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W.L.’s acquaintance with Brady resident and philanthropist G. Rollie White, former president of Texas A&M and the owner of his namesake track, also played a part. Although White encouraged W.L. to attend college, W.L. detoured onto the road to racing.
Along that road, W.L. and his friend Charlie Myers formed M&M (for Mooring and Myers) in Bosque, New Mexico, at a spread leased from several
taken the reins and run with it, and he’s been really good to me and has had a tremendous influence on this farm since he’s been here.”
In 2001, W.L. married Dee Carone from Brooklyn, New York, whose father, Albert, owned trotters and pacers and also owned land in New Mexico. Albert wanted to enter the Quarter Horse business, so he asked his horse- loving daughter to find someone who could help him and who could go to Santa Fe. Someone
“He’s (Jaime Cervantes) like a son. He’s taken the reins and run with it, and he’s been really good to me and has had a tremendous inflfluence on this farm since he’s been here.” – W.L. Mooring
Double LL foreman Jaime Cervantes
Susan Bachelor, Speedhorse
“He’s at the top of the industry in New Mexico... One thing I admire about him is his horsemanship. He’s been my mentor in the business, and I’ve learned an awful lot from him.”
– Norma Alvarez
Norma Alvarez
Susan Bachelor, Speedhorse
SPEEDHORSE October 2023 55
owners through the years, the latest being racehorse breeder/owner Mike Abraham, who later campaigned Accelerate TB, winner of the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Classic-G1 at Churchill Downs.
By his mid-30s, W.L. had gotten his trainer’s license and began racing at Sunland Park, Zia Park, Sunray Park, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe. He trained until 1988.
Bill died following a heart attack in 1968, followed by Katherine in January 1990 and Jerry 11 months later.
Since 1991, W.L. has steered Double LL Farms into a thriving breeding and foaling operation that, aided by veterinary and foaling teams, has produced quality racehorses at its south location in Bosque. The north farm, a few miles upstate in Belen, houses the Double LL’s sales prep operation.
In 1999, W.L hired Jaime Cervantes, who had recently come to the United States from Mexico, and who has continued to work
as Double LL Farms’ foreman for the past
23 years. “He’s like a son,” W.L. says. “He’s
recommended W.L. and the rest is history. Dee brought two children to the marriage:
a daughter Nicole Ferdinand, and a son Vincent. Nicole has worked on the Double LL for the past 18 years, and Vincent, who also worked for the farm for many years, now runs his own business.
BUILDING THE INDUSTRY
W.L.’s talents lie not only in managing stallions and raising clients’ babies, but also in growing the industry. Dee says he’ll do whatever is needed to help people get into the industry and stay there.
“He’s at the top of the industry in New Mexico,” says their friend Norma Alvarez of Lazy A Farms in Anthony, New Mexico, who breeds racehorses along with her husband, Ramon, aka “Dosi.” “At one time, he must have had 300-plus
W.L. with his daughter Nicole.
Susan Bachelor, Speedhorse