eugene j. hayes
Year of Birth:
1909
Immortal:
Yes
Executive Official:
Yes
Executive:
Yes
Elected as Immortal:
1975
Year of Death:
1964
Biography:
Eugene J. Hayes held several important posts in harness racing. He was chairman of the board of directors of the USTA, president of The Harness Racing Institute, co-sponsor of the Hambletonian Stakes, president of the Du Quoin State Fair and co-owner of the Hayes Fair Acres Stable with his brother Don. While the first chairman of the Illinois Harness Racing Commission, Hayes was also a director of The Hambletonian Society and The Little Brown Jug Society. Among the great champions in his stable were Lusty Song, Darn Safe and Pronto Don. Eugene Hayes died in 1964 in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.
Published in the Harness Racing Museum's 1994 book, The Immortals