What goes into the making of a wrestling legend?  Is the title “legend” awarded to a wrestler based on the number of titles won, career longevity, the classic matches and classic rivalries taken part in, or the pay-per-views he has headlined?  Other factors that could be taken into account would be the influence that the wrestler had on others during and after his in-ring career, and the personal sacrifices made by the wrestler.  Harley Race qualifies for legendary status when judged by each of these criteria and many more.

Race began his training as a teenager while working on the Zbyszko brothers’ farm in northwest Missouri.  Stanislaus Zbyszko was a two-time holder of the World Heavyweight Title in the 1920’s, and his brother Wladek (Walter) was also an accomplished wrestler.  According to Race, after the day’s farm work was done, the brothers would take him out to the barn and “stretch” him.  When the soreness from the last lesson had faded, Race would be taken out again for another lesson.

By his mid-teens, Race had committed himself to becoming a professional wrestler.  St. Joseph wrestling promoter Gust Karras took a special interest in Race, allowing him to help the promotion by driving wrestlers to and from the airport.  A couple of experienced wrestlers, “Killer” Buddy Austin and Ray Gordon went out of their way to help in Race’s training at this time.  

Harley Race won his first title in Tennessee, the Southern Tag Team Title, using the alias of Jack Long, with John Long as his tag team partner.  Not long afterward, Race suffered an injury and returned home to recuperate.  While at home, his father told him that he should be working to make his own name famous instead of someone else’s.  Race took his father’s advice and wrestled as “Harley Race” from that time on.  More...