Bud Klokstad, top Washington trainer, dies at 79

Trainer Bud Klokstad, 79, a member of the Washington Racing Hall of Fame, died early Wednesday at his home in Richmond, Calif. He had been ill for several months.

Klokstad raced at both Golden Gate Fields and Emerald Downs. He had been based at Golden Gate Fields since 2008 and sent out his final starter, Majestic Afleet, for a victory in Saturday’s eighth race.

Klokstad’s fastest runner was Chinook Pass, who set a world record for five furlongs of 55.20 in 1982 at Longacres and was named the Eclipse Award sprinter in 1983. Among his other top runners were Staff Rider, one of his seven Gottstein Futurity winners; Peterhof’s Patea, who earned more than $600,000; and Ropersandwranglers, who won five consecutive stakes at Emerald Downs.

Klokstad ranked second in stakes victories at both Longacres (54) and Emerald Downs (43).