[Photo Story] Pennsylvania’s most famous horse is honored in Annville

Horse-racing fans from across the country gathered Saturday afternoon at Equistar Training and Breeding Center in Annville to meet Smarty Jones, the 2004 Kentucky Derby winner and newly inducted National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame honoree.

The event celebrated 24-year-old horse Smarty’s induction to the Hall of Fame in August. The only horse in the contemporary category to be listed on over half of fan ballots, Smarty — often considered the most famous horse from Pennsylvania — was one of seven inductees total.

Attendees to the celebration had the chance to take photos with the horse, which has served as a stud since 2005.

Over his career, in which Smarty won eight races and missed out on the Triple Crown by a length (receiving second place), the racehorse won $7,613,155 and quickly became a fan favorite.

Pat Chapman, who has owned Smarty from birth, traveled to Pennsylvania from Florida to attend Saturday’s celebration (and visit local family).

Throughout the event, she was repeatedly approached by Smarty’s fans, asking for photos and autographs, and offering anecdotes of how the racehorse has inspired them over the years. Chapman noted that she’d talked to people from Michigan, Florida, and Ohio who traveled here to meet Smarty.

“You see what it’s like,” she said, laughing, after her interview was paused several times for fans. “It’s fabulous, I love it. There are so many fans that still love this horse, so many people that showed up. It’s just incredible to have fans 21 years after he won the Derby, and won the Preakness, and won second place in the Belmont, And the Hall of Fame? That’s the icing on the cake.”

State Senator Chris Gebhard presented Chapman with an official Senate Citation for Smarty. The citation (an honor given to individuals who have achieved significant milestones) was the first to be given to a horse, Gebhard said.

Rodney and Sharon Eckenrode, who own the center, showed off Smarty with two other horses now serving as stallions: 6-year-old Zozos and 12-year-old Brody’s Cause.

In addition to selling Smarty Jones merch, the Eckenrodes also held a raffle benefiting Tyler Conner, a recently injured jockey.

Each ticket was $100, with the winner receiving 2026 access to one of the three stallions to sire a foal (in Smarty’s case, a $3,500 value). The raffle raised almost $3,950 total, Rodney said.

Conner, Rodney said, planned to share raffle proceeds with other recently injured jockeys.

Rodney explained that since purchasing Smarty’s breeding rights in 2019, he and his wife have been well-served by the racehorse.

“He’s an amazing horse, you know, and the people we’ve met because of him has just been terrific,” he said. “He has brought so many people into our lives that we’ve met, it’s just been a great experience all the way around.”

Rodney estimated that, between noon and 3 p.m., there were around 300 guests at the celebration.

This article has been updated to reflect that Smarty is owned by Pat Chapman and the Equistar facility owns his breeding rights. We sincerely apologize for the error.