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WILL PERKINS SUCCUMBS Noted Colored Trainer Dies at Lexington — Led American Trainers in 1926. LEXINGTON. Ky., April 18.— Will Perkins, aged fifty-four, negro, the most prominent figure of his race on the American turf of the present time, died early Sunday morning at a local hospital, whither he was taken at noon Saturday. Death was due to blood poisoning. Perkins, as related by his brother Edward, got up from his bed during the night of Wednesday. April 6, and broke the skin on one of his toes by stepping on an object on the floor. He gave it first aid treatment and felt no ill effects from it after his return from the funeral of Mose Moore, the veteran negro owner of running horses, who died at Dayton, Ohio. On his return home Perkins called Dr. Bullock, an eminent local surgeon, but the infection had become so great that he was powerless to save the sufferer. Will Perkins came to the turf as a child, having been preceded thither by his brothers. Frank and James, the former a trainer and the latter famous as jockey "Soup" Perkins, both dead for many years. Will Perkins rode races, but not brilliantly. It was as a trainer that he succeeded. It was said of him that he was hard on horses, but he got much out of them. His most recent achievement was a victory with General Haldeman in the Queen City Handicap at Latonia last fall. With this colt, of which he was part owner, he also won the Centennial Futurity at the Kenutcky Association spring meeting here last May. Last year Will Perkins had the distinction of heading the list of American trainers of winners, he having saddled the winners of eighty-two races. During the last thirteen years he sent to the post winners of 655 races and 56,513. Thibodeaux was trained by Perkins and ran in his name when he won the Latonia Derby in 1922. Perkins trained John Finn and Son of John when they finished third in the Kentucky Derby in 1922 and 1925. respectively. Among other good horses he trained was Billy Kelly when he won the Idle Hour Farm Stakes, the Bashford Manor, the Flash Stakes and the United States Hotel Stakes, under the colors of W. F. Poison, who sold him to Com. J. K. L. Ross. At the time of his death he had thirty-six horses in training at the local Kentucky Association track, the horses being the property of J. L. Knight, C. E. Leichmeiter. J. Holmes, J. Hart Brown, S. C. Lynne, Southern Stable. J. Burns and the deceased. He is survived by a sister, who resides in Chicago, and a brother. Edward, who is business manager of the Stable. Perkins was a widower, his wife having died twelve years ago. Tne following is the training record of W. Perkins : Year. Wins. Amount. l!»ll 1 $ um ma 8 jjam ma 20 mm i»n 23 mm 1915 25 22.687 191B 5.1 42.007 1917 54 44.307 1918 49 mm 1919 23 .".1.674 1920 00 75.552 1!»21 67 110.485 1922 62 1 1S.581 1921 41 59.380 1924 43 57.790 1925 41 56,328 •1926 82 127.753 1927 14 15.800 Totals 055 56,513 * Leading trainer.
