Charlie Whittingham

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For the London printers see Charles Whittingham

Charles Whittingham (April 13, 1913 - April 20, 1999) was an American thoroughbred race horse trainer. Born in San Diego, California, Whittingham began working around race horses at a young age and was eventually taken on as an assistant by Hall of Fame trainer Horatio Luro.

During World War II, His career was interrupted by service with the United States Marine Corps. At war's end, he returned as an assistant trainer until 1950 when he set up his own stable to take on the training of horses for various owners. Three years later his horse Porterhouse was voted United States Champion 2-year-old Colt. Over his forty-nine years as a head trainer, Whittingham had 252 stakes wins and became the all-time leading trainer at both Hollywood Park and Santa Anita Park. He won the Eclipse Award as the top trainer in the U.S. in 1971, 1982 and 1989 and his horses led American thoroughbred racing in earnings seven times: 1970 to 1973, 1975, 1981, and 1982.

Whittingham trained several champions including American Horse of the Year honorees Ack Ack, Ferdinand and Sunday Silence. Amongst others, he trained Cougar II, the 1972 U.S. Champion Turf Horse, Kennedy Road, the 1983 Canadian Horse of the Year and for a time, Exceller. His horses were named Champion Female Turf Horse on four occasions. In 1986, at the age of seventy-three, he became the oldest trainer to win the Kentucky Derby then won the prestigious race again three years later. Both Derby-winning horses went on to win the Breeders' Cup Classic.

In 1974, Charlie Whittingham was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. He continued to train horses right up to the time of his passing at age eighty-six.

Named in his honor is the Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap, a Grade 1 stakes race held annually at Hollywood Park. There is a bust of Whittingham and his dog Toby at the paddock at Santa Anita Park.