Lifelong horseman Bill Leach, 88, passed away on June 4, 2020

Quarter Horse trainer, Bill Leach. Photo by Ben Hudson at Track Magazine

Bill Leach, a lifelong horseman who was one of the very few trainers to win the leading trainer award for both Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds at Ruidoso Downs, passed away this past Thursday night at his home in Brady, Texas.

The 88-year-old Leach trained such Quarter Horses as Champion Three-Year-Old Colt Easily Smashed $326,000, Kansas Futurity winner Double Dutch Bus $223,000 and 1983 All American Futurity runner-up Mr Suspenders $385,000.

Leach also was involved as co-owner and trainer of the Thoroughbred stakes winner Smash It, the dam of Easily Smashed plus the stakes-winning Thoroughbreds Luckily Smashed and Sunnily Smashed. With his various friends and his nephews Mike and Bill Carson, Bill was involved in such New Mexico-bred stakes winners as Double Smart $348,000, Beau Wizer $412,000, Mr Wizard $578,000 and Lady Genius $354,000.

Over the years, Bill trained for such owners as Mack Yates, Bill Clifton, Roger Beasley, John and Sue May, Ferd and Margaret Slocum, Austin Millspaugh, Gaylord Hankins, Chili Cole, Bill Carson and Mike Carson. Bill was a member of the Ruidoso Downs Hall of Fame. A pretty good left-handed golfer, the quick-witted Bill enjoyed a good story and told quite a few of them himself.

His survivors include his wife Jeanne and his nephews Mike Carson, Bill Carson, Johnny Jones and Robert Cobb plus his nieces Virginia and Susan Jones. A graveside service is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Sunday at Rest Haven in Brady.

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