William Pinkney Wetherall, Jr., foxhunter, race rider, and racing official died at the Winchester Medical Center in Virginia on Monday, September 12 at the age of seventy-seven.
Bill was an excellent horseman and all-around athlete. He set a long-standing record in the hurdles at Episcopal High School, then attended Princeton University and Virginia Tech.
Bill was well-known throughout the Virginia point-to-point circuit as a race organizer and racing official. He was Secretary-Treasurer of the Virginia Point-to-Point Association and was awarded the Masters Prize and the Yves Henry Lifetime Achievement Award from that organization. He served as chairman of the Blue Ridge Hunt Point-to-Point races for many years.
Bill’s mother, Sybilla “Billie” Greenhalgh, was one of the best-loved Field Masters in Blue Ridge’s long history. Bill did the early training on one of her horses that won the Gold Cup and upon which she led the field for many years.
One of his proudest memories was being asked by Alexander Mackay-Smith, MFH to be a whipper-in for the Blue Ridge Hunt. Bill was only in his teens at the time. He was awarded his colors, and he whipped-in to the pack for many seasons.
A graveside service will be held at Old Chapel near Millwood, Virginia on Friday, September 16 at 3:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Steeplechase Injured Jockey’s Fund and to the Virginia Point-to-Point Association Hurdle Fund, both c/o Don Yovanovich, PO Box 1877, Middleburg, VA 20118.
Posted September 15, 2011
