Womack, trainer, dies

Hulon Womack, who led the trainer standings at River Downs in Cincinnati and Latonia in northern Kentucky in the late 1960s and early 1970s, died Thursday in Edgewater, Ky. He was 75 and had continued to train actively until he was hospitalized in October.

"He probably won the trainer's title between River Downs and Latonia about 10 times or more," said former jockey Vince Clark, now clerk of scales at Turfway Park and the association steward at River Downs. Clark rode extensively for Womack during his winningest years. "He was hard-working and down to earth, usually had about 20 head in training. He was a real successful good old boy back in the day."

In August 1969, the Womack-trained Dina's Playmate ran 1 7/16 miles on the River Downs turf course in 2:25, then a North American record. Womack specialized in the claiming game through his career and maintained a keen eye. In 2007, he started 147 horses through mid-August at River Downs and won with 44 percent of them in their first start off the claim.

Visitation was scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Bernard's Funeral Home in Russell Springs, Ky., with services there at 2 p.m. Monday.