Willard L. Proctor

For other uses, see Proctor (surname).

Williard Lee Proctor (December 11, 1915 – October 30, 1998) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. A longtime trainer in California, he began his career as a jockey at bush tracks in Texas and Louisiana. After his riding days were over he turned to training, moving to California in 1955. From then through to his retirement in 1996 he conditioned 58 stakes winners.^[1]

Willard L. Proctor
Occupation	Trainer
Born	(1915-12-11)December 11, 1915 Lampasas, Texas
Died	October 30, 1998(1998-10-30) (aged 82) Arcadia, California
Resting place	Sunset Memorial Park, Gilmer, Texas
Career wins	1,109
Major racing wins
Fayette Stakes (1964) Demoiselle Stakes (1966) Round Table Handicap (1966) Royal Palm Handicap (1966) Santa Barbara Handicap (1972) Santa Paula Stakes (1972) Vanity Invitational Handicap (1972, 1973) Del Mar Derby (1973) Santa Maria Handicap (1974) Baldwin Stakes (1975) Chula Vista Handicap (1976, 1977) San Carlos Handicap (1977) San Pasqual Handicap (1977) Santa Ysabel Stakes (1978) Autumn Days Handicap (1979) Del Mar Debutante Stakes (1979) Del Mar Futurity (1979) Monrovia Handicap (1979) Norfolk Stakes (1979) Speakeasy Stakes (1979) Santa Ynez Stakes (1980) San Diego Handicap (1981) El Encino Stakes (1982,1984) La Brea Stakes (1983, 1994) Providencia Stakes (1985) Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (1985) Santa Monica Stakes (1985) Balboa Stakes (1985) Malibu Stakes (1992) Los Angeles Handicap (1993) Railbird Stakes (1993) Palos Verdes Handicap (1994) Triple Bend Invitational Handicap (1995) Lady's Secret Stakes (1996)
Honours
Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame (2003) Willard L. Proctor Memorial Stakes at Hollywood Park
Significant horses
Convenience, Gallant Romeo

A 2003 inductee in the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame,^[2] the Willard L. Proctor Memorial Stakes at Hollywood Park is named in his honor.^[3] His son Tom is a trainer.

In 1972, Convenience, trained by Willard Proctor, defeated Typecast in a $250,000 winner-take-all match race in front of 53,575 fans at Hollywood Park.^[4]

References

1. Willard Proctor's biography at the NTRA
2. Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame
3. Hollywood Park Racetrack
4. Hollywood Park "Introduction" PDF file