Art Wilson, longtime turf writer, dies at 71

Art Wilson, who chronicled Southern California horse racing since the mid-1980s, died on Sunday of heart failure, his brother Ed told Santa Anita publicity.

Wilson, who lived near Victorville, Calif., was 71.

Wilson wrote for the Southern California News Group, a group of papers and websites that includes the Los Angeles Daily News, Orange County Register and Pasadena Star-News. Wilson filed a report as recently as last week on the late Toby Keith, and attended Santa Anita races on assignment earlier this month.

Wilson had battled a form of blood cancer for more than a decade and was hospitalized on Saturday. He died in the early morning hours on Sunday, his brother said.

Born in Massachusetts, Wilson was a 1970 graduate of Glendora High School, not far from Santa Anita. Art Wilson attended racing in his childhood. A devoted sports fan, he closely followed the Texas Rangers, who won their first World Series in October.

Survivors include his brother and a sister.

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