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Verne Winchell's business career began when he opened
Winchell Music, a coin-operated jukebox and game business
(1938-45). Winchell Motors followed (1945-48). His doughnut
empire began in 1948, with a single shop in Temple City,
California. He built Winchell’s Donut House into a chain
of nearly 1,000 shops.
Verne Winchell merged his Winchell's Donut Houses
with Denny's in the late '60s, and he went on to
serve as President and Chairman of the board of
Denny's Restaurants (1970-1980). It wasn't until
1984, that Winchell left the doughnut and restaurant
business, when he sold his stock in Denny's for a
reported $600 million.
Verne Winchell was a leading racehorse owner and
breeder who owned more than 40 stakes winners.
He had three horses race in the Kentucky Derby
over the years. Classic Go Go, who finished fourth
in the 1981 Kentucky Derby, Sea Cadet, who finished
eighth in 1991, (Winchell paid just $2,800 for
Sea Cadet in 1989, yet went on to win more than
$1.7 million during the 1990s) and Valiant Nature,
who finished 13th in 1994. Other racehorses he
owned and raced include, Donut King, Mr. Tower,
Mr. America, Mr. Eiffel, Ancient Mariner, Mira Femme,
Ronnie's Baby (Ronnie's Baby, was bred by Ronald Reagan
and purchased from Desi Arnaz), Tight Spot, On Target,
Call Now, Amerique, Future Quest, and Olympio. The
Arlington Million, Del Mar Futurity, Longacres Mile,
Champagne Stakes, Hollywood Futurity, Meadowlands Cup
and Arkansas Derby, are but a few of the races won
by his horses. He bred more than 60 stakes winners
at his 320-acre Oakwind Farm, near Lexington, Kentucky.
He was survived by his wife of 37 years, Joan,
daughters, Christina Winchell and Linda Schumacher,
sons, Ronald Winchell and Richard Winchell.
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