William P. Burch
Encyclopedia
William Preston Burch was an American Thoroughbred horse racing
Hall of Fame
trainer
. A native of South Carolina, William Burch served as a courier in the Confederate States Army
under Lieut. Gen. Wade Hampton III
during the American Civil War
. At war's end he became involved in the racing of American Quarter Horse
s at various fair
grounds in the Southern United States
. In 1866 he embarked on a career as a professional trainer
in Thoroughbred
horse racing
which led him to work at racetracks along the northeastern seaboard where for many years he owned, trained and raced horses for himself. Among those were Biggonet, who won important races at New York
tracks including the 1885 Spinaway Stakes
at Saratoga Race Course
and the 1886 Withers Stakes
at Jerome Park Racetrack
. Beginning in the early 1890s Burch conditioned horses for owners such as Francis Hitchcock Samuel Ross, and Admiral Cary Grayson
. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NEEuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jtgFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3907,4464294&dq=william-burch+admiral+grayson&hl=en
While preparing horses for owners Cary Grayson and Samuel Ross at Saratoga Springs, New York
in July 1926, eighty-year-old William Burch fell ill and was admitted to a private hospital where he died on July 9.
Following its formation, in 1955 William P. Burch was inducted in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Sons Selby http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00E14F7395B147B93CBAB178CD85F458485F9 and Preston
http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40A11FB3F5513728DDDAC0894DC405B888BF1D both became trainers as did grandson Elliott Burch
and great-grandson, William E. Burch. Preston and his son Elliott were both inducted in the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame. In addition to members of his own family, William Burch was responsible for bringing future Hall of Fame inductees George Odom
and Jack Joyner
into Thoroughbred racing.
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
. A native of South Carolina, William Burch served as a courier in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
under Lieut. Gen. Wade Hampton III
Wade Hampton III
Wade Hampton III was a Confederate cavalry leader during the American Civil War and afterward a politician from South Carolina, serving as its 77th Governor and as a U.S...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. At war's end he became involved in the racing of American Quarter Horse
American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name came from its ability to outdistance other breeds of horses in races of a quarter mile or less; some individuals have been clocked at speeds up to 55 mph...
s at various fair
Fair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
grounds in the Southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
. In 1866 he embarked on a career as a professional trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
in Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
which led him to work at racetracks along the northeastern seaboard where for many years he owned, trained and raced horses for himself. Among those were Biggonet, who won important races at New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
tracks including the 1885 Spinaway Stakes
Spinaway Stakes
The Spinaway Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Open to two-year-old fillies, it is a Grade I event contested at a distance of seven furlongs on dirt...
at Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...
and the 1886 Withers Stakes
Withers Stakes
The Withers Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds willing to compete one mile on the dirt. Held at Aqueduct Racetrack every year at the end of April , it is a Grade III event, and offers a purse of $150,000...
at Jerome Park Racetrack
Jerome Park Racetrack
Jerome Park Racetrack was an American thoroughbred horse racing facility.-History:It opened in 1866 in the northwest part of Fordham, Westchester County , New York....
. Beginning in the early 1890s Burch conditioned horses for owners such as Francis Hitchcock Samuel Ross, and Admiral Cary Grayson
Cary Travers Grayson
Admiral Cary Travers Grayson was a surgeon in the United States Navy who served a variety of roles from personal aide to President Woodrow Wilson to chairman of the American Red Cross.-Career:Grayson was born to Dr...
. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NEEuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jtgFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3907,4464294&dq=william-burch+admiral+grayson&hl=en
While preparing horses for owners Cary Grayson and Samuel Ross at Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ...
in July 1926, eighty-year-old William Burch fell ill and was admitted to a private hospital where he died on July 9.
Following its formation, in 1955 William P. Burch was inducted in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Sons Selby http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00E14F7395B147B93CBAB178CD85F458485F9 and Preston
Preston M. Burch
Preston Morris Burch was an American Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse trainer, breeder, and owner. -Biography:...
http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40A11FB3F5513728DDDAC0894DC405B888BF1D both became trainers as did grandson Elliott Burch
J. Elliott Burch
John Elliott Burch was an American National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. Four of his horses were inducted in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.-Biography:...
and great-grandson, William E. Burch. Preston and his son Elliott were both inducted in the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame. In addition to members of his own family, William Burch was responsible for bringing future Hall of Fame inductees George Odom
George M. Odom
George Martin Odom was an American National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame jockey and trainer in Thoroughbred horse racing. He is only one of two people to ever have won the Belmont Stakes as both a jockey and a trainer....
and Jack Joyner
A. Jack Joyner
Andrew Jackson "Jack" Joyner was an American Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame trainer and owner.Known as "Jack" and reported as "A.J." and "A. Jack," Joyner was born in Enfield, North Carolina, the son of Dr. and Mrs. Henry Joyner...
into Thoroughbred racing.