For the Reporter

Mary Kubota, a longtime trainer and popular racing official, died Wednesday of lung cancer at her home in Renton.

Kubota spent nearly three decades as a trainer, learning the profession under Washington Hall of Fame Trainer Wayne Branch before taking out her license in the late 1970s. She also had stints as a veterinarian’s assistant with Dr. John Traber and Dr. Gary Bergsma.

Kubota, 62, worked the last 12 years for the Washington Horse Racing Commission, first as a clerk/identifier in the receiving barn and later as an association clocker.

As a trainer, Kubota enjoyed great success with offspring of her broodmare She’s a Bomber, a 1974 daughter of Army Bomber-Dolorous who produced a string of top runners led by towering 17-hand gelding Big Bad Bomber. Bred and trained by Kubota, the son of Meritable won 13 races and $134,876 while racing exclusively at Longacres from 1985-92.

Elliot Bay Bomber, full brother to Big Bad Bomber, won 22 races in an 89-race career that began in 1989 with Kubota, and She’s a Trooper (Trooper Seven-She’s a Bomber) won 11 races in 1990 and was Northern California’s Claimer of the Year.

Her husband of 44 years, Allan, and daughters Chrissi Reeves of Bellingham and Angie Kubota-Wolbert of Renton survives Ms. Kubota.

A memorial service is 2 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 12, at New Life Church in Renton, 15711 152nd Ave. SE.