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Oak Tree’s Chillingworth Passes at 93
From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 9, 2019)–Sherwood C. Chillingworth, a longtime
director and executive vice president of the Oak Tree Racing Association,
passed away on Tuesday at age 93.
A native of Honolulu, Hawaii, Chillingworth, known affectionately as
“Chilly” to all who knew him, was named an Oak Tree director in 1989, and
later assumed the title of Executive Vice President in 1993. A tireless
advocate for the many causes that the not for profit Oak Tree Racing
Association funded since its inception at Santa Anita in October, 1969,
Chillingworth was a truly beloved figure in California racing.
“He was a great man who was a very big part of the Oak Tree Racing
Association for many years,” said Hall of Fame trainer and fellow Oak Tree
Board member Richard Mandella on Wednesday morning at Santa Anita. “He lived
a full life and from what I knew, he loved every minute of it. He had a
great sense of humor, he loved to bet and he loved our game.”
Although still active in funding various charitable causes, the Oak Tree
Racing Association, which conducted its final fall meeting at Santa Anita in
2009, operated for one year at Hollywood Park in 2010, and then conducted
fall meetings at the Alameda County Fair Grounds in Pleasanton through 2018.
A former real estate developer, Chillingworth, who served as Vice Chairman
and CEO, Santa Anita Realty Enterprises from 1994-1996, had a true passion
for horses and horse racing as he owned and raced Thoroughbreds dating back
to the early 1970s under the nom de course Paniolo Ranch.
It was in Thoroughbred partnerships however, that he experienced
considerable success, as he owned percentages of Grade I stakes winners
Swing Till Dawn (1983 Strub and Widener Stakes), Yashgan (1985 Oak Tree
Invitational and 1986 San Gabriel Handicap), Forzando (1985 Metropolitan,
Ft. Marcy and Sierra Madre Handicaps), and Valley Victory (1986 Coaching
Club American Oaks).
“He was a first class guy,” said Hall of Fame conditioner Ron McAnally,
whose legendary gelding John Henry won three straight runnings of the Grade
I Oak Tree Invitational in the early 1980s. “Doc Robbins (original Oak Tree
Director and John Henry’s attending veterinarian) admired him so much, and
was so appreciative of everything he meant to Oak Tree and our racing here.
Chilly was good for the horses and he was good for the business.”
A consummate gentleman and tireless consensus builder, Chillingworth was
also a past Steward of the Jockey Club, Secretary of the Board of the
Thoroughbred Racing Associations (TRA), director of the Thoroughbred Racing
and Protective Bureau (TRPB) and member of the Equibase Management
Committee.
“Chilly was one of the kindest and most gracious executives in racing,” said
George Haines, former Santa Anita General Manager. “He treated the employees
with great respect and was universally loved by all. His wit and humor will
be missed but not forgotten.”
Chillingworth, who resided at Santa Anita Park with his wife Sandra, is also
survived by four sons and two daughters, as well as several grandchildren.
Services are pending.