November 22, 2008
Bill Hartack: 1932-2007
Hall of Famer won Preakness 3 times
Bill Hartack was not the easiest jockey to get along with, and that was fine with him. He simply let his riding take him to the top of the thoroughbred racing world.
"What we'll remember is his tenacity, his competitiveness," said Chick Lang, Hartack's agent in the 1950s and a former general manager of Pimlico Race Course. "He liked what he was doing, and he did it very well. In his profession, there was no one better."
Hartack, a Hall of Famer, was found dead in a cabin while on a hunting vacation in Freer, Texas. He was 74. He died Monday night of heart disease, said Dr. Corinne Stern, chief medical examiner of Webb County. Stern said yesterday that Hartack's family had been notified and that funeral arrangements were being made.
Hartack and Eddie Arcaro, both Hall of Famers, are the only jockeys to win the Kentucky Derby five times. Hartack won with Iron Liege in 1957, Venetian Way in 1960, Decidedly in 1962, Northern Dancer in 1964 and Majestic Prince in 1969.
He won the Preakness aboard Fabius in 1956, Northern Dancer in 1964 and Majestic Prince in 1969, and took the Belmont Stakes with Celtic Ash in 1960.
Hartack rode in the United States until 1974 and had 4,272 wins from 21,535 mounts, winning nearly 20 percent of his races. He rode in Hong Kong from 1978 to 1980.
Born Dec. 9, 1932, in Ebensburg, Pa., William John Hartack Jr. took a job as an exercise and stable boy at age 17 at Charles Town Race Course in West Virginia.
He began riding at West Virginia's Waterford Park in 1952 and became a star the following year.
Mixx it!
Get home delivery of The Sun and save over 50% off the newsstand price
Copyright © 2008, The Baltimore Sun
|
133rd Preakness• Past winners | Official Web site
Preakness desktop wallpaper• More sports wallpaper
Laurel results and entriesPopular stories: Sports
- Sports Digest: U.S. men roll, advance in World Cup qualifying
- McDaniel coach Flynn dies at 49 of heart attack
- 'Awesome' beginning
- Yankee Stadium quite a site
- Harford County: Games to watch
2008 Preakness week
Photos from events and workouts leading up to the 133rd Preakness
2008 Kentucky Derby
Photos of the 134th Kentucky Derby
| ||||
Online resources
Download desktop wallpaper created from Sun sports photos> Orioles > 1983 World Series > Ravens > More > Sports photo galleries > Sports blogs > Sports contests > Submit sports feedback |
Going deepSun sports special reports and in-depth coverage |
|
 |
> 1983 O's > Football: The tie that binds > Orioles > Baltimore Colts > Going deep: Other sports |