William John Hartack Jr. (December 9, 1932 – November 26, 2007), known as Bill Hartack, was an American jockey in Thoroughbred racing. He won 4,272 races from 21,535 mounts in North America and was one of the leading American race riders of the 1950s and 1960s.[1][2] Hartack won the Kentucky Derby five times, a record he shares with Eddie Arcaro, and also won the Preakness Stakes three times and the Belmont Stakes once.[3][4]
Hartack was North America's leading jockey by wins in 1955, 1956, 1957, and 1960, and led by earnings in 1956 and 1957.[1] In 1957, he became the first jockey to surpass $3 million in purse earnings in a single season.[1][5] He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1959 at age 26, becoming the youngest rider elected to the Hall of Fame.[1]
Hartack was known for decisive race-riding, strong tactical judgment, and a difficult public reputation. His conflicts with owners, trainers, racing officials, fellow riders, and the press became a recurring part of his career coverage.[6][7]
Early life
editHartack was born on December 9, 1932, in Colver, Pennsylvania, a coal-mining community in Cambria County.[1] He was the son of William John Hartack Sr., a coal miner, and Nancy Irene Rager Hartack.[8] He grew up in the Blacklick Township and Belsano area of western Pennsylvania, in a household shaped by mining work and farm responsibilities.[9][5]
Hartack's mother died on Christmas morning in 1940 from injuries suffered in an automobile accident. He was eight years old.[9][8] The family home burned the following year. The replacement house had no furnace, central heating, air conditioning, telephone, electricity, or indoor bathroom.[9] Hartack attended Blacklick Township High School in Nanty Glo, Pennsylvania, helped farm the property, and grew up under the strict authority of his father.[9][3]
As a teenager, Hartack was too small for the team sports he wanted to play. At seventeen, he stood about 5 feet 4 inches and weighed roughly 111 pounds.[9] After graduation, he tried to enlist in the United States Navy, but was rejected because of his size.[9] A family friend suggested racetrack work, and Hartack took a bus to Charles Town Races in West Virginia. Trainer Norbin "Junie" Corbin gave him work walking horses, cleaning tack, mucking stalls, and later exercising horses.[9][3]
Riding career
editEarly career
editHartack began race riding in 1952. His first mount came at Waterford Park on October 11, when he rode Hal's Play to an eighth-place finish in a claiming race.[9] His first victory came three days later, on October 14, aboard Nickleby, a five-year-old gelding owned and trained by Corbin.[1][9] During the 24-day fall meet at Waterford, Hartack won seven races from 33 mounts, with five seconds and four thirds.[9]
After the Waterford meet, Hartack rode at Wheeling Downs and then returned to Charles Town, where he led the standings with 24 wins during a 19-day meet.[9] In 1953, he won 350 races, second in North America behind Bill Shoemaker, who won 485.[9] Most of Hartack's 1953 riding came in West Virginia, Florida, Maryland, and northern Ohio. On October 6, 1953, he rode six winners on one card at Waterford.[9] On October 15, he won with Liberty Andy at Waterford and graduated from apprentice to journeyman status.[9]
Agent Chick Lang began booking Hartack's mounts when the young rider came to Maryland and accompanied him to Florida for his first major winter season.[3][1] Lang later said his work with Hartack included both securing mounts and repairing relationships after Hartack had offended owners, trainers, or officials.[3][6]
National rise
editHartack moved quickly from apprentice rider to national leader. In 1955, he led all North American jockeys with 417 wins, becoming only the second rider after Bill Shoemaker to win more than 400 races in a year.[1] He led the win standings again in 1956, 1957, and 1960.[1] From 1955 through 1957, he won 1,105 races and won at a rate of about 26 percent.[4]
His mounts earned $2,343,955 in 1956, then a single-season record for a jockey.[4] In 1957, he raised the record to $3,060,501, becoming the first rider to pass $3 million in annual purse earnings.[1][4] During this period, Hartack received national media attention, appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1956 and on the cover of Time on February 10, 1958.[10][11]
Hartack disliked the nickname "Willie", though it was often used in newspapers and magazines during his career.[5] He refused to sign copies of his 1958 Time cover because the magazine had used "Willie" rather than "Bill" or "William".[5]
Triple Crown races
editHartack's first Triple Crown race victory came in the 1956 Preakness Stakes aboard Fabius for Calumet Farm. Fabius had finished second to Needles in the 1956 Kentucky Derby, but reversed the result in the Preakness.[4][12]
In 1957, Hartack won his first Kentucky Derby aboard Iron Liege, also owned by Calumet Farm. The race became known for Shoemaker's ride on Gallant Man, who briefly stood in the irons before the finish after misjudging the location of the finish line. Iron Liege, ridden through the wire by Hartack, won by a nose.[3][4][13]
Hartack was expected to ride Tim Tam in the 1958 Kentucky Derby after riding the Calumet colt to wins in the Everglades Stakes and Florida Derby.[5] On April 26, 1958, six days before the Derby, Hartack was injured at Churchill Downs when his mount Quail Egg reared in the starting gate and threw him backward, breaking his left leg below the knee.[5][14] He was replaced by Ismael Valenzuela, who won the Derby and Preakness with Tim Tam.[5][4] Hartack watched the Derby from the roof of the Churchill Downs clubhouse.[5]
Hartack won his second Kentucky Derby in 1960 aboard Venetian Way, trained by Victor J. Sovinski and owned by Sunny Blue Farm.[1][4] Venetian Way did not win the Preakness, and Hartack later rode Celtic Ash in the Belmont Stakes. Celtic Ash won by 51⁄2 lengths over Venetian Way, giving Hartack two wins in the 1960 Triple Crown series on two different horses.[4]
In 1962, Hartack won his third Kentucky Derby aboard Decidedly, a gray colt bred and owned by George A. Pope Jr. and trained by Horatio Luro.[1][4] Decidedly ran the race in 2:002⁄5, breaking the Kentucky Derby record that had stood since Whirlaway's 1941 victory.[4]
Hartack won the 1964 Kentucky Derby aboard Northern Dancer, a Canadian-bred colt owned by E. P. Taylor and trained by Luro.[1][4] Northern Dancer's regular rider, Shoemaker, chose to ride Hill Rise, the Derby favorite. Hartack saved ground early, angled Northern Dancer out, moved before Hill Rise could control the stretch, and held off Hill Rise by a neck in 2:00, then a Derby record.[4] Northern Dancer then won the Preakness Stakes with Hartack aboard and finished third in the Belmont Stakes.[1] Hartack also rode Northern Dancer to victory in the Queen's Plate.[4][3]
Hartack returned to the Triple Crown series in 1969 with Majestic Prince, trained by Johnny Longden and owned by Frank McMahon. Majestic Prince was unbeaten entering the Kentucky Derby and became Hartack's fifth Derby winner.[3][4] Hartack settled the colt behind the early pace, allowed Arts and Letters to make the first move, then used Majestic Prince's acceleration in the stretch. Majestic Prince won by a neck over Arts and Letters.[4] The Preakness produced another close finish, with Majestic Prince again defeating Arts and Letters by a neck.[4] In the Belmont Stakes, Majestic Prince finished second to Arts and Letters, ending his Triple Crown bid.[4]
Hartack's Derby win on Majestic Prince tied Eddie Arcaro's record of five Kentucky Derby victories.[1][3]
Other major horses
editHartack rode a wide range of champions, classic winners, sprinters, routers, fillies, and older horses. His Hall of Fame mounts included Airmans Guide, Bayou, Bold Lad, Carry Back, Celtic Ash, Decathlon, Decidedly, Fabius, Iron Liege, Majestic Prince, Northern Dancer, Round Table, Tim Tam, and Venetian Way.[1] He also rode Idun, Intentionally, Nadir, Pet Bully, Princess Turia, Royal Native, Smart Deb, and other major stakes winners.[1][4]
In 1957, Hartack rode Gen. Duke to a Florida Derby victory in world-record time for 11⁄8 miles, defeating Bold Ruler.[4] Gen. Duke became a major Kentucky Derby prospect but was injured and did not race again after the spring of 1957.[4] Hartack also won the Florida Derby with Tim Tam in 1958 and Easy Spur in 1959.[15]
Hartack also had success with fillies and mares. Airmans Guide won major races with Hartack and became one of the leading fillies of her period.[4] Royal Native was voted champion handicap female of 1960 after a season that included multiple stakes wins with Hartack aboard.[4] He also rode Idun, a champion at two and three, and Smart Deb, another leading filly of the period.[1]
Hartack rode Kelso in some of the gelding's early races before Kelso became a five-time Horse of the Year.[1] He also rode Round Table, one of the leading American horses of the 1950s.[1]
Hong Kong and later riding career
editHartack ended his main United States riding career in 1974 with 4,272 North American victories and purse earnings of $26,466,758.[1][2] He later rode in Hong Kong, where higher assigned weights made riding less difficult than in the United States.[3][4] He rode there for several years before retiring from race riding permanently around 1980 or 1981.[3][16]
After riding, Hartack worked as a television commentator, jockey agent, steward, and racing official.[3][9] He worked as a racing official in Illinois, Florida, and Louisiana.[17] At the time of his death, he had recently finished working at Louisiana Downs.[3]
Riding style and reputation
editHartack was known for decisiveness, strength, concentration, and a willingness to make early tactical moves before other riders had committed.[3][6] His seat was sometimes described as unconventional, but his timing, reflexes, and competitive instincts made him one of the most effective riders of his era.[8] Joe Hirsch of Daily Racing Form later described Hartack as a rider who could make a brilliant decision quickly, often before the other jockeys had decided what to do.[3]
Hartack's personality became a major part of his reputation. He was intensely competitive, disliked losing on favorites, and had a strained relationship with the racing press.[6][11] His 1956 Sports Illustrated cover story emphasized the contrast between his riding success and his difficult moods away from winning races.[11] The same drive that made him a leading rider also created problems for agents, trainers, officials, and reporters.[6][7]
The press often compared Hartack to Ted Williams, another successful but combative athlete with a strained relationship with reporters.[5] Hartack's conflicts were not limited to the press. In September 1958, he punched jockey Jimmy Johnson in the jockeys' room at Atlantic City Race Course after Johnson was awarded a race through the disqualification of Hartack's mount. Hartack received a 15-day suspension, one of several suspensions during his career.[1][6]
Eddie Arcaro, then president of the Jockeys' Guild, admired Hartack's ability but criticized his behavior.[6] Fellow Hall of Fame jockey Braulio Baeza, who rode against Hartack in the 1969 Triple Crown series, described him as fiercely competitive and aggressive on horseback but friendly when known personally.[3]
Media profile
editHartack's rise came during a period when jockeys and major racehorses were prominent national sports figures. He appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated on September 17, 1956, and again after his 1964 Kentucky Derby victory on Northern Dancer.[11][5] His 1958 Time cover was painted by James Ormsbee Chapin and later became part of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery collection.[5][10]
In 1964, shortly after winning the Kentucky Derby with Northern Dancer, Hartack appeared on the television game show What's My Line?.[5] In 1967, he collaborated with Whitney Tower on a three-part Sports Illustrated series, "A Hard Ride All the Way", which examined his background, career, disputes, and reputation.[18][19]
Personal life
editDeath
editHartack died on November 26, 2007, while on a hunting trip near Freer, Texas. He was 74.[3][13] His body was found in a cabin at a hunting camp owned by Thoroughbred owner Greg Goodman.[3] The Webb County medical examiner's office determined that he died of natural causes due to heart disease.[3][17]
Funeral services were held on December 6, 2007, at Rekus Funeral Home in Iberia, Missouri, and Hartack was buried at Iberia Cemetery near the family farm of his close friend Garrett "Gary" Condra.[17] A memorial service was held on December 10, 2007, at Grace Lutheran Church and Learning Center in Miami Springs, Florida, with retired Hall of Fame trainer T. J. Kelly giving the eulogy.[17][16]
Honors and legacy
editHartack was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1959 at age 26.[1] He was inducted into the Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame in 1971.[5][20] The Bill Hartack Memorial Handicap at Hawthorne Race Course was named in his honor after his death.[21]
The Bill Hartack Charitable Foundation was established after his death to support Thoroughbred racing charities and honor his career.[22] The foundation presents the Bill Hartack Memorial Award to the winning jockey of the Kentucky Derby.[5][23]
Career statistics
editTriple Crown race wins
edit| Year | Race | Horse | Owner | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Preakness Stakes | Fabius | Calumet Farm | Horace A. Jones |
| 1957 | Kentucky Derby | Iron Liege | Calumet Farm | Horace A. Jones |
| 1960 | Kentucky Derby | Venetian Way | Sunny Blue Farm | Victor J. Sovinski |
| 1960 | Belmont Stakes | Celtic Ash | Ralph Lowe | Tom Barry |
| 1962 | Kentucky Derby | Decidedly | George A. Pope Jr. | Horatio Luro |
| 1964 | Kentucky Derby | Northern Dancer | Windfields Farm / E. P. Taylor | Horatio Luro |
| 1964 | Preakness Stakes | Northern Dancer | Windfields Farm / E. P. Taylor | Horatio Luro |
| 1969 | Kentucky Derby | Majestic Prince | Frank McMahon | Johnny Longden |
| 1969 | Preakness Stakes | Majestic Prince | Frank McMahon | Johnny Longden |
Further reading
edit- Christine, Bill (2016). Bill Hartack: The Bittersweet Life of a Hall of Fame Jockey. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. ISBN 9781476663623.
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 "William J. Hartack". National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Jockey Profile: William Hartack". Equibase. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Hersh, Marcus (November 27, 2007). "Five-Derby Winner Bill Hartack Dies". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Haskin, Steve (December 21, 2021). "Kentucky Derby Master Bill Hartack". America's Best Racing. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Przybylek, Leslie (September 4, 2020). "Behind the Portrait: Bill Hartack's Derby Disappointment of 1958". Heinz History Center. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Bouyea, Brien. "The Hard Ride of Bill Hartack". National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Finley, Bill (January 25, 2017). "Book Review: Bill Hartack—The Bittersweet Life of a Hall of Fame Jockey". Thoroughbred Daily News. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Bill Hartack". EBSCO Research Starters. EBSCO Information Services. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Mooney, Bill (August 5, 2011). "Recalling the Life of Jockey Bill Hartack". Paulick Report. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
- 1 2 "Willie Hartack, Feb. 10, 1958". Time. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Hirsch, Joe (September 17, 1956). "William Hartack". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 7, 2026 – via Internet Archive.
- 1 2 "The Triple Crown, 1867–2023" (PDF). Churchill Downs Incorporated. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
- 1 2 "5-Time Derby Winner Hartack Dies at 74". Associated Press. November 28, 2007. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
- ↑ "The Race Track". The New Yorker. May 3, 1958. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
- ↑ "Gulfstream Park Stakes Races Past and Present Winners" (PDF). Gulfstream Park. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "William J. "Bill" Hartack Obituary". Miami Herald. December 6, 2007. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "William J. Hartack Obituary". Fancher-Rekus Funeral Homes. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
- ↑ Christine, Bill (2016). Bill Hartack: The Bittersweet Life of a Hall of Fame Jockey. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. ISBN 9781476663623.
- ↑ "Bill Hartack: The Bittersweet Life of a Hall of Fame Jockey". McFarland & Company. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
- ↑ "William "Bill" Hartack Jr". Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
- ↑ "Bill Hartack Memorial Handicap". Hawthorne Race Course. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
- ↑ "The Bill Hartack Charitable Foundation" (PDF). Bill Hartack Charitable Foundation. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
- ↑ "Victor Espinoza to Receive Bill Hartack Memorial Award". Paulick Report. February 19, 2015. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
External links
edit- William J. Hartack at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
- William Hartack at Equibase
- "William Hartack" in Sports Illustrated, September 17, 1956, via the Internet Archive
- Bill Hartack on the cover of Time, February 10, 1958
- Bill Hartack: The Bittersweet Life of a Hall of Fame Jockey at McFarland & Company