Iconic Pennsylvania race horse inducted into Hall of Fame

(WHTM) — Pennsylvania’s own champion Thoroughbred racehorse, Smarty Jones, was elected to the National Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

According to the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Association, Smarty Jones captured the hearts of fans when he nearly won the Triple Crown in a historic race in 2004. Smarty Jones will be one of the seven inductees into the National Museum of Racing and the Hall of Fame.

The association said Smarty Jones is the fourth Pennsylvania-bred thoroughbred to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The race horse was born on February 28, 2001, at Roy and Pat Champman’s 100-acre Someday Farm in Chester County, the association said. He was ridden exclusively by jockey Stewart Elliott.

The association said the two won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes by a record 11.5 lengths.

Smarty retired with an 8-1-0 record in nine starts. The association said the horse still lives today at a training and breeding center in Annville, Pennsylvania.

The horse was also on Time magazine’s list of the most influential “people” in 2004.