William “Billy” Turner, trainer of the 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, died of cancer on Friday (Dec. 31, 2021) in north Marion County at the age of 81.
The equine community in Marion County — the Horse Capital of the World — and far beyond is remembering Turner as a kind, caring and brilliant horseman who trained one of the best race horses in history.
Turner was born in Rochester, New York, in 1940 and began his career as a steeplechase jockey before becoming a trainer based in Belmont. Though he had 533 career wins with many horses at the time of his retirement in 2016, when he moved to a townhome at the Ocala Jockey Club in Reddick, he is best known for his racing feats achieved with thoroughbred Seattle Slew.