summer of smarty jones love concludes

By Dick Jerardi

The summer of Smarty Jones Love concluded Saturday afternoon at Equistar Training and Breeding on Crooked Rd. in Annville, Pennsylvania. A few hundred Smarty fans found their way to Rodney and Sharon Eckenrode’s farm to celebrate their hero’s Hall of Fame induction eight days prior.

It was an eclectic gathering. They wandered in and out of the barn to peer inside Smarty’s double wide stall. They shared stories from 2004. They met Smarty’s owner, Pat Chapman. One couple watched “Let’s Go Racing” that morning in State College, learned of the celebration, and immediately drove the 100 miles to the farm.

They listened as Rodney told them about his love for Smarty and watched as Pennsylvania State Senator Chris Gebhard, who represents District 48, presented a certificate from the legislature recognizing Smarty’s Hall of Fame induction. Brian Sanfrantello from the Pennsylvania Breeders gave Pat Chapman the first Smarty Jones Hall of Fame bobblehead. Every Pennsylvania breeder that attends Pennsylvania Bred Day at the Races on Sept. 19 at Parx will also be getting one of those bobbleheads.

“This is unbelievable to be here once again with a crowd of Smarty fans,” Pat Chapman said in between greeting all those Smarty fans. “You can’t beat that. I don’t know if there are as many here as there were on Hall of Fame Day (August 1).”

Hard to know, but there were certainly many of the same faces in both places, even though they are separated by 300 miles.

“I made a good decision (to bring Smarty to Equistar),” Pat said. “He’s in the best place. He looks as good as he’s ever looked, as happy and as healthy as he’s ever been. I’m really pleased.”

Equistar has been Smarty’s home for almost seven years now. And it will be his home for the rest of his life. It is an honor and a privilege not lost on Eckenrode.

“This horse has done so much for racing,” he said. “We can’t thank Mrs. Chapman enough for going the distance with this horse, for making him available to the public, and I’m forever grateful to be a small part of the journey. The horse means a lot to us. It’s an honor to have him here to share with the fans.”

Rodney was not surprised by how many fans showed up. His farm is not the easiest spot to find, but Smarty fans simply find a way.

“There’s so many people that follow this horse,” he said. “There’s people here two and three days a week. During breeding season, I’ve got to really juggle it to try and get them in here. That was one of the things that Mrs. Chapman wanted: to have him available to the fans. And we do our very best to get them in and out of here.”

Eckenrode eventually led his three stallions out of the barn for all the fans to see. First was Brody’s Cause, and then Zozos. After taking his time to get ready, Smarty Jones, wearing a “National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, Smarty Jones Class Of 2025” blanket, came out last.

Pennsylvania’s greatest horse and one of the very best to race in the 21st Century, posed for as many pictures as his devoted fans wanted to take, Eckenrode gently holding the reins, Smarty casually looking this way and that while parading near the paddock he calls home.

Finally, when it was time for Smarty Jones to head back to his stall, Eckenrode paused a few feet from the barn entrance, and anybody who wanted (and everybody did) could stand next to Smarty and get an individual picture. That went on for as long as there were fans who had not gotten the chance to stand next to the horse that saved Pennsylvania racing 21 years ago and remains one of the most popular horses in American history.

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