Brinson dies at 101

Ross Brinson, who trained 1947 Hollywood Gold Cup winner Cover Up, died

Thursday morning at the age of 101.

His son Gary, the starter at Hollywood Park for the last 29 years, said his

father passed away in his sleep at 5 a.m. (PDT).

"He was proud of winning the Gold Cup in track record time, but even more so

of winning the Sunset Handicap with the same horse just five days later," Gary

said.

Ross also trained the popular Billy Ball, named for cantankerous baseball

manager Billy Martin, and a winner of his first four starts by a combined 22

lengths in 1983. Other stakes winners he conditioned included Savaii, heroine of

the 1962 Del Mar Oaks, and Prince Don B., who earned more than $400,000 while

competing in the mid-1980's.

He retired with 352 victories from 2,687 starters. His horses earned more

than $3.14 million. He saddled his last starter as a trainer Sept. 11, 1999 at

Fairplex Park.

Ross' other son, Clay, trains a string of 50 Thoroughbreds at Canterbury Park

in Minnesota. He is also survived by three grandchildren and three great

grandchildren.

"He never lost interest in the track," Gary said. "He wanted to go to

(Hollywood Park) just last week."

A native of Dardanelle, Arkansas, Ross Brinson was raised in Arizona and rode

Quarter Horses in match races as young man. He began his training career in

1932.

Services are pending.

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