Kathy Walsh, who won multiple training titles at Longacres in Washington state and Canterbury Downs in Minnesota and died May 8 at the age of 85, was tough as nails and didn't suffer fools gladly. But those cliches only worked on the surface. Walsh was an excellent trainer whose owners appreciated her ability and honesty. And she was a most loyal friend.
When Walsh began training for Marietta Gelalich in Southern California, Gelalich was afraid of horses.
"I hardly ever touched a horse, even with my previous trainer—I never went into the barns," Gelalich said. "But Kathy made me go to the barn, and I got to where I was eventually petting the horses."
When Gelalich's husband passed away, Walsh spent day and night with her friend, making sure she was never alone.
It was a side of Walsh that some people never saw. Coming up during the 1960s, when women couldn't become trainers, Walsh had to develop that tough exterior. Even once she was allowed to have a trainer's license, she was told in Southern California that she couldn't saddle her own horses.
"You'll have to have a man saddle the horse," she recalled the stewards saying to her.
Walsh not only became a successful female trainer, she became a successful trainer who could compete on any circuit. Born March 18, 1940, in Sonoma, Calif., she learned her craft under her father, Jim, and Buster Millerick, who trained Hall of Famer Native Diver.
Jim led trainers at Longacres in 1967 and 1969, but he became ill in his final years, dying in 1970, and Kathy essentially ran his barn during those times. She went on to lead trainers at Longacres in 1972, 1973, 1976, and 1978, and she was inducted into the Washington Racing Hall of Fame in 2009. She also led the trainer's list twice at Canterbury Park.
Many of Walsh's best horses raced in California. She trained Georgie Boy, winner of the 2007 Del Mar Futurity (G1) and that year's champion California-bred 2-year-old male.
Walsh actually planned the mating that produced Georgie Boy for owner/breeder George Schwary. She recommended that he claim the dam, Washington-bred Ippodamia, for $32,000 at Golden Gate Fields in 2003. She later selected California sire Tribal Rule as a stallion for the mare, resulting in Georgie Boy.
As a 3-year-old, Georgie Boy captured the 2008 San Vicente Stakes (G2) and San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park, prompting Schwary to dream of the Kentucky Derby (G1). But the gelding pulled a muscle in his back, and Walsh gave him several months off.
"To show you how cautious she is," Schwary said later that year, "when Georgie Boy had a nuke scan, she had three vets look at it. I appreciate that. She's up front and tells me exactly how it is. She's hands-on and checks those horses every day. She's a phenomenal trainer."
Walsh saddled Hanuman Highway to finish seventh in the 1998 Derby, and she is one of just 17 female trainers to have started a horse in the race. Hanuman Highway had finished second in that year's Arkansas Derby (G2). Walsh's other good runners included 2001 Santa Monica Handicap (G1) winner Nany's Sweep and graded winners Devious Boy, Sarah's Secret, Evening Promise, Mantles Star, and Staff Riot.
Walsh knew where to find horses to fit a particular circuit. While training at Longacres, she often replenished her stable with horses from Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens in New York.
"When my owners would say that they wanted a nice horse for the Longacres Mile or the Longacres Derby," Walsh once said, "I'd get on a plane, go back to New York, and see Allen."
Whoa Boy, a 1971 son of Handsome Boy—Overton Miss, by Greek Ship, came from Jerkens. Walsh won the 1974 San Jose Stakes, 1975 San Francisco Mile Handicap, and 1975 Seattle Handicap with him for owner Paskey Dedomenico.
Walsh retired in 2021, having won 1,231 races in 8,023 starts for total purse earnings of $19,372,724.
