Raquel Welch is the former daughter-in-law of racehorse trainer at Sunland Park

El Paso Times
·2 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Feb. 28, 1970, El Paso Times

Mention the name Welch to any movie fan and you'll probably bring Raquel Welch to mind.

Mention the name Welch to any Sunland Park turf fan and he'll probably think you're talking about Joe Welch, the well-known trainer.

Nowhere, except in a Hollywood movie script, could there be any connection between Joe Welch, trainer of racehorses, and Raquel Welch, the super sex symbol of our time.

Right?

Wrong. Raquel Welch, for a period of eight years, was married to Welch's son, Jimmy.

Actress Raquel Welch has died at the age of 82 after a brief illness Actress Raquel Welch attending the Royal Film Performance at the Odeon, Leicester Square, London, March 14th 1966.
Actress Raquel Welch has died at the age of 82 after a brief illness Actress Raquel Welch attending the Royal Film Performance at the Odeon, Leicester Square, London, March 14th 1966.

High school sweethearts

"They were high school sweethearts back in San Diego," Joe recalled. "When they got married Jimmy was about 18. She was 17 or so. During the years she and Jimmy were married, we would see her and the children all the time. In fact, during the summers when we were racing at Ruidoso, she would come and spend a few weeks with us."

While living in San Diego, Joe said, Raquel got her start by doing a weather report show for a San Diego television station.

More:Raquel Welch, sexy star of 'One Million Years B.C.' and 'Fantastic Voyage,' dies at 82

"She was also interested in a movie career," he said. "That was a big ambition with her. But to tell you the truth, I was pretty surprised to see her do as well as she did. I kind of doubted she'd go that far - so few of them ever do. We're really happy things turned out so well for her."

Was Raquel so obviously beautiful during the founding years of her career as she is now?

Fine person, fine mother

"Let me put it this way," Joe said. "She was always the kind of person people turned around to look at. She was so good-looking you couldn't help noticing it. But more than that, she's a fine person and a fine mother to her two children."

Jimmy, Joe is quick to point out, has also "hit the jackpot." "He's doing very well in San Diego, where he has his own real estate investment company."

Joe's luck is also humming along. Included in the 10-head string he trains at Sunland Park is King's Kid, an upset winner of a feature race two weeks ago.

And suitably enough, Joe's hometown - as listed on the Sunland Park program - is Hollywood.

New Mexico, that is.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Raquel Welch is former daughter-in-law of trainer at Sunland Park