William J. Condren, 74, who won the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) twice with partners, died Oct. 29 at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Condren won his first Run for the Roses in 1991 with Strike the Gold, who he owned with Joseph Cornacchia and B. Giles Brophy, and the second time in 1994 with Go for Gin, who he owned with Cornacchia only. Condren and Cornacchia also scored a rare grade I double when they won the 1996 Pimilco Special with Star Standard and then captured the Preakness Stakes with Louis Quatorze a week later.
Born in New York City, Condren was a graduate of Fordham College and Harvard Law School. Condren was a private investor with interests in real estate, oil and gas drilling and aircraft leasing. He lived in Southampton, Long Island, and spent the winters in Palm Beach, Fla. He gave a lot of credit for his success with Thoroughbreds to the guidance of John A. Bell III, the good horsemanship of trainer Nick Zito, and the wise advice of John Gaines.
Condren was a co-founder and director of the National Thoroughbred Association and a trustee for the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. He also served on the board of directors of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. Plans for a memorial service in New York are pending. He is survived by his wife Mary Jo, a son, Colin, and daughters Elizabeth and Jennifer.
William J. Condren
