SOUTH PASADENA, Calif. -- The apparent suicide of trainer Eddie Gregson, who saddled 1982 Kentucky Derby winner Gato Del Sol, has stunned Southern California's horse racing industry.

	Eddie Gregson died Sunday of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Miller said no foul play is suspected. He said police believe Gregson's death was a suicide.

"Everybody at the track is in complete horrified shock," trainer Jenine Sahadi said. "He was a father figure to a lot of people and that's why it's so unexpected. He was always laughing and loved to tell stories and loved to hear stories."

Sahadi said she joked with Gregson on Sunday after he saddled one of his horses at Hollywood Park. Crows, a 3-year-old, finished third, beaten by two heads. Street Cat, a 2-year-old filly racing for the first time, was seventh in her race.

Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel said he knew of no reason why Gregson would kill himself.

"I know you get depressed when you lose, but it's got to be something else. I thought his life was pretty normal," he said.

"He's a real good guy, an honest person and very intelligent. He's a very good trainer. The horses came first with him."

Sahadi, who saddled her first Kentucky Derby starter last month, said Gregson had been particularly kind to her husband, trainer Ben Cecil.

"He did whatever he could to help him," she said.

"He tried with younger people to make them believe in racing. He wanted everybody to respect racing and respect the animals. He wasn't afraid to speak out about things that he thought were wrong," Sahadi said.

Gregson, who lived in Pasadena, went to his office in the evening after racing ended at the Inglewood track.

"When he didn't come home and didn't answer the phone, she went to check on him," Miller said. "He was found by her."

Miller said Mrs. Gregson told police that her husband had been facing personal problems unrelated to racing.

"She knew he had been depressed and unhappy for some time," he said.

Gato Del Sol, a 21-1 long shot in the 1982 Kentucky Derby, provided Gregson with his biggest victory. He also trained Super Diamond, winner of the 1986 Hollywood Gold Cup, who retired in 1989 as the third richest California-bred thoroughbred.

Gregson had 13 victories from 79 starts and earnings of $433,909 last year, with Controlled being his lone stakes winner in the Boo La Boo at Santa Anita.

Among Gregson's other major stakes wins were the 1995 Hollywood Turf Cup with Royal Chariot, the 1989 San Antonio Handicap with Super Diamond and the 1978 Santa Barbara Handicap with Kittyluck.

In recent years, Gregson had served as an officer of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association and was the current president of the California Thoroughbred Trainers Association.

Born Aug. 7, 1938, Gregson grew up on his family's ranch and breeding farm in Ventura County. He graduated from Stanford before taking out his trainer's license in 1969 with a string of horses from Noble Threewitt's stable. Gregson began his own stable in Southern California in 1974.

Gregson also dabbled in acting, working under contract to Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox. He appeared in the 1958 war film "The Naked and the Dead" with Cliff Robertson and Raymond Massey.

He is survived by his wife and two children.