walter winans
Year of Birth:
1852
Immortal:
Yes
DriverTrainer:
Yes
OwnerBreeder:
Yes
Driver:
Yes
Owner:
Yes
Elected as Immortal:
1981
Year of Death:
1920
Biography:
Son of a wealthy American railroad builder, Walter Winans was born in 1852 near St. Petersburg, Russia. Educated there, he moved to England at age eighteen and shortly thereafter inherited much of his father's fortune. Winans became very active in the trotting sport, both as a breeder and driver and was instrumental in getting trotting meetings started at Parsloe's Park near London. He also bred trotters in Austria and participated in races there. An American citizen from birth, he didn't set foot in this country until he was 58. Walter Winans died in the sulky in 1920 during a race at Parsloe Park, just as his horse was crossing the finish line.
Published in the Harness Racing Museum's 1994 book, The Immortals