logo
Smarty Jones, racehorse from Pennsylvania, to be added to Hall of Fame 21 years after winning Kentucky Derby

Smarty Jones, racehorse from Pennsylvania, to be added to Hall of Fame 21 years after winning Kentucky Derby

CBS News19 hours ago
Pat Chapman, breeder and owner of the legendary chestnut stallion Smarty Jones, says his induction into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame finally brings peace, two decades after the Pennsylvania-born horse's final race.
"This is the ending, I'm telling you, I can sleep well at night. He is vindicated now," Chapman said.
Smarty Jones was born on Chapman's farm in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and named after her mother's nickname, "Smarty."
In 2004, the chestnut colt burst onto the national scene. Undefeated heading into the Triple Crown, he crushed the Kentucky Derby and romped to victory in the Preakness Stakes by a record 11½ lengths, a mark that still stands today. But the Belmont Stakes ended his historic run, as he finished just one length shy of a Triple Crown title.
"We will never ever know how good of a horse he might have been," Chapman said.
Trainer John Servis remembers when Smarty became the horse to beat.
"He could run horses off their feet. ... He could stalk, he could go to the front," Servis said. "Belmont now becomes, not how do we win the Belmont, but how do we beat Smarty Jones? My horse had a bull's eye on his back."
In only two years on the track, Smarty Jones earned $7.6 million and won over the hearts of a nation.
"It was incredible. It didn't just do things for the sport; it did things for the nation. He became a hero," Servis said.
"Philadelphia, they were really hot for Smarty, they loved him. There were billboards about the horse, there were songs about him," Chapman added. "The fan mail, we had tubs and tubs of fan mail."
"He did bring a lot of interest to racing from people who had never paid attention," Chapman said.
Many credit that loyal fan base with helping push Smarty into the hall. Elected in his first year on the ballot, Smarty Jones finally crosses the finish line he always deserved.
The newest Hall of Fame members will be enshrined on Friday in Saratoga Springs, New York.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Detroit Tigers trade for starter Charlie Morton in last-minute deal with Baltimore Orioles
Detroit Tigers trade for starter Charlie Morton in last-minute deal with Baltimore Orioles

Yahoo

time4 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Detroit Tigers trade for starter Charlie Morton in last-minute deal with Baltimore Orioles

PHILADELPHIA — The Detroit Tigers added to their starting rotation at the buzzer. The Tigers acquired right-hander Charlie Morton in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, July 31, just moments before the 6 p.m. trade deadline. The 41-year-old becomes a free agent after the 2025 season. LIVE UPDATES: Tigers trade deadline rumors, news: What happened in final minutes Morton has a 5.42 ERA with 48 walks and 101 strikeouts across 101⅓ innings in 23 games (17 starts). He has a 4.08 ERA in his 18-year MLB career. He joins a Tigers rotation that currently includes Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize, Chris Paddack and Troy Melton. Morton pitched for Tigers manager A.J. Hinch as a member of the Houston Astros in 2017-18, winning the 2017 World Series. This story has been updated. Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@ or follow him @EvanPetzold. Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Tigers!' by the Free Press at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers trade for Charlie Morton in deal with Baltimore Orioles

Cowboys' need to build offensive line depth stressed again with Tyler Smith exiting practice early
Cowboys' need to build offensive line depth stressed again with Tyler Smith exiting practice early

Yahoo

time4 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Cowboys' need to build offensive line depth stressed again with Tyler Smith exiting practice early

OXNARD, Calif. (AP) — The hits keep on coming for the Dallas Cowboys' offensive line, after left guard Tyler Smith came out of practice early on Thursday. Smith is dealing with tendinitis in his knee, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones told the Dallas Morning News. Smith left practice with about 30 minutes remaining and told reporters he was fine as he walked down the sideline back to the team's training camp setup. A first-round draft pick in 2022, Smith has started 47 games in his three seasons with the Cowboys. He was a second-team All-Pro in 2023 and has made the Pro Bowl twice. Smith is the third Dallas offensive lineman to be injured in less than a week. Starting left tackle Tyler Guyton was hurt Monday, one day after reserve guard Rob Jones broke a bone in his neck. Coach Brian Schottenheimer described Guyton's right knee fracture, which will keep him out four to six weeks, as the best-case scenario given the circumstances. 'We need to have a physical camp,' Schottenheimer said Wednesday. 'We need to pop and hit and wrap and thud in pads. You look at the play that happened to Tyler, it was a blitz and just some bodies got tangled up, and that happens in football. You hate to see it, but again, at the end of the day, as you look at it now, it's like, 'Hey, I think we got away with one.'' Jones had been competing to start at right guard and will require two to three months to recover. The extended absences of Guyton and Jones won't change how offensive coordinator Klayton Adams approaches the rest of camp and the preseason. The Cowboys' emphasis on building depth and having as many players capable of contributing as possible has become that much more important. 'We create as much competition as we can, that's the easy answer to it,' said Adams, who was the offensive line coach for the Arizona Cardinals the past two seasons before joining Schottenheimer's staff in January. 'Obviously, it's unfortunate any time you got guys that are going to miss (time), but it's also one of the reasons that we don't really believe in kind of that old mentality of get the starters ready to play. We need to get everybody ready to play, and everybody on this roster needs to be getting better.' Nate Thomas, a second-year player from Louisiana Tech, is getting the first look at replacing Guyton at left tackle. Thomas is 6-foot-4 and weighs 330 pounds, and that size carries over to the field. 'So again, Nate, the power jumps off the film,' Schottenheimer said. 'I mean, the power of the man and his body, so the first thing that jumps out is his ability to get displacement in the run game. He's able to move the dot, we call it. That's the guy who the backs are reading.' Thomas spent his rookie season on injured reserve because of a partial tear of his patellar tendon after being drafted in the seventh round. The Cowboys originally expected him to move inside to guard, but Schottenheimer said Thomas' footwork was so good during offseason workouts this spring that it prompted a return to his more natural position. But that doesn't mean Thomas will focus exclusively on left tackle. Adams stresses versatility over specialization. The swing tackle needs to be able to play both spots, and being able to move inside if needed can make a lineman all the more valuable. 'You know, we tell all of our guys that unless you are an All-Pro at left guard or right tackle or whatever, you need to be able to play as many spots as you can possibly play,' Adams said. Thomas credits a conversation with quarterback Dak Prescott this summer for helping him adjust to sudden changes. 'He told me straight up, like, you need to be ready, you know?' Thomas said. 'And I just took that in stride, and just make sure I go about every day just knowing that, hey, I need to treat this as if I'm a starter because you never know when my number is called. And, you know, here I am.' The Cowboys are exploring all options to bolster their numbers on the offensive line, including scheduling a workout with La'el Collins. Collins played six of his first seven seasons in the NFL with Dallas but has been out of the league the past two years. 'I just saw him back there actually, and it was a very joyous reunion,' Prescott said after practice Thursday. ___ AP NFL:

New 'Old Skool' Vans shoes sell out, listed for hundreds on resale market
New 'Old Skool' Vans shoes sell out, listed for hundreds on resale market

Yahoo

time4 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

New 'Old Skool' Vans shoes sell out, listed for hundreds on resale market

Squeaky clean sneakers may just be a thing of the past. Sold out in less than 24 hours, Vans' new sneaker features a pre-worn style with muddled coloring, tweed fringe detailing, and laces and soles that appear dirty – though they are brand new. The Premium Old Skool Shoe in Souvenir Warm Brown went live on the Vans website late July 30 and by the next day, the sneakers were already sold out. The Vans website, as of July 31, states that 118 people had purchased the sneakers. Originally $125, the limited-edition sneakers are now available for between $500 to $1,600 on eBay. Here's what we know about the Premium Old Skool Shoe and what Vans fans think about them. 'Y'all getting these???': Nike is releasing dirty Air Force 1s, social media is perplexed Vans Warped Tour: First few bands for 2025 comeback following hiatus What do the Old Skool 36 'Souvenir' Vans look like? The canvas of the low-top skate sneakers appears spraypainted with brown leather overlays. The sneakers feature multicolored tweed strip detailing and Vans-themed pins on the sides for "bag-like embellishment." The laces are a dark, off-white and the white soles appear dirty, though they are brand new. The sneakers appear to be inspired by Chanel's On the Pavement messenger bag, a part of the designer's Graffiti Collection, first introduced in 2014. The messenger bag, which is only available for high-dollar resale prices online, features the same spraypainted, muddled brown coloring, multicolored tweed detailing, vintage-style pins and overall distressed apperance. A version of the messenger bag is available on the Sotheby's website for $15,150. Vans brushed off comparisons in a statement to USA TODAY, saying the shoes were rooted in its creative branding. What are people saying? On Instagram, some of the comments on a vague Vans Instagram post promoting the sneaker's launch July 30, criticized the shoe's design. "I want 'em and get the reference. Very good creative direction, but take one step back and they do lowkey look like barf," one Instagram user commented on the Vans' post. Other creators and social media users are upset that the shoes were sold in such a limited run, with the sneakers going live on the Vans' website, and available in some retail stores, ahead of the date and time Vans promoted on social media – 9 a.m. ET on July 31. Back to school: Top shoe deals from Hoka, Rothy's, Nike and more Vans in its statement told USA TODAY that the official launch of the sneaker was July 31. The pre-worn trend Vans is certainly not the first brand to tap into the pre-worn style. Actually, Golden Goose is known for the trend, releasing its popular line of distressed sneakers in 2007, which continue to dominate the "pre-worn" market. Golden Goose's top-selling Super-Star sneaker, which sports a "dirty, scuffed" sole, is nearly $600. In 2021, New Balance released its "Protection Pack," a line of sneakers that appear to have torn fabric. Last year, Puma released a collaborative sneaker with A$AP Rocky called "Inhale Distressed." The $130 sneakers, now sold out, came in a grungy box and appeared covered in grease. And earlier this year, Nike released its Air Force 1 Low in "Dirty Triple White." The $130 sneakers appear dirty, creased and scuffed despite being brand new. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Distressed Vans 'Old Skool' sneaker sells out before official launch

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store