Bill Hartack Biography

A champion jockey who won the Kentucky Derby five times during his career. Hartack won his first Kentucky Derby race riding Iron Liege in 1957. His 1957 Derby win is infamous because another famous racer, Bill Shoemaker, may have miscalculated the finish and eased his horse, Gallant Man, too early allowing Iron Liege to finish first. Hartack raced in 12 Derbys and won in 1960, 1962, 1964, and 1969. He also won the Preakness Stakes three times and the Belmont Stakes once. He was the first Jockey to earn over $3 million, which he accomplished in 1957. A member of the National Racing Hall of Fame, Hartack rode 21, 535 American mounts 4,272 of who were winners.