Hall of Fame

 



walter j. michael

Year of Induction: 
1967
Year of Birth: 
1900
Immortal: 
Yes
OwnerBreeder: 
Yes
Executive Official: 
Yes
Owner: 
Yes
Executive: 
Yes
Election Into Living Hall of Fame: 
1966
Year of Death: 
1977
Biography: 

Walter Michael once estimated that during his many years as a breeder and owner, he had raised more than 1,600 horses. Born in Cleveland in 1900, he had followed in his father's footsteps and succeeded him as president of Ohio Locomotive Crane Co. He became interested in harness racing in 1937. Michael started Pickwick Farms in Bucyrus, Ohio in 1950 and stood a number of outstanding stallions there, Gene Abbe and Baron Hanover being the most notable. In 1957 Michael built Northfield Park and later merged two other tracks in northeastern Ohio. He was president of the USTA from 1958-1969. Elected into the Living Hall of Fame in 1966, Walter J. Michael died in 1977.

Published in the Harness Racing Museum's 1994 book, The Immortals