The legendary 'Hall of Fame' trainer, Allan 'Billy' Williams, passed away at the Andrews Memorial hospital yesterday after a short illness. He died of pneumonia at age 78.

Born December 9, 1930, Williams started his training career at Knutsford Park in 1952, winning the championship on three occasions - 1964, 1968 and 1969.

'Masters', as he was popularly called, was well known and highly respected in racing circles in Jamaica. He was inducted into the Hall-of-Fame of Thoroughbred racing in 1993 and was the first trainer to saddle 1,000 winners locally.

At the time of his death, he was third on the all-time trainers' list with 1,112 wins and earnings in excess of $48 million.

most wins

Williams won the most presti-gious race - the Jamaica Derby - on five occasions with Thank You Sir (1963); Buckchaser (1969); Legal Light (1977); Distinctly Native (1990); and Miracle Man (2005).

Over the years, he has been associated with some truly outstanding horses such as Legal Light, Miracle Man, Mercury, Mabrouk, Oberon, Buckchaser, Pheidippides, Rimsky, Kandahar, Reprieve, Distinctly Native, Distinctive Bingo, Sheer Joy, He's Tuned OK, Tornado, Enchanted and Fire In Yu Wire.

Williams holds the distinction of being the first Jamaican trainer to win in Puerto Rico, saddling his brilliant four-year-old colt Miracle Man to win the Confraternity Classic in 2006.

His most recent winners were Star Of The Sea last Saturday and Pleasant Princess on Monday, May 25 (Labour Day). In his absence, both were saddled by the young trainer Clifford Atkinson Jr.

The Jamaica Racehorse Trainers' Association, through its president, Vin Edwards, has extended condolences to his family, other relatives and friends.

- Orville Clarke