Blane Schvaneveldt, 76, a 12-time AQHA champion race trainer, with 38 training titles at his home base, Los Alamitos Racetrack in Orange County, CA, died at a Los Angeles hospital on July 5, as a result of a heart arrythmia that he suffered while at the track on July 3.

Schvaneveldt’s richest wins came in 2008 when Janet McKinnerney’s Tres Passes won the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity and Golden State Million Futurity. He was also the winner of a record nine Champion of Champions.

He was born in 1934 in Preston, ID, where he rode horses in match races as a youngster. In the 1950’s, he became involved with racing full time and by 1977 was the nation’s leading trainer by both races won and money earned.

Schvaneveldt won a record 12 national champion trainer titles; more than 5,000 races; and over 400 stakes races. His horses earned $55 million-plus.

Some of the most famous champions saddled by Schvaneveldt include Town Policy, Miss Thermolark, Dash For Speed, Refrigerator, First Down Dash and Cash Rate.

Schvaneveldt, a member of both the AQHA and the Ruidoso Downs Racing Halls of Fame, also operated Blane Schvaneveldt Ranch in Romoland, CA, where he stood Chicks Beduino, among other stallions.