Photos from the Kentucky Derby Museum’s Facebook page.
Victor Espinoza presented with the Bill Hartack Memorial Award
LOUISVILLE, KY – The Bill Hartack Charitable Foundation presented Victor Espinoza with the Hartack Memorial Award at a ceremony Monday night at the Kentucky Derby Museum. This is the 8th year that the Foundation has honored a Kentucky Derby winning jockey with a championship ring that honors the memory of Bill Hartack, a five-time winning Kentucky Derby jockey and member of the Racing Hall of Fame.
Victor Espinoza is a back-to-back winner of the Hartack Award with victories aboard California Chrome in 2014 and Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in 2015. He also won the Kentucky Derby in 2002 aboard War Emblem. Espinoza, a native of Mexico, became the first Latino jockey to win the Triple Crown, and at age 43, the oldest. While he is best known for his numerous victories on the racetrack, Espinoza donates a part of his earnings to City of Hope, a California-based cancer research and treatment center.
After Bill Hartack passed away in 2007, the Bill Hartack Charitable Foundation was established to honor his memory and lifetime achievements and to continue in his name contributions to the Horse racing industry. This is the first year that the award ceremony was held at the Kentucky Derby Museum.
“We at the Hartack Charitable Foundation are honored to present Victor Espinoza with this special award at the Kentucky Derby Museum, where the history of the Kentucky Derby lives forever,” said Hartack board member Michael Stidham.
