Harry Trotsek
Harry Trotsek proved adept at handling all types of racehorses. He conditioned three juvenile champions, a grass champion, and many successful imported runners.
1984
April 18, 1910, Cicero, Illinois
Feb. 5, 1997, Coral Gables, Florida
1931-1988
1,690
Biography
Leader among North American trainers in money won in 1953, Trotsek was born in 1910 in Cicero, Illinois, and walked hots at nearby tracks as a youth. Turning to training after a brief stint as a jockey, Trotsek proved to be a success with a variety of horses. Three of his four champions were 2-year-olds — Oil Capitol in 1949, Hasty Road in 1953, and Moccasin in 1965. The other was 1954 grass champion Stan, who along with 1957 Washington, D.C. International winner Mahan, was among many top imported runners Trotsek trained.
With Oil Capitol, Trotsek won both the Flamingo Stakes and Equipoise Mile in 1950, the Butler Handicap in 1951, the New Orleans Handicap in 1952, and the Widener and Arlington handicaps in 1953. With Hasty Road, Trotsek won the Preakness in 1954 and a second Widener in 1955. Other stakes winners he trained included Inseparable, Queen Hopeful, Lady Golconda (dam of Forego), and Super Sail.
Among the many successful jockeys Trotsek helped develop were Hall of Famers John Rotz and Johnny Sellers, as well as Kenny Church, Ron Hirdes, Ernest Cadrone, and Harry Hart.
Trotsek trained a total of 96 stakes winners and won 1,690 races.
Achievements
Leading trainer in North America in earnings — 1953
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1954 Preakness Stakes — Hasty Road
Other Highlights
Won the Stars and Stripes Turf Handicap — 1950, 1962, 1972, 1974, 1976
Won the Arlington Handicap — 1953, 1954, 1955
Won the Canadian International Stakes — 1958, 1959
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