Herman Sarkowsky – Seattle sports and business leader
At the half-mile pole, not one person in attendance at Emerald Downs, including his owner/breeder Herman Sarkowsky, would have entertained even the faintest fantasy...
Military Hawk – Washington’s second leading earner of all time
Few horses have campaigned with both the longevity and the success that Military Hawk displayed throughout his nine-year career. The popular chestnut gelding made...
Jim Seabeck – A large scale thinker and doer
Some men and women lead small lives. Others start small and accomplish much, and a few accomplish little and make much of it. But...
George Drumheller – An important pioneer in Washington racing history
Considered the “Father of Thoroughbred Racing” in Washington State, George H. Drumheller (1874-1945) was among the original sponsors of the bill that legalized horse...
Travel Orb – A shining beacon for Washington
Travel Orb’s remarkable feat of winning three stakes in three weeks is something that would astound modern race fans. The fact that the Washington-bred...
Joseph “Joe” Gottstein – Sportsman and capitalist
This is the final installment of the nine individuals and three horses that were inducted into the inaugural Washington Racing Hall of Fame in...
Ron Crockett – The man who kept horse racing in Washington State
Thoroughbred racing is about blue-blooded horses, the will to win and speed . . . not to mention glamor and money. Success is neither...
Glen Williams – Consummate trainer and trackman
It was September 21, 1992, when Longacres Park conducted its last live race day and upon the program’s conclusion, there awaited the bulldozers, dynamite...
Pete Pedersen – Modesty, honesty, integrity and intelligence, trademarks of a well-spent life
The dire ramifications of opening a racetrack had been debated amongst Seattle denizens for the entire 28 days it took to build Longacres, but...
Noosa Beach – Washington champion for four years running
Both bullish and brilliant, Noosa Beach went from a gangly competitor notorious for throwing his riders to the darling of Pacific Northwest. He raced...
C. J. Sebastian – Respected leader; pioneer for the future
All it took was one man with a vision, and one big trip to Kentucky, to create a legacy of genuine horse class. His...
Ralph Vacca – “I was so blessed”
Born November 8, 1935, in Seattle to Ralph A. and Rose Vacca, Ralph was the first of two sons for the first generation US-born...
