King T. Leatherbury, a Hall of Fame horse trainer who ranks fifth all-time in career wins in the United States, died Feb. 10, 2026. He was 92.
Born on a farm where his father raised horses, Leatherbury earned a business degree from the University of Maryland before choosing a career in racing. He recorded his first win as a trainer in 1959 at Florida’s Sunshine Park before returning to his native Maryland to build his career.
During the 1960s and 1970s, he emerged as a member of "Maryland racing's Big Four," a group of trainers who modernized flat racing training in the state. Leatherbury dominated the local circuit for decades, winning 25 training titles at Pimlico Race Course and 20 at Laurel Park. Between 1993 and 1996, he led all Maryland trainers in annual victories for four consecutive years.
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inducted Leatherbury in 2015, honoring a career that included winning six races on a single card. He later owned and trained the homebred gelding Ben’s Cat, who won 25 stakes races and earned more than $2.6 million.