WILLIAM “BILL” MCNUTT, a longtime horse enthusiast, passed away March 11, 2018, at the age of 80. Bill had a true zest for enjoying people and life to the fullest. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. He loved to paint and studied Western art with the same passion which
he played golf, fished, hunted and showed his National Field Trial Brittany Spaniels. While he had many hobbies, his true loves were horses and horse racing. It is his dedication to horse racing that many will remember most. Early in his career, he was a steward at Midway Downs in Stroud, Oklahoma; Trinity Meadows in Weatherford, Oklahoma; and Ross Downs in Colleyville, Texas. He served as Executive Director of the Oklahoma Thoroughbred Association and taught race track management at the OSU Extension Center in Oklahoma City. During this time, he worked tirelessly
to bring pari-mutuel racing to Oklahoma. From 1986-1989, he worked for the Jockey Club as the manager of registration in Lexington, Kentucky, for all thoroughbreds in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. In 1992, he returned to Oklahoma as Steward of the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission. He was Chief Steward at Blue Ribbon Downs in Sallisaw, Oklahoma; Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Oklahoma; and at Fair Meadows in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Bill was born in Elgin, Oklahoma, to Dorothy and Gerdis (Jeff) McNutt. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Joe McNutt; and sister, Alletta Vaughn. Bill is survived by his wife of 28 years, Susan Hoisington McNutt of the home; his son, William L. McNutt II of Pagosa Springs, Colorado; granddaughter, Kelsie Ann McNutt of Durango, Colorado; grandson, Kody Lawrence McNutt and his wife, Shelby and their two children, William Ryan and Adeline Rose McNutt, of Ft. Hood, Texas; nieces of Oklahoma City; a host of friends and beloved pets, Wiggles and Wags.
While he will be missed greatly, his tireless commitment to horse racing will be felt for years to come. Rest in Peace.
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