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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Pfundt Galleries, Doylestown "Smarty Jones: Heart of a Champion" included photographs, artifacts and memorabilia celebrating the history of horseracing in Pennsylvania and the remarkable horse whose inspirational 2004 bid for the Triple Crown made him a national hero. The exhibition was organized by the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg and the Michener Art Museum; among the highlights of the exhibition are a replica of the Garland of Roses, on exclusive loan from the permanent collection of the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville; the Triple Crown Trophy won by Smarty's legendary predecessor, Seattle Slew; the Maryland Hunt Cup trophy; along with photographs not previously exhibited and program booklets from all three Triple Crown races.
Presenting sponsor:
Co-sponsored by: The story of Smarty Jones reads like a Hollywood screenplay: despite suffering traumatic losses early on (including the murder of his first trainer, a fractured skull at age two, and despairing owners who nearly gave up on racing but decided to hang onto this small but improbably strong chestnut colt) Smarty emerged as a leading contender among the crop of three-year-olds vying for horse racing's top honors in 2004. Owners Roy and Pat Chapman of New Hope's Someday Farm, had begun breeding race horses in the late 1980s, but after their trainer's tragic death they decided to sell all but two of their horses, one of which was Smarty Jones.
Under the stewardship of Philadelphia trainer John Servis, Smarty made his November 2003 debut at Philadelphia Park, winning his first race by seven and three-quarters lengths. Two weeks later, in his second start, he won by an incredible fifteen lengths. The team of Smarty and jockey Stewart Elliott continued their winning ways, and were undefeated going into the 130th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs last May, where he earned a decisive victory. Two weeks later they seized the second of the triple crown events, the 129th Preakness Stakes in Pimlico at Baltimore. Smarty's average margin of victory was an outstanding six lengths; his phenomenal acceleration and cruising speeds made him far and away the favorite among racing insiders and fans alike to become only the 12th horse in history to capture racing's elusive Triple Crown at the 136th running of the Belmont Stakes in June 2004.
Late last year owners Roy and Pat Chapman announced plans for Smarty to enter retirement at Three Chimneys Farm, a breeding farm near Midway, Kentucky. He was named one of Time magazine's "People Who Mattered" in 2004, and his legacy as one of the most exceptional horses in racing history remains.
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