Jockey Bill Hartack was born on December 9, 1932. He is a native of Blacklick Township and grew up on his widowed father's farm north of Belsano. At age 17, Hartack, 5'4" and 111 lbs., left the farm to pursue his interest in riding.
Several sports experts have called Bill Hartack the greatest rider of the 20th century. He has won the Kentucky Derby five times: in 1957 aboard Iron Liege, 1960 aboard Venetian Way, 1962 aboard Decidedly, 1964 aboard Northern Dancer, and 1969 aboard Majestic Prince. He also rode the winning horses in the Preakness three times in 1956, 1964, and 1969, and in the Belmont once in 1960.
Hartack has been described as "hating the news media," perhaps because many of them insisted on calling him "Willie," and probably because an earlier famous jockey had been a "Willie," when his name was Bill. Little Biographical information is available on him. Time magazine says he had won 341 races and taken in $3 million by age 25. Hartack still has numerous relatives in Blacklick Valley and was last reported working as a track steward in California. He is shown here on the February 1958 cover of Time magazine.