Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-15
WIN, LOSE OR
.DKAW By FRANCIS s1AuA
Next to the Minus Pool

= ErALEAH Fla Feb l5-Amerca's hotties; race rider?
Well YOU might try Willie Hartack for szeall los pounds
him Chalk bettor here thinking that next to the
pool he is The greatest thing in racing To-Day And
his most critics among horsemen temper
ing their views.
Oddly there are trainers who insist that Harta"k
has seat" He horses kidneys like lump
Of putty according the pursts They add that he hustes
horses that do not take kindly being hustled and that Wee
Willie takes unnecessary chances putting mounts N posi-
tions where only luck will get him out.
None which consistent with the record which
veals that 1856 the 24-yearold native of Johnsown Pa
was the No reinsman and money winner in the Country
And with the aid of three hot days Willie is far
in front at Haeah for 81 He scored with of every five
mounts last year and his SAT winners crossed 955 for
all time record In 55 he AIT times and in "a and
49, respectively Hartack 1923 and $50 times Counting
his SO victories in 1856 his winners totaled 73 at the end
of 1856.
And he's been riding only four years and four months
If he could maintain his present pace Willie could hit the
magical mark of 5000 winners sometime in 1866.
THE ONLY RIDER IN THE WORLD approaching 5000
wins Johnny Longden only six in his 3Oth
in the saddle Hartack could surpass Longdea record in
his 4th he could continue to average $50 winners
year.
West Coast fans might be forgiven they point out that
Willie Shoemaker FartackS great rival also must be
sidered any discussion Longdens For Silent
Shoe only year older than Harack rode his first winner
Sa years earlier than the Pennsylvania and with the aid
of record ABS winners in 1885, l2O6 ahead of Harack
at The start G. 1857.
not precisely darling the press boxes.
but then perfectionists rarely popular Willie
with icy blue with the dedication toward
riding that Williams shows toward the of batting
After he loses, Hartack is apt to be erse with inter-
viewers
Some think i'm stuck up, Willie admits, because
disagree with the things they write alf the time
they something thin; they do, they write it,
They ask What they write isn't often true
With me- black is black and white is white. There is
no in-betVeen With me- you either ride horse good or
you ride him bad"
THE LITTLE PENNSYLVANIA isn't especially con-
cerned ty criticism If his riang Willie puts this
way: 1T isn't hard to learn to look good horse But
does the horse know how yol look? you doing the best
by hm?, That's what counts"
Ted Williams can't wait g-t into batting cage and
1t is only with deep reluctance that he leaves Bill
Hartack frets when he does not ride in every
days Once he broke openly with his agent Chick
Lang, because he open on card and
garded those no-boy" horses better t.an Larg had
booked for hi.l.
Hartack studies horses Williams studies pitchers He
is tie first customer the Hiaeah 20 buy all
o. the early racing he handicaps every him
SELF Everett Clay Charlie Johnson the Rialeah staff
who point out that close to 100 orse IN the
every day. maintain that Harack usually
running habits of them observation
from having ridden them.
when I'm laying back CT The pace with five or ST.
horses in front OF head up' Willie says. 81
know the names Of every horse rider ahead of II
put horse down the rail behind sole wall of horses
20 bear out around the I'll 90 through hole
leaves. know certain horse Tugs in don't get between
him and The rail II you've got to around the whole field
it makes all the difference TO know about it in advance
SON OF A COAL MINER Haitack hated his home
End embraced chance 10 join Norman Corhin trainer
1T Charles Town, w. Va. The only thing knew about
racing listening 20 the KENTUCKY rerby the radio"
Willie says The only two knew Glen McCaI
thy, who called the Derbes and EDDIE A.caro
To- Trainer Corbin, he mucked stalls, walked
eventually graduated 70 galopne horses the fall Of
1852 Corbin asked he wanted to ride Hartack the
perfectionist icy self critical replied:
MIR Corbir I'm not ready. i've been watching them
locks in The and DOM know nothing"
Put nc did Tide for Corbin afteWard indeed, his
frst mount surprise. read in newspaper
mat ~ riding Of Corbn5 horses and hac borrow
riding pants and boots, saddle sku cap all otner
equipment including goggles that he forgot TO in his
excitement Wren the FIELD broke oothing bat horses
In front Of and en the dirt started Hitting my eyes,
Willie recalls THAT'S Che last Know abouC tho race
cept thai finished eighth
hartack doesn't drink smoke and trainers dnani
nousy agree that ne Keeps his clear Ben and Jimmy
Jones, father training team fol Calumet
~ the guy and call him vastly improved Willie knows ne
good too but we'll here's Hartack again:
GOOD tsnt enough want 10 he beLtei rodays
are what count DOM worry about The past records NC
BODY tells oday horses what vou yesterdays horses