William Entenmann III, a longtime steeplechase owner, died Saturday, Jan. 1, at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, Long Island. Grandson of the founder of Entenmann’s bakery, he was 79.
A racing enthusiast, he became heavily involved in the sport following the family’s sale of the nationally known bakery in 1978. He continued to work in the company’s management until his retirement in 1998.
His Timber Bay Farm had success both in steeplechasing and flat racing. His son, Billy, is a trainer based at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland.
Timber Bay won the New York Turf Writers at Saratoga three times, with Yaw in 1991 and 1992 and with Bisbalense in 1997. Romantic won the 2000 Colonial Cup in the Timber Bay silks. All his major steeplechase winners were trained by Jonathan Sheppard.
On the flat, Artie Schiller won the 2005 Breeders’ Cup Mile in the name of Timber Bay and Entenmann’s daughter Denise Walsh of Southern Pines, N.C. Timber Bay also bred 2002 Belmont Stakes winner Sarava.
A Bay Shore native, Entenmann worked in the family business as a youngster, graduated from Bay Shore High School, and entered the bakery full-time after service in the U.S. Marine Corps. He worked in product research and served as the company’s president.
He married Christine Sutton in 1953. He is survived by his wife and also by another daughter, Jaime Padden of Islip, N.Y., brothers Charles Entenmann of Key Largo, Fla., and Robert Entenmann of Jamesport, N.Y.; and two grandchildren.
The family suggests that memorial donations be made to Hospice of South Shore in Bay Shore.