Hall of Fame

 



james k. hackett

Year of Birth: 
1917
Immortal: 
Yes
DriverTrainer: 
Yes
Driver: 
Yes
Elected as Immortal: 
1985
Year of Death: 
1970
Biography: 

Born in Madison County, Ohio in 1917, James Hackett entered the sport in earnest after distinguished service during World War II. For much of his career he trained and raced the private stable of Samuel F. Huttenbauer in Ohio. He won many major stakes, including the Horseman Futurity, the Fox, the American-National and the Review. Hackett's best year was 1967 when, with Best of All, he won a number of top races including the Little Brown Jug. Campaigning for 23 years, he earned more than $1 million in purses. Hackett had begun developing a training center and boarding farm near Ocala, Florida, when he died on August 24, 1970, shortly after finishing a race at Latonia Raceway, Florence, Kentucky. He was married to Mary Smart, daughter of 1978 Immortal Wayne "Curly" Smart.

Published in the Harness Racing Museum's 1994 book, The Immortals