Vester Richard "Tennessee" Wright (January 21, 1921 - July 24, 1966) was an American Champion Thoroughbred horse racing trainer who led all trainers in the United States in wins four time

Born in Gallatin, Tennessee, he was widely known as "Tennessee Wright." His major race wins included the 1953 Florida Derby with Money Broker, the 1956 Louisiana Derby with Reaping Right. His best runner was probably Roman Line who won the 1961

Breeders' Futurity The Breeders' Futurity Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early October at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. Currently offering a purse of $500,000, the race is open to two-year-old horses and is run ...

then in 1962 the

Forerunner Forerunner may refer to: Religion * A holy person announcing the approaching appearance of a prophet, see precursor (religion). ** As a title, used in particular for John the Baptist within Christianity, and especially within the Eastern Orthodox ...

and Derby Trial Stakes before finishing second in the

Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby is a horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, almost always on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The competition is a Grade I stakes race for three-year ...

and third in the Preakness Stakes. On July 24, 1966, Tennessee Wright's promising career was cut short when he suffered a heart attack and died at age forty-five. In 1991, he was inducted posthumously into the Fair Grounds Racing Hall of Fame.

References

December 19, 1954 ''Los Angeles Times'' article on Tennessee Wright titled "''Talented Trainer''"

1921 births 1966 deaths People from Gallatin, Tennessee American horse trainers {{US-horseracing-bio-stub