Seattle Slew trainer Billy Turner, battling cancer, moves to hospice care in Marion County
A fundraiser supporting William “Billy” Turner, trainer of 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, has raised over $29,500 to help cover health care expenses for the Marion County resident, who is battling terminal cancer.
Turner, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer nearly two years ago, was admitted to the hospital on Dec. 17 after experiencing severe shortness of breath and fluid in his lungs. Tests revealed the cancer had spread to his lungs, and Turner has elected to be transferred back home for hospice care in lieu of receiving further treatment.
Pavla and Erik Nygaard, former owners of the iconic Ocala Jockey Club in north Marion County, organized the GoFundMe for the 81-year-old Turner and his wife, Pat. The Turners had both lived in a townhome on the Nygaards’ property until the property was recently sold.
'It happens': Vets, Marion horse experts urge patience as Medina Spirit death investigated
Horse Farms Forever Conservation Summit: Balancing Marion County growth and preservation
Related news: World Equestrian Center purchases Ocala Jockey Club property in north Marion County
Billy Turner: A horse racing legend
“Everyone knows the name Seattle Slew. They don't necessarily all know the name of the trainer, but it's something that we have all been beneficiaries of the work that he had done back then,” Pavla Nygaard said.
Under Turner’s training, Seattle Slew won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in 1977, becoming the 10th horse to win the Triple Crown and the first to do so while still undefeated.
“Some people may or may not appreciate what it would have taken to take a very talented colt but who needed to be managed well in order to stay happy, healthy and sound through the Triple Crown run,” Nygaard said.
The Nygaards have known the Turners since 2006. Turner trained some of their horses before retiring and moving to the Ocala area full time in 2016.
“It was Bill's strength as a trainer to turn ordinary horses into above average, and above average horses into excellent ones,” the Nygaards wrote in the GoFundMe description.
Battling ongoing health issues
Although Turner wasn’t as strong physically when she last saw him in August, Nygaard says “he had a big smile on his face, he told plenty of stories, he was mentally very sharp, remembered everything even from long ago.”
After the Ocala Jockey Club was sold to the World Equestrian Center in August, the Nygaards tried to negotiate a deal for the Turners to stay in the townhome, but they were only allowed to stay through the end of November.
After bouncing around between Airbnb rentals and friends' homes, Turner began to experience back pain and shortness of breath.
“The stress of moving around and not having his hospital bed seemed to make him physically take a serious turn for the worse,” Pat Turner, a former jockey and exercise rider, wrote in an email.
She says the funds raised will accommodate her husband's needs at home for the next few months rather than in a hospital.
“I am forever grateful to every member of the horse community who has donated to his care,” she wrote. “I wish I could put into words what this generosity means to us both. I am proud to have spent a lifetime in this business with people who care for one another when it matters most.”
Turner, the oldest living Triple Crown trainer, also suffered a broken neck last year and underwent extensive rehabilitation at the time. A GoFundMe also helped cover expenses then, as Pat had explained to Thoroughbred Daily News that a telemarketing scam left them without Medicare coverage.
Kind words, memories and prayers requested
The new fundraiser, which went live on Monday, had an initial goal of $20,000, which has been surpassed and raised to $30,000 to help with medical expenses, moving costs and other costs of hospice care and beyond. The Nygaards are also matching $10,000 and hope that even those who can’t donate much will share kind words for Turner.
“Often, famous people are afforded great tributes after they pass away, but maybe people need to get a chance to both express their thanks, and for the recipient to hear and feel the love and appreciation, while the person is still here,” Nygaard wrote in a follow-up email. “Money doesn’t buy everything, but it can help decrease the significant stresses that come with advanced serious disease.”
More than 40 years after Seattle Slew and Turner’s victory, many still remember his legacy and over 220 people have contributed to the fundraiser as of Tuesday afternoon.
Donors sent their blessings to Turner and shared memories, including one who bet on Seattle Slew throughout the Triple Crown races, one who has one of the horse’s shoes framed and others who remember Turner as “a true legend” of horse racing.
Contributions and messages can be left at gofundme.com/f/help-billy-turner-seattle-slews-trainer.
Contact reporter Danielle Johnson at djohnson@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: GoFundMe raises $29k and counting for Seattle Slew trainer Billy Turner
