Career
Saunders was known as "Willie" but the news media frequently refers to him as "Smokey/Smoky."
Born in Bozeman, Montana, at age eight Saunders moved with his family to Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He learned to ride in Alberta and in Montana, where he returned for his high school years. Competing at tracks in southern California, Alberta-born United States. Racing Hall of Fame jockey George Woolf tutored Saunders on riding.
During his career, Saunders rode for prominent owners such as Wheatley Stable, Hal Price Headley, and William Woodward.
Weight problems interrupted his career, as did the outbreak of World World War II when he joined the United States Army and served overseas in the Pacific Theater. During his four years in the military, a bout of malaria, contracted while overseas, resulted in considerable weight loss that allowed him to resume his career in racing once the war ended.
In 1948, Saunders rode Bovard to victory in the Louisiana Derby, then rode the colt to a third-place finish in the Preakness Stakes. Saunders retired in 1950 and later served as a racing official at tracks in Florida, Illinois, and New Jersey.
When his riding career ended in 1950, Saunders worked as a trainer before becoming a placing judge at racetracks in Illinois, New Jersey, and Calder Race Course in Florida.
Living in Hallandale, Florida, five weeks after being diagnosed with cancer of the brain and lungs, he died in a Naples, Florida, hospital on July 30, 1986, at age 71. On its formation in 1976, Saunders was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
