Longtime Washington Trainer Mary Kubota Dies

Blood-Horse

Mary Kubota, a longtime trainer and popular racing official in the state of Washington, died Feb. 4 of lung cancer at her home in Renton, Wash.

Kubota spent nearly three decades as a trainer, learning the profession under Washington Hall of Fame trainer Wayne Branch before taking out her license in the late 1970s. She also had stints as a veterinarian’s assistant with Dr. John Traber and Dr. Gary Bergsma.

Kubota, 62, worked the last 12 years for the Washington Horse Racing Commission, first as a clerk/identifier in the receiving barn, and later as an association clocker.

As a trainer, Kubota enjoyed great success with offspring of her broodmare She’s a Bomber, a 1974 daughter of Army Bomber—Dolorous who produced a string of top runners led by towering gelding Big Bad Bomber. Bred and trained by Kubota, the son of Meritable won 13 races and $134,876 while racing exclusively at Longacres from 1985-92.

Elliot Bay Bomber, full brother to Big Bad Bomber, won 22 races in an 89-race career that began in 1989 with Kubota, and She’s a Trooper (Trooper Seven—She’s a Bomber) won 11 races in 1990.

She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Allan, and daughters Chrissi Reeves of Bellingham and Angie Kubota-Wolbert of Renton.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, Feb. 12, at 2 p.m. PST, at New Life Church in Renton, 15711 152nd Avenue SE.