CTBA Member PROFILE DR. WILLIAM T. AND JILL GRAY

BY EMILY SHIELDS winner Indian Peak. his veterinary out’ t was Gray grew up in the New booming. He had a large ani- r. William T. Gray Mexico horse racing busi- mal practice in Cottonwood, THE GRAYS is a self-proclaimed ness. His father, Wesley, was Calif., where he did a lot of D “realist,” saying, a trainer of both Quarter equine and cattle veterinary CLIMB THE “I’ve never aspired to win Horses and ƒ oroughbreds. work. the Kentucky Derby. I just At 85, the elder Gray is still “It didn’t take me very long PEAK OF want some $25,000 to involved with raising foals to realize that everyone who $50,000 claiming horses that but no longer trains. has a horse has a dog,” Gray SUCCESS will pay the bills, and some William remembers said, “and if they had cows, hard-knocking mares who partnering with his father on they could have 10 dogs. So WITH win 10 races so that we can some yearlings in the early I started doing small animal CAL-BREDS breed those and get more of 1980s and racing horses until practice as well.” them.” he went to vet school. At the height of his busi- ƒ e strategy has worked “I sold them all so I could ness, Gray had a large animal beyond expectations. Despite go to school,” he said. “I practice and a small animal their modest intentions, Dr. didn’t start my own breed- practice with seven veterinari- Gray and his wife, Jill, have ing program until 1998 or ans working for him. In 2015 been responsible for hors- 1999.” he sold the practices and es such as Tornado Betty, While Gray was just semi-retired, but still does Weewinnin, and 2020 stakes restarting his racing business, farm calls. ƒ e Grays have 150 acres of their own in Cottonwood, branded Gray Farms on the sign out front. ƒ ey have a herd of cattle, 15 brood- mares, and a pair of stallions: Southern Image and Far From Over. Southern Image was a California-based star. ƒ e son of ’s Image—Pleasant Dixie, by , ran just eight times with six wins, a second, and a third. He earned $1,843,750, with signature victories in the 2003 Malibu Stakes (G1), 2004 (G1), and 2004 Handicap (G1). Mike Machowsky trained the leggy dark bay, who was quick enough to bring $300,000 as a juvenile at the 2002 Ocala Breeders’ Sales’ March 2-year-olds auction. ƒ e stallion’s runners include multiple graded stakes win- ner Calibrachoa and multi-

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DR. WILLIAM T. AND JILL GRAY PHOTOS COURTESY OF DR. WILLIAM T. ple stakes winner Winning Dr. William T. Gray and wife, Jill, center their breeding operation Image. at their 150-acre farm in Cottonwood, California ƒ e Grays are excited

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BLACK YELLOWMAGENTACYAN CTBA8-30.pgs 07.23.2020 14:45 California Thoroughbred about their newest acquisition, Far Stakes as a 5-year-old. He was a From Over. e son of Blame— stakes winner at Santa Anita, Del Alchemist, by A.P. Indy, was a Mar, and Betfair Hollywood Park, three-time winner in six starts, earning $397,430. including the 2015 Withers Stakes Handfull, an earner of (G3) at Aqueduct. He was a can- $341,400, won the California didate for that year’s Triple Crown Governor’s Cup Handicap at the trail before injury knocked him to Sacramento fair in 2015 and took the sidelines. the March Madness Starter Hand- “I was looking at stallions at icap at Santa Anita twice. Multiple WinStar Farm in Kentucky,” Gray stakes-placed Ÿlly Light One was said, “and I stumbled upon this third in the 2015 Xpressbet Cali- horse boarding there on layup. e fornia Cup Oaks in just her third owners had put a price on him, and lifetime start. I said I would take him. I went the More recently Comic Strip is the next day to pick him up, but they’d (Jill) does all the work. sire of the Grays’ 2020 star, Indian changed their minds. So I came I wouldn’t have (the horses) if it Peak. e 3-year-old homebred home empty-handed.” out of the Roar mare Ms. Booty A week later Gray was asked if he wasn’t for her. She likes going is in training with Quinn Howey was still interested. to the races, but she really likes and won the $151,000 Snow Chief “I said I’d already bought him just taking care of the farm and Stakes June 20 at Santa Anita. e once!” Gray laughed. dark bay colt has won four of his “I’m kind of excited about him,” the babies.” 10 starts. Gray admitted. “I’ve been in this — Dr. William T. Gray Gray credits his wife for their long enough that I know getting a success. stallion proven is the hardest thing “Jill has been my wife for 40 there is. It’s easier to get a graded years,” he said. “She does all the stakes horse to win. But his babies work. I wouldn’t have them if it sure look good.” wasn’t for her. She likes going to the e Grays have previous stallion races, but she really likes just taking experience; they were involved with care of the farm and the babies.” Comic Strip. e $965,474-earning Having the farm also helps. “It’s son of Red Ransom has sired some real handy for us,” Gray said. “If of the Grays’ best horses, includ- the 2-year-olds have any problems, ing stakes winners Tornado Betty, we can bring them home and give Weewinnin, and Handfull, as well them three months. A lot of people as stakes-placed Light One. don’t have the luxury of having a Tornado Betty was claimed away farm they can use.” from the Grays in her fourth start, Outside of their own breeding then went on to win the Arizona operation, the biggest thrill that the Juvenile Fillies and the Arizona Grays have had was with Collect Oaks at Turf Paradise, as well as the Call. e couple owned a part of GoldŸnch Stakes at Prairie Mead- the Kentucky-bred daughter of ows. She earned $230,015 with six Meadowlake when she ran third in wins, 10 seconds, and six thirds in the 2001 Kentucky Oaks (G1). 33 starts. “Our neighbors and friends Rod Weewinnin won four of 12 starts and Lorraine Rodriguez let us share and was a three-time stakes winner, in the mare’s campaign,” Gray re- taking the $200,000 King Glorious called. “It was a great experience.” Stakes as a juvenile, the $251,500 Between their stallions and mares California Cup Turf Classic Stakes at the farm and Indian Peak on the as a 21-1 shot as a 4-year-old, and Jill Gray, top, is the source of the couple’s success track, the Grays are due for more the $151,000 California Dreamin’ according to her veterinarian husband, William, above great experiences ahead.

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