Veteran Northern California horse trainer William Morey dies

ALBANY, Calif. (AP) William J. Morey Jr., a thoroughbred trainer who won over 1,300 races mostly on the Northern California circuit during his 45-year career, died Friday. He was 74.

He died at a rehabilitation facility in Los Altos after a long struggle with cancer, according to officials at Golden Gate Fields racetrack.

Morey first attended the races at Bay Meadows with his father. As a teenager, he got a job cooling out thoroughbreds at the now-defunct track in San Mateo.

He took out his trainer's license in 1970 and won his first race that year at Pleasanton with Crimson Flag. Morey won 1,347 races in his career, and had purse earnings of $22,415,416, according to Equibase.

His horses won 67 stakes races, including eight graded events. Two of his horses topped $1 million in earnings: Dixie Dot Com and Bold Chieftain.

Morey was named to the California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Hall of Fame last year. He was born in San Francisco and grew up in San Carlos.

He is survived by his wife of more than 50 years, Doris; son William E. Morey, a leading trainer in Northern California; daughter Kelley Green; and two grandchildren.

Services were pending.