors, with the final time of 2:26.40.

          

Preceded in death by his wife, Lillian, sons Keith Jr. and Kevin, Keith Stucki is survived by his daughters Gaylord, Golly, and Veronica (Charlie) and several grandchildren, including former World Champion Speedway motorcycle racer, Billy Hamill. Plans are for him to be buried in Idaho.