William Edwards

William ("Col. Billy") Edwards (Springfield, Massachusetts, June 6, 1831 – September 21, 1898) was an American businessman in Cleveland, Ohio and horseman. He is noted as being one of the founders of harness racing's Grand Circuit.

Career Edwards was born in Springfield, the son of Elisha Edwards and Eunice Lombard, who ran a drug store there. He moved to Cleveland in 1852 where he went to work for a wholesale grocer. After a year he went into partnership in a jobbing grocery business that eventually became William Edwards & Company until his death. He was "ranked among the foremost wholesale merchants of the middle west."

"He is credited with introducing the pacer to Grand Circuit racing in 1878."

He is a member of the Harness Racing Hall of Fame.