| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Occupation | Racehorse trainer |
| Horse racing career | |
| Sport | Horse racing |
| Major racing wins | |
| Jersey Derby (1866, 1873, 1875) Travers Stakes (1866, 1873) Jerome Handicap (1873, 1875) July Stakes (1874) Withers Stakes (1875) American Classics wins: | |
| Honors | |
| National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame (1998) | |
| Significant horses | |
| Aristides,Calvin, Merrill,Tom Bowling,Virgil | |
| Updated on 2019-10-08 | |
Ansel Williamson (c. 1806–1881) was an Americanthoroughbred horse racingtrainer and a member of theNational Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. He trained horses who won theKentucky Derby,Travers Stakes,Belmont Stakes,Jerome Handicap,Phoenix Stakes andWithers Stakes.[1]
Williamson was born aslave inVirginia in about 1806.[2] His early horse racing experience came for owner Thornton Boykin Goldsby, where he notably trained champion horse Brown Dick to victories in top races in Atlanta, Mobile, New Orleans and Charleston.[3] In 1864 he was purchased byRobert A. Alexander, owner of the famousWoodburn Stud nearMidway, Kentucky. Taught the breeding and training of horses, after he was freed Williamson remained in Alexander's employ. He conditioned a number of successful horses including the undefeated U.S. champion three-year-old male,Norfolk and the undefeatedAsteroid.
Williamson was the trainer for Merrill, ridden byAbe Hawkins when he won the thirdTravers Stakes in 1866. Williamson won that prestigious race again in 1873 withTom Bowling who would win 14 of his 17 career races.
Following Robert Alexander's death in 1867, Williamson went on to train many great horses includingVirgil who was the sire of the greatHindoo. However, he is best remembered for having trainedAristides, the winner of the inauguralKentucky Derby in 1875. That same year, his horseCalvin won theBelmont Stakes. In addition, Williamson trained horses who won other major races such as theJerome Handicap and theWithers Stakes.
In 1998 Ansel Williamson was inducted posthumously into theNational Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.[4]
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