Keith Stucki, trainer of Ancient Title, dies at 96

ARCADIA, Calif. – Keith Stucki, best known for training Hall of Famer Ancient Title, died on Tuesday at his home in nearby Bradbury, Calif., according to Santa Anita’s publicity department, which learned of Stucki’s death through his granddaughter, Shannon Hinkley. Stucki was 96.

Stucki retired in 1988 following a racing career that including being a jockey and an exercise rider; at one point, he galloped Seabiscuit for trainer Tom Smith.

But his greatest success came as a trainer and with Ancient Title, a gelding who won 24 of 57 starts and finally was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.

Ancient Title, a California-bred son of Gummo, raced from 1972 through 1978 and won such important races as the Hollywood Gold Cup, Whitney, and San Antonio, and was a two-time winner of the Californian. He swept Santa Anita's old Strub Series – the Malibu, San Fernando, and Strub Stakes – during the winter of 1974.

Stucki was preceded in death by his wife and two sons. He is survived by three daughters and several grandchildren. He will be buried in Idaho, where he was born on May 26, 1919.