Evening star., 1960-04-03
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW ,, FRANCIS s1Auu
The Other Hortock

HOLLYWOOD, F1ar April 2 - Among other novelties
leading the Florida Derby involving Hindu
elephants and the vc'-1ary of William Hartack
other self There at least two Hartacks this cento
versial young man says and maybe more.
Hartack whose Florida Derby mount, Venetian Way,
later nosed out by Bay Ache brought just about
everything except the horse to preDerby press shndig
Humility he carried in armSfu: ditto personality The
only thing he didn't have with him his new agent.
His longtime Chick Lang, had quit him earlier in the
week.
Hes hate-fed young man and I'm fed up" Lang
said He hates everybody eveything-racing ocals
trainers and even horses"
This is not precisely true Hartack was saying as he
strobe, boodied but unbowed, INTO of race and
other types of writers Wiie-a he abhors and to
which he won't responds not exactly favorite among
the sporting press.
I'm not hate-illed guy" Hartack pronounced. I'm
mean and nasty around the track I'll admit but when
get away from the horses I'm Just like anybody else"
ACTUALLY, BILL HARTACK seems to be nice fellow
all 1O9 pounds of him. but he submits he is misunderstood
Il didn't want to be jockey in the first place" Bill
was saying. "As kid, dreamed of being engineer
The old NANNY dad-was a coal miner didn't want to
be one, too. Hell, had dime around the house
One day named Norman CorbA said, Bill you are
small you ought be horses Why don't you 60
to Charles Town?
Il had heard of Charles Town. told my folks
and they pronounced it Charleston My dad looked at
map and said Jeez that's 900 miles away He think
ing of Charleston S. c. but the place Corbn had in mind
was the track in West Virginia.
MY dad gave $40 and 1 left still didn't want to
be jockey I'd real live horse But got to
exercising horses and got to be rider and real
heel in just about everybodys opinion that
of you guyS"-waving arm to indicate the newspaper
men-"likes me. Sometimes don't like myself"
LANG, HIS EX-AGENT, who fingered Hartack as
"hate filled" quit him year and there followed
quickly reconciliation. This time there won't be any,
Hartack saying Chick and finished forever He
tells his story about my hating people I've got story of
my for example How many times has this agent put
me on horses that don't belong?"
When he turns it Hartack has warm personality
"The only time I'm real jerk around newspaper guys
who ask stupid questions at the track he explained
Otherwise I'm ready to rite the cards and play
poker with you"
1t was little than year ago that Hartack rode
horse to the starting gate at Hiaeah and abruptly dis
mounted. This horse isn't t he pronounced, and the
track had to give back $l6OOO plus to bettors Wes
whm. Later, it disclosed that Hartacks mount was
entirely prepared for the race.
day or so after with the storm of controversy at its
peak Hartack took off by plane from Miami as fellow
passenger of Ted Williams The jockey was en- route 70
ride in New orleans and the equally controversial base
ball reporting to the Boston Red Sox in Arizona
Somebody remarked-and he wasn't the only one
They deserve each other"
HARTACK ADMITS to everything except having
talked to Williams He the plane all right Bill
saying, "bu didn't up to him and give with the
handshake He's famous ball player On the other hand
didn't expect him to greet got of at New Orleans
williams flew to Arizona"
Chick Lang" said "is record stating that
you make of hating, words to that effect anyway
Il don't hate" Hartack replied but dislike people,
like newspapermen, who ask stupid questions They will
into the jocks after race and something
dumb tell to to hell don't say nothing Usually,
it's hell"
There was a poker game shaping up and the news
papermen outnumberng Harack, to l. kept seat
When last seen Willie doing all right He winning
on low pairs stud and endearing himself to
and all.
Finally it and there was mountain of bills
on the table and Harack-the affable nceguy. poker
player and patron of all the bitter so-caed
hate filled young man-glanced at his watch.
1--WE got to work horse in little while, he remind
ed shuf1ng the deck. 49,.