Celebration Of Life Set For King Leatherbury

A Celebration of Life for trainer King T. Leatherbury, who passed away February 10 at age 92, is planned for Saturday, April 18, at Laurel Park. His family is participating in the arrangements.

The date coincides with the running of the King T. Leatherbury Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf. The event will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Sports Book on the second floor of the clubhouse.

Leatherbury, a winner of 6,508 races, was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 2015. Born in Shady Side, Md., in 1933, Leatherbury got his trainer’s license in 1958 and won his first race the following year with Mister L at Sunshine Park in Florida. By the time he retired in 2023, his runners had earned almost $64.7 million.

Leatherbury, known throughout most of his career as a sharp claiming trainer, captured 52 training titles in Maryland, 26 each at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, and four meet championships at Delaware Park. He led all North American trainers in wins in 1977 and 1978, and won 300 or more races each year from 1975 to 1978.