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5-Time Kentucky Derby Winning Jockey Bill Hartack Dies at 74
Bill Hartack, the 74-year-old Hall of Famer who is also a five-time Kentucky Derby winner, was found dead in a cabin in Freer, Texas while on a hunting vacation. He died Monday night, November 26th, from natural causes due to heart disease according to Dr. Corinne Stern, the chief medical examiner in south Texas’ Webb County.
Dr. Stern said Tuesday that Hartack’s family has been notified, and funeral arrangements were being made.
Fellow Hall of Fame rider Eddie Arcaro and Bill Hartack are the only jockeys to win the Kentucky Derby five times. Bill Hartack won his first Kentucky Derby with Iron Liege in 1957. He then won with Venetian Way in 1960, Decidedly in 1962, Northern Dancer in 1964 and Majestic Prince in 1969.
Hartack won the Preakness Stakes aboard Fabius in 1956, Northern Dancer in 1964 and Majestic Prince in 1969. His only Belmont Stakes win came in 1960 aboard Celtic Ash.
Known for his overwhelming desire to win, Bill Hartack was the leading rider by earnings in 1956 through 1957 and the leader by number of wins during 1955-57 and 1960. He was the second jockey to ride as many as 400 winners in a single year, doing so in 1955, when winning with 417 of his mounts.
Bill Hartack, considered among the fiercest riders in the game, rode until 1974 and had 4,272 wins from 21,535 mounts, winning nearly 20 percent of his races.
“He was my idol,” said trainer Mike Stidham, whose father, George, was Bill Hartack’s agent at the end of the rider’s career. “I was at the ‘69 Derby when he won with Majestic Prince. He was a great person to grow up around. He was a kid at heart.”
Born December 9, 1932 in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, William John Hartack Jr. was raised by his coal-mining father on a farm. He took a job as an exercise and stable boy at the age of 17 with trainer Junie Corbin at Charles Town Race Course in West Virginia. He won his first race in 1952 at Waterford Park in West Virginia. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in his 20s in 1959.
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January 23rd, 2008 at 7:27 pm
[…] late, great Bill Hartack guided Gen. Duke to victory from off the pace, wearing down Bold Ruler to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths. […]