William Wellwood

William Wellwood was born in Chatham, Ontario, moving to Waterloo Region in 1991. After working for 11 years as a groom and assistant trainer for his uncle, Harold Wellwood Sr., he started his own public stable in 1966. With his family, he formed Wellwood Stables Inc. in 1976.

For more than 40 years, Wellwood forged a reputation as one of the most astute horsemen, not just in Canada, but on a global scale. He had the distinct ability to select and develop horses into becoming high calibre winners.

Wellwood was named Ontario Jockey Club Horseman of the Year four times – in 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1974, Canadian Horseman of the Year in 1972 and 1974, and he received the O’Brien Award for Trainer of the Year in 1995 and 1997.

Wellwood was a superior trainer and driver who won many races. During his career, he trained 1,014 winners with purses totalling $18 million and drove 2,891 winners with horses that earned $15.7 million.

Wellwood also gave back to the racing community, serving for 25 years as an executive member of the Ontario Harness Horse Association while also serving as an executive member of the Canadian Trotting Association. In those roles Wellwood helped to develop and implement policies integral to harness racing in Canada and he is considered an icon in North American harness racing.

Wellwood is recognized as a member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, the Cambridge Sports Hall of Fame and the United States Trotting Hall of Fame.

Photograph courtesy of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.