Bill Hartack facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bill Hartack |
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Hartack on the cover of Time
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| Occupation | Jockey |
| Born | December 9, 1932 Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, US |
| Died | November 26, 2007 (aged 74) |
| Career wins | 4,272 |
| Major racing wins | |
| American Classics wins: Kentucky Derby (1957, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1969) Preakness Stakes (1956, 1964, 1969) Belmont Stakes (1960) |
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| Racing awards | |
| United States Champion Jockey by earnings (1956, 1957) United States Champion Jockey by wins (1955, 1956, 1957, 1960) |
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| Honours | |
| National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame (1959) Bill Hartack Memorial Handicap at Hawthorne |
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| Significant horses | |
| Airmans Guide, Barbizon, Bayou Bold 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 |
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William John Hartack Jr. (born December 9, 1932 – died November 26, 2007) was an amazing American jockey. He was so good that he was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Bill Hartack was born in Colver, Pennsylvania.
Even though he was called "Willie" by some, he really didn't like that name. Bill grew up on a farm in Pennsylvania. When he was eight, his mother passed away in a car accident.
Bill was quite small, which was perfect for becoming a jockey. At 17, he was about 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 111 pounds. This size helped him become a professional rider in Thoroughbred horse racing.
A Champion Jockey
Bill Hartack quickly became one of the best jockeys in the United States. By his third year of racing, he was the country's leading jockey. He earned this honor three more times during his career.
He holds a special record with another famous jockey, Eddie Arcaro. They are the only two jockeys to win the famous Kentucky Derby five times! Bill also won the Preakness Stakes three times and the Belmont Stakes once. These three races make up the prestigious Triple Crown.
In 1958, Bill was supposed to ride a horse named Tim Tam in the Kentucky Derby. But a week before the race, Bill broke his leg. Another jockey, Ismael Valenzuela, rode Tim Tam to victory instead.
Bill rode in races from 1953 to 1974 in the United States. During that time, he won 4,272 races out of 21,535 starts. That's a lot of wins! From 1974 to 1980, he raced in Hong Kong. He officially retired from racing in 1981.
Bill was the first jockey to earn over $3 million in prize money in a single season. This was a huge achievement at the time.
Life After Racing
After retiring as a jockey, Bill Hartack continued to work in horse racing. He became a "steward," which is like a referee in horse racing. Stewards make sure all the rules are followed during races. He worked in this role for the rest of his life.
Bill was so famous that he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine twice. He also made the cover of Time magazine in 1958. He never signed the Time cover because it called him "Willie," a name he disliked.
Triple Crown Victories
Here are the horses Bill Hartack rode to victory in the important Triple Crown 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
Honors and Legacy
Bill Hartack was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1959. He was only 26 years old, which shows how quickly he became a legend in the sport.
After his passing, the Bill Hartack Charitable Foundation was created. This foundation honors his memory and continues to support the sport of Thoroughbred racing that he loved so much. You can find more information at billhartackfoundation.com.
Passing
Bill Hartack passed away on November 26, 2007. He was found in a cabin near Freer, Texas.
