Thoroughbred trainer Noble Threewitt dies in California at the age of 99
A beloved figure of California horse racing, who made remarkable contributions to the sport in Southern California for over seven decades passed away on the 17th of September in West California. He was 99.
Most of his training work was done at Santa Anita Park. He started stabling horses at this Park from the day it was inaugurated in 1934 and continued training horses here till the age of 96. When he retired, he had 20,000 victories to his credit list. He
worked with horses for about 75 years.
Noble always enjoyed working with Correlation, who was his most fancied horse. Correlation won the Florida Derby and Wood Memorial Stakes in 1954, followed by a sixth place finish in the Kentucky Derby that year.
The American Thoroughbred trainer was born on the 24th of February 1911 in the city of Benton, Illinois. In the beginning of his career in the sport of horse racing, he rode as a jockey in a few horses in Kansas City. He was just a teenager at
that time. He started working as a professional trainer at the Agua Caliente Race Track in Mexico. Noble has the record of being the youngest licensed trainer in America during his time. The first victory was received by Noble in the year 1932.
Just in a year’s time after Noble was recognized as a professional trainer, he married the daughter of a fellow trainer William D. Buck. She was called Beryl Buck. Noble was made the guest of honour at the opening ceremony of some of the most renowned race
tracks in America including the Hollywood Park, Del Mar Race Track, Bay Meadows Race Track and Golden Gate Fields. All the aforementioned race tracks are situated in California. Others in Washington include the Emerald Downs and Longacres Race Track.
Noble only trained in California. He did however work at New York for John D. Hertz. Noble was presented training titles at Hollywood Park consecutively for three years. These years were 1959, 1960, 1961. He also won a training title at Golden Gate Field
on the basis of his hard work with the Thoroughbred training in 1970. Nine starters were won by Noble back to back at Tanforan Race Track situated in San Bruno, California.
In 2006, when Noble was 96 years old, he won the title of being the most aged trainer to win a race which took place in North America. He was awarded this title when he trained his grandson’s race horse called Threeatonce. Threeatonce won the maiden claiming
race at Santa Anita Park.
Apart from his remarkable contributions to the sport of horse racing, he has also played his role as a true altruist and helped those who are underprivileged. He also helped a number of people in the horse racing industry who were going through a bad time.
He was always very concerned about the family matters of the youngsters, since he was profoundly affected by his parents’ separation while he was young. He emphasized on the fact that children are parents’ responsibilities and they deserve their time and attention.
The California Horsemen’s Benevolent Association was established to provide the families of those who worked at the stables and their families with free medical and dental consultation and medication. Noble was the President of this Association six times.
The Santa Anita Park named its medical facility centre after Noble. It is now called the Noble Threewitt Health Centre. On the basis of Noble’s services in Thoroughbred training he was presented the Hollywood Park’s Laffit Pinacy Jr. Award. This is one of
the most prestigious awards of the horse racing industry and is only given to those people who serve in the Thoroughbred racing with determination, integrity, dedication and extraordinary talent.
Noble and his wife were the residents of Covina, California. The couple celebrated their seventy seventh wedding anniversary in 2010. His wife passed away on the 12th of July at the age of 98.
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