Threewitt, dean of California trainers, dies at age 99

Turning his attention to training, Threewitt got his license at old Agua

Caliente Racetrack at the tender age of 21 in 1932, and he was reputed to be the

youngest-licensed trainer in North America at that time. That same year, he sent

out his first winner, and witnessed the Australian superstar *Phar Lap capture

the Agua Caliente H.

In 1933, Threewitt married Beryl Buck, the daughter of horseman William D.

Buck. Their union endured 77 years, ending only with Beryl's death this past

July.

Threewitt attended the opening of the five major tracks in California -- Bay

Meadows on November 3, 1934; Santa Anita on Christmas Day, 1934; Del Mar on July

3, 1937; Hollywood Park on June 10, 1938; and Golden Gate Fields on February 1,

1941 -- and also the opening of Longacres and Emerald Downs in Washington. 

"I was racing at Tanforan for purses of $400," Threewitt once said. "Purses

at Santa Anita were $800, so it was an easy decision for me to come there."

Threewitt won the training title at Hollywood Park for three straight years

(1959-61) and also topped the standings at Golden Gate Fields in 1970.

Threewitt's best runner was Correlation, hero of the 1954 Florida Derby and

Wood Memorial S. Sent off as the 3-1 favorite in the Kentucky Derby, Correlation

was bumped at the start, raced near the tail of the 17-horse field, but finished

well for sixth.

Other notable Threewitt trainees included King of Cricket, Cuzwuzwrong,

Debonaire Junior, Honeys Gem, Devoted Brass, Cerise Reine, Perizade, Speedy

Edie, Mountain Glory, Try Sheep, Hula Blaze, Sea Eagle, Hairless Heiress, Old

Topper and Theresa's Tizzy.

Once the youngest trainer on the continent, Threewitt also holds the

distinction of being the oldest conditioner to send out a winner in America. His

Threeatonce, owned by his aforementioned grandson Chinnici, broke his maiden on

April 22, 2006 at Santa Anita. Threeatonce was named for his grandson's

triplets.

Threewitt retired on his 96th birthday. The city of Arcadia, home to Santa

Anita where Threewitt was a fixture at Barn 14, declared February 24, 2007, to

be "Noble Threewitt Day."

Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in

Threewitt's name to the

California Thoroughbred Horsemen's Foundation, P.O. Box 660129, Arcadia,

California, 91066-0129.