Nancy Alberts, a Maryland horsewoman who in 2002 was millisecondsfrom becoming the first female trainer to win the Preakness Stakes,died May 3 at Georgetown University Hospital of complications from astroke. She was 65.
She was best-known as the breeder, owner, trainer, exercise riderand groom for Magic Weisner, the star of her thoroughbred operationin Laurel. Ms. Alberts earned a reputation as a steely horsewomanafter one of her charges kicked her in the stomach, rupturing herspleen in three places.
The near-upset in the Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of horseracing's Triple Crown, brought Ms. Alberts nationwide recognitionfor the first time in her more than 35-year career. (She had beenvictorious in only 23 races between 1996 and 2001; top trainers winmore than 100 a year.)
Magic Weisner, a handsome bay gelding, entered the Preaknessstarting gate at 45-1 odds on May 18, 2002, at Baltimore's PimlicoRace Course.
Bettors and bookies alike considered him to be outclassed. Hiscompetitors were the top thoroughbreds in the country, including WarEmblem, which had won the Kentucky Derby two weeks earlier; ProudCitizen, which finished second in the Derby; and Harlan's Holiday,winner of the Florida Derby.
Ms. Alberts said she was not intimidated. She knew Magic Weisnerwas on a hot streak and had won five of his past six starts. Shealso knew that he was bred to win big races.
His dam, Jazema, was the daughter of Bold Forbes, the winner ofthe 1976 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.
At the start of the Preakness, Magic Weisner galloped slowly outof the gate. After the first quarter-mile, he was in 11th place.
Taking an inside line, Magic Weisner crept through the pack. Whenthe horses turned for the finish line, War Emblem was ahead by twolengths.
Then, Magic Weisner took off with a burst of speed.
At the wire, War Emblem was less than a length ahead of MagicWeisner, which finished milliseconds behind him.
'I'm just tickled pink,' Ms. Alberts said after being handed her$200,000 second-place check. Her biggest purchase after the race wasa new washing machine.
Three weeks later, at the Belmont Stakes, Magic Weisner finishedfourth. War Emblem came in eighth.
Magic Weisner won two more big races before September 2002, whenhe contracted West Nile virus. He never fully recovered.
Ms. Alberts, who was named trainer of the year by the MarylandThoroughbred Horsemen's Association in 2002, retired him in May2005. He had seven wins and four second-place finishes in 15 startsand lifetime earnings of $888,830.
Nancy Hickman was born in West Chester, Pa., on Sept. 3, 1945.Her father owned a business that cleaned septic tanks and cesspoolsand also owned horses.
When she learned that a neighborhood horse named Benediction wasabout to be put down and rendered for dog food, she begged herfather to buy the animal. He did, for $600, and she rode the horsein cross-country races.
She got a job as a groom and exercise rider for thoroughbredtrainer James P. Simpson, who became her mentor.
In the early 1990s, she purchased Jazema for $1 from one ofSimpson's clients. The mare's legs were so crooked that when shegalloped they looked 'like egg beaters,' Ms. Alberts said.
She trained Jazema and won 14 races in 68 starts and collected$89,199 in purses.
Three months after Magic Weisner was born in 1999, he developed agrave infection in his ankle. Her veterinarian, Dr. Allen Wisner,helped nurse the foal back to health 'like magic,' Ms. Alberts said.She named the horse after him but goofed on the spelling in thepaperwork.
After Magic Weisner's performance in the Preakness, Ms. Albertswas offered $1 million to sell him. She refused every bid.
One buyer persisted that his offer was more than generous for ahorse that would never go to stud.
'He said, 'Who's dumb enough to offer you $1 million for agelding?' ' she told The Washington Post in 2002.
'I said, 'About nine other people.' '
Her marriage to jockey Barry Alberts ended in divorce.
Survivors include a son, William Alberts of Laurel; threesisters; and a brother.
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