Retired trainer Wallace "Wally" Dollase died Oct. 30 following a lengthy illness in Kentucky. He was 78.
The trainer of Eclipse Award winners Itsallgreektome (male turf horse, 1990) and Jewel Princess (older female, 1996), Dollase, who was born Aug. 1, 1937, in Fort Atkinson, Wisc., was known as a consummate horseman who paid attention to detail while embracing a "family-first" approach to a highly successful training operation in Southern California.
"My dad passed away peacefully with his family by his side last night," said Michelle Dollase told the Santa Anita press office. "My mom would like to thank everyone for their kind wishes."
After raising his family at Rancho Rio Vista Farm located northeast of San Francisco, Dollase, his wife, Cincy, and children Aimee, Carrie, Craig, and Michelle, moved to Southern California and, in an incredible 16-year span from 1990-2006, Dollase amassed 80 graded stakes wins that included 18 grade I triumphs across North America. He sent out 519 winners from 2,961 starters and his runners earned more than $37.7 million.
Dollase sent out 15 starters in the Breeders' Cup, winning the 1996 Distaff (gr. I) with Jewel Princess and running second in the Mile with Itsallgreektome in 1990 and 1991. Deputy Commander, winner of the 1997 Travers Stakes (gr. I), was second in the 1997 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) and Career Collection was second in that year's Juvenile Fillies.
He won the Travers a second time with Ten Most Wanted in 2003.
At Santa Anita, Dollase was a winner of the grade I Malibu Stakes with King of the Heap in 1996, the grade I Santa Margarita Handicap in 1998 with Jewel Princess, and the grade I Las Virgenes Stakes with A.P. Adventure in 2004.
The Dollase family remains active in the Thoroughbred business, as his youngest child, Aimee, is an assistant in Southern California to trainer Tom Proctor; daughter Michelle is currently training at San Luis Rey Downs; and son, Craig, has a public stable currently based at Los Alamitos Race Course.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
