John M. Veitch Parents: Meet Sylvester Veitch

Sylvester E. “Syl” Veitch was an American horse trainer. He was the father of John M. Veitch.

He was born on February 24, 1910, in the United States, and began his racing career as a jockey and trainer in steeplechase racing.

Veitch started flat racing in 1939 when he was employed as a trainer with Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney in Kentucky.

He won two Belmont Stakes while in Whitney’s employment, one in 1947 with Phalanx and the second in 1951 with Counterpoint.

In 1958 he left his position with C.V. Whitney and began employment with George D. Widener, Jr. where he trained What a Treat, and many other notable horses.

He was inducted into the 1977 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

Among his accomplishments, Veitch held the single-season mark of 24 wins in 24 days set in 1954 at Saratoga Race Course, a record that was held until 2003.

He died at the Winthrop Hospital in Mineola, Long Island, New York in February 1996 after a brief illness. His son, John M. Veitch, was also a successful trainer.