Born on a ranch in central Washington State, Bill Lathrop came by his affection for horses quite naturally.  His father, who was born in Asotin Washington in 1889, served in the United States Cavalry under General “Black Jack” Pershing, both in France, during World War I, and in the Mexican border conflicts against Pancho Villa.  His fondness for horses, and their usefulness in ranch life, was passed on to his son, who had the full responsibility, at 5 years of age, of caring for his own riding horse, a half pint Quarter horse gelding, who was, coincidentally,  also named Bill.

An interest in the racing thoroughbred was fostered by a visit to Longacres racetrack in the late ‘40’s, and from that moment on he was “hooked”.  Finally, in 1967, after years of being a horseplayer, he purchased his first thoroughbred at auction, a chestnut filly by Mount Marcy. Years later he would determine that the filly's conduit mare was Affection, and that she descended though the "Blue Hen" mare Escutcheon,  family 9f.  A newborn passion for pedigree, and racing history was fueled by correspondence with The Daily Racing Form’s pedigree expert, Leon Rasmussen (who made him aware of the wonderful producer Escutcheon), and his studies and research have been ongoing since that time.  He is proud to include among his friends and mentors, historian Richard Ulbrich, who has utilized some of the author’s comments in his own work.

http://blog.ulbrichspeerage.info/

The following is a statement regarding the author’s equine expertise, “In my view, you see a horse as well as all who write”.... Richard Ulbrich, October 10, 2002