Horse racing veteran Noble Threewitt dies at 99
One of the oldest names of horse racings’ and a great man, Noble Threewitt died in California at the age of 99. Born in 1911 in Benton, Illinois, Threewitts grandson confirmed his death on the 18th though he had died 2 days ago on the 16th
of September 2010.
Threewitt wasn’t just a horse trainer. He made great contributions of humanitarian causes throughout his life. He was also a historian and a valued treasure for the community. He was an inspiration to many in the horse racing world and to everyone else who
knew him. His career as a trainer spanned over an unfathomable 75 years until 2007, when he turned 96 years old. He retired on the 24th February of that year, on his birthday.
Threewitt had trained more than 2,000 winning horses since acquiring his trainer’s license in 1931 at the age of 21. At the time, it is thought that he was the youngest licensed trainer in the U.S. In the very next year in 1932, he sent out his first winning
horse named Crackerjack. His final winning horse was in 2006. Threewitt trained ‘Threeatonce’ in 2006 who won his maiden race in Santa Anita on 22nd April. That was the last race win for Threewitt. On that day, he became the oldest trainer in North
America to win a race. In the final year of his career, he won no races. Threewitt joked that the reason he didn’t have good horses to run was because he had outlived most of his ‘good owners.’
Threewitt had seen it all in his extraordinary career and life. Not just horse racing legends rise and fall but even the birth of modern day horse racing icons. He was present at the openings of Santa Anita Park, Hollywood Park and Del Mar racetrack.
The trainer took great pride in his work and was dedicated to it until the day of his retirement. For 75 years Threewitt would arrive at 4 a.m. at his barns and start work. He left a deep impact on the horse racing world. He was an advocate of stable workers
rights since his early days as a trainer, and he has held top positions in many major horse racing organizations. Threewitt served as president of California Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Associations for 16 years. He was also president of the California
Thoroughbred Horsemen’s foundation.
For his numerous contributions to society and in honour of his success on the racetracks, the city of Arcadia would mark down 16th of September as the ‘Noble Threewitt Day.”
His friends and peers have nothing but great things to say about him. “He was a great man and did so much for racing,” trainer Henry Moreno said. “They don't make them like him anymore.” Fellow trainer and over 80 years old himself, Mel Stute said that in
his opinion Threewitt was a horse racing legend. Horse training retiree and a friend of Threewitt, Leonard Dorfman said that Threewitt was the ‘classiest guy’ he had ever met.
Stute had worked with Threewitt for 5 years and says that those were the happiest times in his career. “He had a good feeling about a horse. He could look at a horse and give a good opinion.” That insight served him well over the years, earning him many
wins and bringing him success as a trainer. One of his most memorable horses was ‘King of Cricket.’ The Horse held four track records during the 70s. At one time in his career, Threewitt won 9 straight races and training titles at Hollywood park, for 3 consecutive
years.
Threewitt had been married to Beryl for 77 years. She died earlier this year at the age of 98. Threewitt was living in an assisted living facility at the time of his death. He is survived by three grand children and 7 great grand children.
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