William E. Applegate (December 18, 1851 – May 13, 1928) was an American turfman, involved in the horse racing industry for over fifty years.

[1] At one time, Applegate was owner of Churchill Downs, Latonia and one of the builders of Oakley Racetrack in Cincinnati, Ohio.

[2] A native of Georgetown, Kentucky, he came to Louisville as a young man and began his career in his family's wholesale whiskey house, Applegate & Sons.

The New Louisville Jockey Club was formed and an estimated $100,000 was invested to reconfigure the track and create a new grandstand with the iconic twin spires, designed by Joseph Dominic Baldez (1870–1957).

[8] Oakwood was home of Fonso (winner of the 1880 Kentucky Derby), Badge, Hayden Edwards and British import Simon Magus, who was struck by lightning soon after being purchased in 1898.