William Donald Schaefer, a former Maryland governor and a big supporter of racing, died April 18 at a Baltimore retirement center. Schaefer, born the same year Broomspun won the 1921 Preakness Stakes, was 89.
Schaefer was Baltimore’s mayor from 1971-87 and then Maryland’s governor from 1987-95. During his term as governor, he awarded the Woodlawn Vase to the winning connections of the Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
Schaefer was honored by the Maryland Jockey Club in 1994 when a Pimlico stakes was re-named in his honor and later given graded status. Winners of the race include Ecton Park, Tenpins, Master Command, Flashy Bull , and Blame , the 2010 winner who was voted champion older male,
This year’s William Donald Schaefer Stakes (gr. III) will be run on the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) card May 21.
