Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has announced the eight new members of the Charles Town Racing Hall of Fame to be inducted at the track Saturday, Dec. 15.
2012 Charles Town Racing Hall of Fame Inductees
Bill Hartack (Distinguished Achievement) - One of the most prolific riders in the history of racing, Bill Hartack began his career in racing at Charles Town in 1949 and would ride his first winner at Waterford Park in 1952. He lead all riders in wins during Charles Town's 1952 meet and, by his third season, Hartack was the United States' leading jockey - an honor he would go on to win three more times. Included in his 4,272 winners are five victories in the Kentucky Derby, three in the Preakness, and one in the Belmont Stakes. Hartack also became the first jockey with $3 million in purse earnings in a one year and retired in 1981, following a brief stint riding in Hong Kong. He is a member of the National Museum and Hall of Fame.
Cortan (Horse) - Known for his mid-Atlantic rivalry with fellow Charles Town Hall of Famer Jiva Coolit, Cortan won nearly half of his 60 career starts, finding the winner's circle in 28 of them. Owned by Charles Russell and trained by Bob Rawlings, the son of Illustrious was known for his tremendous versatility winning at distances ranging from 3 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/16 miles.
Dr. Dale Keyser (Distinguished Achievement) - Dr. Keyser was a long time practicing veterinarian in Jefferson County who originally came to Charles Town to do an internship with fellow 2012 Hall of Fame inductee Dr. William Trussell at Trussell's veterinary practice. He would go on to be a longtime official for the West Virginia Racing Commission and West Virginia Department of Agriculture prior to his passing in 2008.
Eddie Maple (Jockey) - Eddie Maple won his first race at age 17 aboard Swami in 1966 at Charles Town. He began his career in Ohio and West Virginia and moved on to New Jersey before establishing himself in New York in 1971. All told, Maple would go on to pilot 4,398 winners and captured two Belmont Stakes (gr. I) in a career that came to a close in 1998. Maple would later be inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2009.
Jeff Runco (Industry) - Following his start in the racing industry as a jockey, Jeff Runco successfully made the switch to the trainer ranks in the mid 1980's. At the time of his 3,000 victory as a trainer in April 2011, Runco stood as one of only eight trainers in U.S. racing history with 3,000 wins and a winning percentage of 20% or higher. Included in those wins are two Charles Town Classic victories with Researcher and three tallies in the West Virginia Breeders' Classic.
Onion Juice (Horse) - Owned and trained by Buck Woodson, Onion Juice won 27 of his 65 lifetime starts in a career that spanned from his 2-year-old season in 1982 through 1988. While eight of those wins came in stakes, none was bigger than his victory in the inaugural running of the West Virginia Breeders' Classic in 1987. When all was said and done, Onion Juice had amassed more than $220,000 in career earnings.
William R. Lewis Jr. (Jockey) - Bill Lewis had a decorated riding career that saw him ride 2,647 winners, with the last coming in 2009. Lewis won four races in the West Virginia Breeders' Classics including a victory in the inaugural running of the West Virginia Breeders' Classic aboard Onion Juice in 1987.
Dr. William Trussell (Industry) - Born in Charles Town in 1907, Dr. William Trussell was a well-known veterinarian in Jefferson County for more than a half century. In addition to his private practice, Trussell served as the track veterinarian at Charles Town and Shenandoah Downs from 1934 through 1971. Dr. Trussell also had stints as the President of the West Virginia Veterinary Association and a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners.
The Charles Town Racing Hall of Fame is comprised of individuals and horses with ties to Charles Town that have displayed superior performance or achievement in their careers in racing. Candidates are voted on and inducted in one of four categories: Distinguished Achievement, Horse, Industry and Jockey. The eight new inductees, which include two in the Distinguished Achievement category due to a tie in balloting, join the 32 other members who were inducted in the previous three classes.
Charles Town Racing Hall of Fame Roster
Induction Year Name Category
2010 Adam "Scotty" Prain...Jockey
2009 Albergo...Horse
2008 Albert Boyle...Distinguished Achievement
2011 Ann Hilton... Industry
2008 Annie's Dream...Horse
2009 Arch Rival...Horse
2008 Barbara Jo Rubin...Distinguished Achievement
2009 Betty Newman...Industry
2012 Bill Hartack...Distinguished Achievement
2009 Bob Leavitt...Distinguished Achievement
2010 Bobby Via...Industry
2009 Carl Gambardella...Jockey
2011 Coin Collector...Horse
2012 Cortan...Horse
2008 Costy Caras...Industry
2008 Crying for More...Horse
2012 Dr. Dale Keyser...Distinguished Achievement
2012 Eddie Maple...Jockey
2009 Eleanor Casey...Industry
2011 Elwood Heironimus...Industry
2012 Jeff Runco.. Industry
2008 Jesse Davidson...Jockey
2010 Jiva Coolit...Horse
2010 Joe Servis.. Industry
2011 Larry Dupuy...Jockey
2011 Miss Prime...Horse
2012 Onion Juice...Horse
2009 Patsy Grant... Jockey
2010 Phil Grove...Jockey
2010 Pooch...Horse
2008 Robert R. Hilton...Industry
2011 Sam Huff and Carol Holden...Distinguished Achievement
2008 Sam Palumbo...Jockey
2008 Sylvia Bishop... Industry
2008 Turn Capp...Horse
2008 Vincent "Jimbo" Bracciale Jr....Jockey
2010 Webb Snyder... Distinguished Achievement
2012 William R. Lewis, Jr.... Jockey
2012 Dr. William Trussell... Industry
2011 Woody Kirk...Jockey