William Pike has been confirmed as a 2026 inductee to the WA Racing Hall of Fame, capping a career that has delivered more than 3,000 winners and 15 Perth jockey premierships. The recognition, announced at Belmont Park on Saturday, places him alongside pioneering trainer Paddy Ward, influential breeder-owner Robert Holmes à Court, and six-time Group 1 winner Black Heart Bart in this year's intake.

Racing and Wagering Western Australia CEO Ian Edwards described Pike as one of the State's finest jockeys, noting the recognition reflects both the exceptional standard he has maintained and the respect earned through professionalism and dedication. Pike's record includes over 100 Group-level wins and success in all major Perth races — six Railway Stakes, five Perth Cups, three Winterbottom Stakes, and two Kingston Town Classics among them.

The Coolgardie-born rider, known as "The Wizard" for his ability to deliver in high-pressure moments, took his first Group 1 aboard Cats Fun in the 2006 WATC Derby. His career has since extended well beyond Western Australia, with interstate victories in the Caulfield Guineas, Caulfield Stakes, All-Star Mile, William Reid Stakes, and Oakleigh Plate. He also secured an international Group win in Hong Kong when partnering Craig's Dragon to victory in the 2010 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy.

Racing excellence is embedded in Pike's lineage. His great-great-grandfather, Jim Pike, rode Phar Lap to Melbourne Cup glory in 1930 and was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2002. That heritage, combined with Pike's own tactical intelligence and strong stable partnerships, has shaped a career that began under trainer Jack Cockell and has set the benchmark for consistency in WA racing.

Paddy Ward, one of the other inductees, was instrumental in establishing Western Australia's training ranks in the early 20th century. A respected horseman, Ward achieved major success with dual Perth Cup winner Artesian and contributed to the development of racing administration in the State.

Robert Holmes à Court built Heytesbury Stud into a leading operation and developed an internationally recognised racing and breeding enterprise. His impact was highlighted by Black Knight's victory in the 1984 Melbourne Cup, cementing his role as a driving force behind thoroughbred breeding in Western Australia.

Black Heart Bart, the fourth inductee, won six Group 1s across a career defined by durability and elite performance. His remarkable comeback included a victory in the 2019 Underwood Stakes as a nine-year-old, underscoring the resilience that made him one of the State's most accomplished modern racehorses.

The four inductees will be formally recognised at the 2025/26 Thoroughbred Racing Awards and Hall of Fame on 22 August 2026, representing more than a century of excellence in Western Australian racing.