William Robinson (1946-2020) was a Canadian harness racing trainer, who won multiple Trainer of the Year awards. [1]
Robinson did not come from a horse racing background. He got involved with racing after a group of friends from a local factory pitched in to claim a $1,500 horse. [2] He later quit working at the factory to pursue horse training full-time. [2] [1] He ranked as one of the top conditioners in the Ontario Jockey Club in the 1980s and his success continued into the 1990s. [1]
He faced scrutiny in 1991 for not wanting to bring his horses to the track until race day, with some suggesting it was due to unethical practices. [3] One of his horses was suspended before 1992 for a positive Robaxin test. [4] Accusations and suspicions arose about his success in 1993 and 1994 [2] after the top five money winners were horses he had trained. [2] He was investigated in 1993 and his partnership with the banned Carl Conte further fueled the suspicions. [5] In 1993, his stable was the first in history to earn over $10 million in a single season. [6]
In 2002, he earned more than $11 million in earnings and in 2003, his stable earned over $10.8 million. He was banned in November 2003 after an unusual drug test result on his horse, Flight Plan. [7] He returned in 2013 but returned in 2015 when he was caught for two positive drug tests. [7] He claimed innocence in both situations. [7]
Robinson died on December 11, 2020, at the age of 74. [8]
As a trainer, he earned over $54.8 million. [1] He won 2,738 races in 8,998 starts. [1] He trained over 15 horses who had won over a million dollars each and trained three horses who had collected more than $2 million in a single year. [1] He was also one of five trainers who earned more than $10 million at the Meadowlands Racetrack. [9]
He trained multiple Hall of Fame horses including, Mach Three and Precious Bunny. [1] He also trained O'Brien Award winners Riyadh, Presidential Ball, Art Major, Cams Card Shark, Dragon Again, and Nickie Bag. [1] He later trained Western Dreamer, who was only one of ten triple crown winners. [1]
Robinson was a four-time O'Brien Trainer of the Year Award winner in 1993, [10] 1994, 2002, and 2003 [1] and won the USHWA Trainer of the Year Award in 1993. [1] Robinson's Precious Bunny and Cams Card Shark also won O'Brien Awards for Horse of the Year. [1]
Robinson trained horses at his farm in a more relaxed atmosphere. He gave them light exercise regimens' and focused on proper shoeing. He became known for turning failed horses into champions. [2]
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