1/30/2026
(Rochester,WA) Morton Albert Robbins passed away earlier this month at the age of 86. Robbins had a longtime partnership with trainer Roy Lumm and Lumm’s Blue Diamond stable. When Lumm retired from training, Robbins wasn’t done and retained Robbie Baze to train for him.
This is the public obituary released by the family.
MORTON ALBERT ROBBINS, 86, Rochester, died Jan. 7 at Providence Centralia Hospital. Arrangements are under the care of Funeral Alternatives of Washington.
Morton “Mort” Robbins was the second son of Albert and Lily Rotschy Robbins.
Mort attended Clover Valley Grade school in Woodland, Washington, grades 1–6. He graduated from Woodland High School in 1956.
He then attended WSU in Pullman, Washington, where he graduated with a degree in civil engineering. Mort remained a lifelong fan!
After graduation, Mort worked for a series of engineering firms such as Bechtel Corp., Ebasco, and finally the ill-fated Satsop nuclear project, working from his home in Rochester, Washington.
For the rest, Mort wrote a brief description, and here are his words:
“I was a longtime devotee to WSU activities. I was also a lifetime member of the NRA (National Rifle Association). My hobbies included hunting and fishing (on nice days!), clam digging, and horse racing. I owned several — more bad than good ones! In later years, I got interested in books and read a lot. I kept in touch with longtime friends, and I enjoyed going to family picnics. I was also an active tree farmer on our dad’s inherited tree farms. But I loved to gamble and spent hours doing it. Overall, I had a very good life.”
We will miss you, Mort — brother, relative, and friend. — Brother Quentin
Mort chose cremation. His ashes will be spread at his beloved Goat Marsh. There will be no funeral, but sometime down the road a memorial will happen, probably at Clover Valley School/Church.
A Horse Owner’s perfect last race
Robbins fell in love with horse racing as a player years ago and eventually took that step from player/fan to participant and began owning horses in the 90’s. Mort only owned about 20% of his horses as the sole owner. He had many partners through the years and he racked up more than 500 starters combined with earnings topping 740k. We have his statistical numbers below.
Mort had his final win on closing day this past Emerald Downs season. He wouldn’t have wanted it any other way especially who is final winner was. Mort’s love of horse racing and especially Washington racing was really important to him.
In 2024, Mort bid and purchased a Washington yearling at the mixed sale for $5,000. The chestnut gelding would be named Fred Mo. Fred Mo was the son of Jess Mo and out of Brookie Girl and grandson of Proud Citizen. The Bar C Racing Stables bred Fred Mo. Robbie Baze trains Fred Mo.
Fred Mo made his racing debut on August 24, 2025 in a maiden special weight 2-year-old race going 5 1/2-furlongs with Manuel Americano in the saddle. They broke 3rd and the 7-2 shot ran an even race as a clear 3rd 4 1/2 lengths behind the winner.
Robbins and Baze wanted to get one more in him before the end of the season so on closing day Fred Mo was again sent off at 7-2 odds in another MSW at 5 1/2-furlongs. This time Fred broke well from the 8 hole for Americano and sat just behind the front runner down the back stretch. Just before entering the turn Amricano and Fred Mo surged to the lead and would open up 3 or 4 lengths into the stretch and had plenty left to win by 1 3/4’s lengths in a final time of 1:05.67.
Mort’s smile said it all from the winners circle. There was nothing like that winners feeling and to get to experience that for his last time on closing day was very special to him. Additionally, there is no doubt he collected well at the mutual window as well and was pleased taking that $9.72 win pay.
Mort Robbins’ Fred Mo winning on Closing Day his last win
Mort Robbins Partners
Like we said before, Mort had many partners through the years. He loved being an owner but he also loved owning with other people and sharing that love of racing. Robbins has been partners with several iterations of all of these folks. Matt and Toni Zekes, Elizabeth Staehle, James and Linda Kirschman, Janet Johnson, Barry Abrams, Bonnie Baze, Robbie Baze, Richard Ford, Del Kelly and of course Roy Lumm and Lumm’s Blue Diamond Stable.
Best Horses
Robbins had a couple of horses that stood out for him including Private Boss. Robbins owned Private Boss with Roy Lumm and Del Kelly. Lumm purchased Private Boss from the Washington mixed sale in 2013 for $2,300. The El Dorado farms black gelding was foaled in 2012 by Private Gold out of Irene’s Bonus Baby by Free at Last.
Robbins never had a stakes winner but he got close with Private Boss. Private Boss placed 3rd in the 2014 Emerald Express Stakes, 3rd in the WTBOA Lads Stakes, 2nd in the Daily Racing Form Dennis Dodge Stakes and took 2nd at 26-1 in the 2014 Gottstein Futurity. Javier Matias rode Private Boss in that race and ended up 5 1/2 lengths behind the winner, 7-5 Prime Engine but was a clear 2nd finishing in front of 28-1 Val de Saire.
We bring this up because as a horse owner Mort no doubt was super proud of this horse and relished in his great showing. But as a horse player, he was on top of the world.
Prime Engine was not the favorite in this 6 horse field at 7-5, Trackattacker was at 3-5. Trackattacker also captured the eye of what is known as a “bridge jumper”. We’re not sure what the amount was bet on Trackattacker but we would think Mort would have had at least $100 w-p-s on Private Boss. Running 2nd in a 6 horse field with the 2nd choice at 7-5 winning Private Boss paid $12.60 on the $2 place and he $2 show returned $96.40. This is the kind of hit that Mort lived for and fueled a big part of his love of the game.
Private Boss’ run in the 2014 Gottstein Futurity
Other Top Runners for Mort
Despite the success of Private Boss, Mort’s highest earner was a runner Fist Full of Green. Mort, Lumm and James and Linda Kirschman owned the Cal bred by Bertrando for all 29 lifetime races where he finished with a 5-4-8 record and banked $87,974. He made one start in a stakes race at Portland Meadows but ran the majority of his career in allowance/optional claiming races.
Other top runners for Mort were Fastasucan earning $78,195, Lightning Bob which was a stakes starter, Charlie’s Charmer, Naaba Trip and Wazzu Red.
Robbins Stats
Sole Owner: 116 11-22-12 $139,598
Partners with Roy Lumm/Blue Diamond Stable: 196 15-32-29 $251,547
All other Partnerships: 202 31-29-36 $349,753
All Combined: 514 57-83-77 $740,898 for a lifetime 11% win rate and top 3 finish of 42%
Mort Robbins part of the heart and soul of Washington racing
Mort Robbins was one of the nicest people you could ever meet. His big smile and gleam in his eye it always seemed like he had a little secret or an idea of how he was going to hit the next big one as a player. He loved the challenge of the game from betting straight to figuring out some of the exotic bets. He was a regular at all the Centralia off track betting sites over the years and when he came in to make his bets he had everything written down like a blue print. There was no guessing with Mort. He always had done his homework and then thought out his best strategy.
As a horse owner, he loved the preparation and had full faith in his friend Roy Lumm and then Robbie Baze. He bought horses from the Washington auctions, he entered 90% of his runners at Emerald Downs. He loved to come and watch his runners run and when they did finish 1st it was electric for him.
Many may have walked by Mort many times, thinking oh just another old guy who likes racing. He didn’t seem to want to stand out, he just wanted to enjoy all of what live racing in Washington state has been and continues to be. Mort Robbins is one of those guys we are going to sorely miss in our love of our sport. He was a huge supporter, player and then began to participate hands on.
Mort Robbins one of the great, yet quiet giants of Northwest racing. There is no greater representative of the blue collar claimer owner than Mort. I bet he loves the idea of that. Not sure what that bet would pay but it’s likely more than $96.40.
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