William Woodward, Sr.
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William Woodward, Sr. (April 7, 1876 – September 26, 1953) was an American banker and major owner and breeder in thoroughbred horse racing.
Born in New York City to a prominent and wealthy family, he studied at Harvard Law School, graduating in 1901. For the next two years Woodward lived in London, UK where he served as secretary to the United States ambassador to Britain. There, he joined with other members of the political and economic elite at fashionable events including thoroughbred horse races, the favorite pastime of English royalty and nobility. In 1950, Woodward was elected an honorary member of the British Jockey Club.
On his return to New York, Woodward was made vice president of his uncle James T. Woodward's Hanover National Bank in New York City. Following his uncle's death, William Woodward, Sr. was made president of the bank, serving in that capacity until a 1929 merger when he was appointed chairman of the new corporate entity called Central Hanover Bank & Trust.
In 1904, William Woodward married Elsie Cryder, with whom he had a son, William Jr.; and three daughters. From his uncle James, William Woodward inherited a controlling interest in Hanover National Bank plus the Belair Stud in Bowie, Maryland. His uncle had acquired the historic horse breeding farm in 1898 and William Woodward used it to build the dominant breeding and thoroughbred horse racing operation in the United States during the 1930s, 40s, and 50s.
His farm's horses won every major Stakes race in the U.S. including two Triple Crowns as well as the Epsom Oaks, St. Leger Stakes, One Thousand Guineas, and other important races in Britain. Woodward's accomplishments in horse racing led to him making the August 7, 1939 cover of Time magazine.
Woodward was elected to the United States Jockey Club in 1917 and served as its chairman from 1930 until 1950. He died in 1953, aged 77, leaving the estate to his son, William Jr., whose untimely death a few years later in 1955 saw the end of Belair Stud.
