Stalwart Monmouth Trainer J. Willard Thompson Dies

Trainer J. Willard Thompson, a Monmouth Park mainstay for more than 50 years, passed away the night of Nov. 3 after a lengthy illness. He was 83.

Born in Atlanta, in 1935, Thompson got his start in racing as a steeplechase rider before switching to training in the early 1960s. He dominated the New Jersey racing scene in the 1970s winning three consecutive training titles at Monmouth from 1975-1977 and two at the Meadowlands.

After a more than 20-year hiatus, Thompson again captured the 2001 Monmouth title and saw record earnings that year of nearly $1.6 million for his runners, many of whom raced in the colors of Thompson's Quiet Winter Farm. Some of his most recent stakes winners included Jenny Bean Girl in the 2007 Jersey Girl Handicap and Pinot Grigio, who took the 2014 Open Mind Handicap.

He won the 1985 Monmouth Oaks (G1) with Golden Horde. Other graded stakes winners for Thompson include Dazzle Me Jolie in the 1991 Rare Perfume Stakes (G2), Roanoke in the 1989 Young America Stakes (G2), and Lucy Manette in the 1985 Bonnie Miss Stakes (G3).

In 1996 Thompson was honored with Monmouth Park's inaugural Virgil "Buddy" Raines Distinguished Achievement Award, which recognizes those who have demonstrated a continuing commitment to the sport of Thoroughbred racing and whose conduct has been exemplary for professionalism, integrity, and service to the sport. 

"It's very hard to imagine Monmouth Park, and racing, without Willard," said John Heims, Monmouth's racing secretary. "I've had the privilege of calling Willard my friend for nearly 20 years. We had spent countless hours in his office, the clocker's stand, frontside, and my office talking horses, politics and everything in between. With Willard, the generation gap just slipped away as age made no difference. He was kind and generous to everyone in this sport and his passing is a tremendous loss for our industry."

From 17,863 starters, Thompson won 2,137 races, good for earnings of $30.5 million. With his longtime assistant, Sergio "Victor" Rabadan, Thompson's most recent starter as a trainer was Snowday Oct. 26 at Laurel Park and the most recent starter for his Quiet Winter Farm was Arnold Ziffle, who finished third at Laurel just a few hours before Thompson's passing.

Thompson was predeceased by his wife Carol, an accomplished equestrian, in 2013. He is survived by his sons Glenn and Stewart, his daughter Julia and nine grandchildren: Julia, Parker, McKenzie, Wyatt, Mizuki, Taylor, Landon, Shelby, and Bradyn.

A celebration of his life will be held next spring to coincide with the opening of Monmouth Park's 2019 racing season.