February 19, 2001
California Thoroughbred Horsemen
Honor Noble Threewitt

Racing men and women throughout the country are delighted with this opportunity to salute Noble Threewitt, and the express their admiration and appreciation for his many contributions to the industry.

Threewitt had horses at Santa Anita when the track first opened on Christmas Day, 1934.  For an unprecedented 65 Years, he has worked to make California racing the best in the United States.

He has been particularly concerned with the health and welfare of those who labor in the stable area.  He was the founder of the CTHF, which has distributed millions of dollars in support programs.

He has been a friend and tutor to several generations of young trainers in the west, and by his personal example has set high standards for his professional colleagues across the United States.  He has always stood for the best that racing has to offer, and now it’s racing’s turn to stand for Noble Threewitt.

Joe Hirsch

“Attendance and handle” was markedly up as industry members gathered together on February 19, 2001 to honor veteran trainer Noble Threewitt for his extensive career accomplishments.

California Thoroughbred Trainers hosted a fundraising dinner at Twin Palms restaurant in Old Town, Pasadena, where an overflow crowd of over 370 of California’s leading trainers and jockeys, as well as numerous owners, racetrack management principals, and the great many of Threewitt’s other personal friends attended to pay him deserving homage.

The accomplishments of Noble Winfield Threewitt in the world of horse racing are without parallel. His professional accomplishments place him in the select circle of horse racing’s finest and most accomplished trainers. His horses have won stakes races in each of the last eight decades. That is not seasons, nor years, but eight decades.

He has trained horses that have won such major events as the Swaps Stakes, the Wood Memorial, the San Luis Rey, the Florida Derby, the California Derby, the Milady Handicap (3 times), and the Ramona Handicap (2 times), to name a few. His horses have won over 2,000 races. Yet, having all this to present on his résumé, these achievements take a back seat to his involvement in caring for and creatingbenefits for the people who work in the industry. He is currently President Emeritus of the California Thoroughbred Trainers, and President of the California Thoroughbred Horseman’s Foundation. He has served in these or similar capacities with these organizations and the former California Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association for six terms.

Literally thousands of people have benefited because of the ideas, initiative, and work of Noble Threewitt. He is to racing what John Wooden is to basketball. Because, like Wooden, one cannot speak of Noble’s professional accomplishments without reference to his underlying values. Work, loyalty, and compassion are the watchwords of his life. When not at the barn or saddling a horse at the races, he can still be found working at the clinic of the California Thoroughbred Horseman’s Foundation. This is a nonprofit, charitable organization that provides medical, dental, and vision care, as well as social services for backstretch personnel. Having served thousands of people in Northern and Southern California since 1984, it has been shepherded by Noble on a continual basis since near inception.

The event was also a fund-raising venue to benefit the newly formed Edwin J. Gregson Foundation. The great turn-out of attendees helped raise substantial proceeds that will go entirely to benefit the California backstretch workforce and their family members. Planned educational programs such as computer literacy, English as a Second Language, and scholarship grants will be funded, as well as future programs yet to be developed.

The California Thoroughbred Trainers and Edwin J. Gregson Foundation thank all of the contributors who gave so generously of funds, time, and talents. Special acknowledgment is given to Churchill Downs-California, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, the triad of Bay Meadows Operating Company, Pacific Racing Association and Los Angeles Turf Club, Inc., and Oak Tree Racing Association for contributing to the Foundation.

The evening was a great success by all accounts and is a clear and solid statement reflecting the strength, generosity, and unity of the thoroughbred horse racing community.

California Thoroughbred Trainers especially thank Noble for providing inspired leadership, integrity, and unprejudiced benevolence to those in need – the horsemen are proud to have him as a role model and to have the opportunity to honor his outstanding achievements both as a trainer and as a humanitarian.