He was born in Colver, Pennsylvania. Referred to by the media as both "Bill" and "Willie" (Hartack detested being called "Willie") during his racing career, Hartack grew up on farm in the Blacklick Township area of Cambria 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 foot 4 in. (163 m) and weighed 111 lb (50 kg), a size that enabled him to pursue a career as a jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. 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 in Hong Kong, then retired in 1981.
After he retired as a jockey, Hartack worked as a steward and as other racing officials for the rest of his life. Hartack made the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine in 1956 and again in 1964, plus the cover of Time in 1958.
He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1959 at the early age of 26. Winners ridden in Triple Crown Classic 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
On November 26, 2007, days before what would have been his 75th birthday, Hartack was found dead in a cabin at a camp near the town of Freer, Texas, in southern Texas, where he went each winter to hunt.
The cabin was checked because he had not been seen since the previous day.
He died from natural causes due to heart disease, according to the chief medical examiner in Webb County. Stidham"s father George was Hartack"s agent at various times during his career. 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 at billhartackfoundation.com.
By his third season of racing, Hartack was the United States" leading jockey, going on to win that honor on three more occasions. He and Eddie Arcaro are the only two jockeys to ever win the Kentucky Derby five times. As well, Hartack won the Preakness Stakes three times and the Belmont Stakes once. He rode Tim Tam to victory in the 1958 Florida Derby but a week before the Kentucky Derby, Hartack broke a leg and had to give up his ride on Tim Tam, who won the race. Hartack led the nation in races won four times, and was the first rider to have purse earnings of $3 million in a season.
In 1967, Hartack authored (with Whitney Tower) a three-part series in Sports Illustrated titled "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 wth owners, trainers, racing officials and members of the press
