In his later years, Wright lived in Barrie, Ontario, performed community work and raised horses. He was the breeder of Archworth, winner of the 1939 King's Plate. McCullagh, who had purchased the horse from Wright as a yearling, said, "It's a great day for me, but I am only the stuffed shirt who bought him for $500. My thrill is nothing at all compared to the joy in Bill Wright's heart. It's been a lifelong dream. When he came to this country from England he used to watch the races at Woodbine from a knothole in the fence. Standing there, he vowed that if he ever struck it rich, he would try to breed a winner of the Plate. The dream came true today."