Bill Hartack
| Bill Hartack | |
|---|---|
 Hartack on the cover ofTime | |
| Occupation | Jockey |
| Born | December 9, 1932 Ebensburg, Pennsylvania,US |
| Died | November 26, 2007(aged 74) |
| Career wins | 4,272 |
| Major racing wins | |
| American Classicswins: Kentucky Derby(1957, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1969) Preakness Stakes(1956, 1964, 1969) Belmont Stakes(1960) | |
| Racing awards | |
| United States Champion Jockey by earnings (1956, 1957) United States Champion Jockey by wins (1955, 1956, 1957, 1960) | |
| Honours | |
| National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame(1959) Bill Hartack Memorial HandicapatHawthorne | |
| Significant horses | |
| Airmans Guide,Barbizon (horse),BayouBold Lad, Bornastar,Carry Back,Celtic Ash,Decathlon, Decidedly,Dedicate,Fabius,Idun, Intentionally,Iron Liege,Kelso, Majestic Prince,Nadir,Northern Dancer, Pet Bully,Princess Turia,Round Table,Royal Native,Smart Deb,Tim Tam,Venetian Way | |
William John Hartack Jr.(December 9, 1932 – November 26, 2007), born inColver, Pennsylvania,was aHall of Famejockey.Colver is in the northwestern part of Cambria Township, 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Ebensburg, the county seat.
Early life and career
[edit]Referred to by the media as both "Bill" and "Willie" (Hartack detested being called "Willie" ) during his racing career, Hartack grew up on a farm in the Blacklick Township area ofCambria County, Pennsylvania.
His mother died from injuries in an automobile accident in 1940, when Hartack was 8.
Small in stature, at age 17 he stood 5 ft. 4 in. (1.63 m) and weighed 111 lb (50 kg), a size that enabled him to pursue a career as a jockey inThoroughbredhorse racing.
By his third season of racing, Hartack was theUnited States' leading jockey in both wins and money earned. He would go on to win a National Champion title six times.
He andEddie Arcaroare the only two jockeys to ever win theKentucky Derbyfive times.[1]As well, Hartack won thePreakness Stakesthree times and theBelmont Stakesonce. He rodeTim Tamto victory in the 1958Florida Derbybut a week before the Kentucky Derby, Hartack broke a leg and had to give up his ride on Tim Tam to replacement jockey Ismael Valenzuela, who won the Derby.
During his riding career between 1953 and 1974 in the United States, Hartack rode 4,272 winners in 21,535 mounts. From 1974 to 1980 he raced inHong Kong,then retired in 1981. Hartack led the nation in races won four times, and was the first rider to have purse earnings of $3 million in a season.
After he retired as a jockey, Hartack worked as a steward as well as other racing officials for the rest of his life.
Hartack made the cover ofSports Illustratedmagazine in 1956 and again in 1964, plus the cover of the 10 February 1958 issue ofTime,which he always refused to sign as it showed his first name as "Willie," which he detested.
He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1959 at the early age of 26.
In 1967, Hartack authored (with Whitney Tower) a three-part series inSports Illustratedtitled "A Hard Ride All The Way." Published in the March 27, April 3 & April 10 issues, the series chronicled Hartack's life and included his frequent run-ins and disputes with owners, trainers, racing officials and members of the press.
Winners ridden inTriple CrownClassic races:
- Kentucky Derby:
- 1957:Iron Liege
- 1960:Venetian Way
- 1962:Decidedly
- 1964:Northern Dancer
- 1969:Majestic Prince
- Preakness Stakes:
- 1956:Fabius
- 1964: Northern Dancer
- 1969: Majestic Prince
- Belmont Stakes:
- 1960:Celtic Ash
Death
[edit]On November 26, 2007, two weeks before what would have been his 75th birthday, Hartack was found dead from an apparent heart attack in a cabin at a camp near the town ofFreer, Texas.[2]
Legacy
[edit]The Bill Hartack Charitable Foundation was established to honor a racing legend and icon and to continue in his name contributions to the industry he dearly loved - Thoroughbred racing. More information can be found atbillhartackfoundation.com.
References
[edit]- ^N; P; R (2007-11-27)."Horse-Racing Icon Bill Hartack Dies at 74".NPR.Retrieved2022-10-05.
- ^"5-Time Derby Winner Hartack Dies at 74".Associated Press.November 28, 2007.Retrieved2021-01-27.
Further reading
[edit]- Christine, Bill(2016).Bill Hartack: The Bittersweet Life of a Hall of Fame Jockey.Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company.ISBN978-1-4766-6362-3.
External links
[edit]- William J. Hartack at the United States' National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
- Obituary inThe Times,2 January 2007
- ESPN Five-Derby Winner Bill Hartack Dies
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