Longtime trainer and American Quarter Horse Hall of Famer C.W. "Bubba" Cascio passed away today.

© Courtesy AQHA

BLUFF DALE, TX–NOVEMBER 2, 2022–C.W. "Bubba" Cascio, 90, a race horse trainer, and two-time winner of the All American Futurity, having won in 1968 with Three Oh's, and again in 1970 with Rocket Wrangler, passed away today.

In 2002, Cascio was inducted into the Texas Racing Hall of Fame, and in 2008, into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame. He has been referred to as a "Texas racing legend". In 2016, he was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame as "one of the most successful trainers in the horse racing industry for over 40 years."

Bubba Cascio was born in Houston, Texas into a life of horse racing. His uncle managed Epsom Downs, located on Jensen Drive in northeast Harris County, until parimutuel racing became illegal in Texas in 1937.

His father Jake Cascio (1907 - 1988) was a highly regarded racehorse trainer throughout the Southwest.

Bubba began his lifelong career in horse racing at age 10 when he hot-walked horses for racehorse trainer Will McKown. A few years later he was galloping racehorses, and by age 16 was a jockey for approximately three years during which time he outgrew the required weight limit.

While still in his teens, Bubba worked for Lester Goodson's J3 Ranch in Magnolia, Texas. He said, "My dad was training race horses and I was riding ‘em."

When he became too heavy to jockey, he started riding cutting horses under the tutelage of his idol Matlock Rose who, at the time, also worked for J3 Ranch training AQHA performance horses.

Cascio credits Lester Goodson as having been a positive influence in his life and career stating that

"[Goodson] believed in me, got me connections and recommended me to people.”

Cascio also recalled a time in 1956 when he went with Goodson to the White House to present two American Quarter Horses to President Eisenhower. Cascio rode one of them in a reining pattern on the White House lawn. The horses' names were Doodle De Do and Sporty Miss.

Cascio trained many winning race horses but among the most notable are the two All American Futurity winners Three Oh's and Rocket Wrangler, and twice Champion of Champions winner Dash For Cash, an American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame inductee.

His achievements include being awarded leading trainer at 10 different race tracks, first trainer to reach one million dollars in race earnings, and he trained horses that won 15 world racing titles. Cascio judged at AQHA shows in Texas, Kansas, Washington and Ohio.

He also won cuttings at some of the world’s largest competitions. In 2001, he trained the Texas Thoroughbred Horse of the Year, Lights On Broadway, and in 2002 he was inducted into the Texas Racing Hall of Fame.

Cascio and his wife, Judy, operated Cascio Racing Stables.

Cascio had been battling congestive heart failure and spent time in and out of hospitals and rehabilitation centers since breaking some of his ribs June 4, said Judy Cascio. She said he had been in hospice care of late and died peacefully, surrounded by family and his beloved Australian shepherds.

“Lots of memories,” Judy Cascio said of her husband of 34 years. “He’s my best friend and I’ll miss him.”

Judy Cascio told the Daily Racing Form her husband’s first farm was in Roswell, N.M., the facility that would later become the home of Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. Over the past few decades, Cascio and his wife maintained a farm in Tolar and raced across the Southwest.

Gold Storm (TB), trained by Cascio won stakes at Arlington Park and Fair Grounds in prior to an appearance at the Breeders’ Cup.

Cascio asked that his body be donated to science, and was flown on a Science Care flight to Colorado.

Plans for memorial services are to be determined, with Judy Cascio hopeful to have an event complete with pictures and other memorabilia in the Dash for Cash room at Lone Star Park.