Richard "Dickie" Dutrow, 61, the Maryland horse trainer behind such winners as King's Swan and Lite the Fuse, died of pancreatic cancer Feb. 19 at his home in Laurel. He came into prominence in the 1970s by winning four consecutive training titles at Laurel Park, from 1973 through 1976. He won again in 1978 and 1979. He also won four consecutive titles at Pimlico Race Course. Mr. Dutrow was named the nation's leading thoroughbred trainer in 1975. With that, he became the first Maryland-based trainer in nearly 60 years to become the nation's leading trainer. He saddled a then-record 352 winners. He moved his training operation to New York in 1984, training several stakes winners, including King's Swan, who retired with earnings of almost $2 million. In 1997, Mr. Dutrow relocated his stable to Maryland, where he won 58 more races on the circuit. Overall, his horses made 3,666 first-place finishes in 12,887 career starts. According to the Daily Racing Form magazine, his horses won more than $36 million. Mr. Dutrow, who was born in Hagerstown, Md., dropped out of high school to work with horses. He was a hotwalker, groom and exercise boy before gaining his trainer's license at the age of 18. He won his first race in 1955 and his last race at Laurel Park in the fourth race on Feb. 13. That horse, Dodona, is owned by Baltimore lawyer and Baltimore Orioles owner Peter G. Angelos, for whom Mr. Dutrow managed a stable of horses. Survivors include his wife, Vicki, of Laurel; and three sons.
