Arlington Park mourns passing of successful thoroughbred owner

Life story

William Stringfellow ~ 1942-2015

By Eileen O. Daday

Daily Herald correspondent

Nearly every racing day during Arlington International's season, William Stringfellow would arrive on the track's fourth floor overlooking the course, exclaiming, "I'm home."

One of the most high profile thoroughbred owners at the track, Stringfellow passed away May 27. The Barrington Hills resident was 73.

"He was one of our most loyal owners - and loyal patrons," said Richard Duchossois, chairman of Arlington International. "He loved it here. He was a wonderful handicapper and just loved the sport."

Howard Sudberry, who coordinates communications and marketing for the racetrack, said Stringfellow rarely missed a day during the racing season, and that differentiated him from other owners.

"He always raced his horses here," Sudberry said. "He was a big supporter of Arlington Park and of Illinois racing."

Stringfellow was a successful businessman first, starting Genesis, Inc. in 1976 in Roselle. The company specializes in precision sheet metal forming and fabrication, and he ran it with his sons, Thomas and Scott.

But horse racing was his passion, colleagues said.

Since 2000, his horses have had 685 starts at Arlington, posting 58 wins while earning more than $1.2 million in purses. Stringfellow's horses ran under the moniker, Shamrock Hill Farm, his stable in Barrington.

One of his most successful horses was the fan favorite, Hungry Wildcat, who won 10 times while racing for Shamrock Hill Farm, including a banner summer in 2013 when he won four races.

Just last year, Stringfellow's stable ranked fifth among Arlington owners, with more than $200,000 in purses.

Arlington officials say Stringfellow always wore a jacket and tie to the track and that he became so immersed in handicapping he sometimes missed watching his own horses run.

"He was a great ambassador for racing," said Tony Petrillo, manager of Arlington Park. "He loved Arlington and we loved him."

Stringfellow also was a longtime member of Medinah Country Club, where he enjoyed another of his passions, golf. His grandchildren inherited his love of the sport and went on to excel in it.

Two of his grandchildren are playing at the Division I level, including Daniel Stringfellow of Roselle, a St. Viator High School graduate who plays at Auburn University and his younger sister, Amy, a scholarship player at the University of Illinois.

Stringfellow is survived by his wife, Marge, his sons and six grandchildren.

Visitation will take place from 3-8 p.m. Sunday at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights, before an 11 a.m. Mass on Monday at St. Anne Catholic Church, 120 N. Ela St. in Barrington.