Hartack funeral arrangements finalized

Funeral and memorial-service arrangements have been made for the Hall of Fame rider Bill Hartack, who died on Monday in Texas, according to Gary Condra, a longtime friend of Hartack who has been coordinating the plans.

Hartack's remains will be transported to Iberia, Mo., where he'll be buried at the Iberia Cemetery. A funeral will be held and Hartack's remains interred on Thursday. Arrangements in Iberia are being handled by the Rekus Funeral Home, Condra said.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, Dec. 10, at 2 p.m., in Miami Springs, Fla., at the Grace Lutheran Church and Learning Center at 254 Curtiss Parkway. Condra said that the retired trainer T.J. Kelly, who hired Hartack as a contract rider when his career was still in its infancy, would deliver a eulogy.

Condra, with whom Hartack frequently stayed in Miami, has known Hartack since 1956.

Hartack, a Pennsylvania native, has no connection to Missouri, but Condra has a plot at the Iberia Cemetery. Hartack is survived by two sisters, but was close to neither of them. At the time of his death, he had no real permanent residence, living in apartments when he worked as a steward, and traveling around the country when he wasn't working, often staying with friends, or fishing and hunting in various remote locations.

Condra said anyone requiring further details on either service could telephone him at (305) 323-2493.