Seven new members have been elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, headed by Smarty Jones, a finalist for the first time and featured on these pages this week. Additionally, Kentucky-breds Decathlon and Hermis and trainer George H. Conway have been chosen by the 1900-1959 Historic Review Committee; and Edward L. Bowen, Arthur B. Hancock III, and Richard Ten Broeck have been elected by the Pillars of the Turf Committee.
In the contemporary category, Pennsylvania-bred Smarty Jones was the lone candidate to appear on the majority of ballots submitted (50% plus one vote is required for election). A total of 157 voters (90.2%) participated from the 171 eligible to cast ballots in the election. The candidates in the Historic Review and Pillars of the Turf categories were required to receive 75% approval from the respective committees to earn election.
The 2025 Hall of Fame class will be enshrined on Friday, Aug. 1 at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion in Saratoga Springs at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony will be broadcast live on the Museum website at www.racingmuseum.org. The event is open to the public and free to attend. Tom Durkin will serve as the master of ceremonies.
Bred in Pennsylvania by Someday Farm, Smarty Jones (Elusive Quality–I'll Get Along, by Smile) raced from 2003 through 2004, winning eight of his nine career starts, including the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in his sophomore season, and was voted the Eclipse Award for Champion 3-Year-Old Male in 2004. Owned by Roy and Pat Chapman under their Someday Farm banner, Smarty Jones was trained by John C. Servis and ridden exclusively by Stewart Elliott.
George H. Conway (1873-1939) is best known for training Hall of Famer War Admiral to a sweep of the 1937 Triple Crown and to an overall record of 21-3-1 from 26 starts and earnings of $273,240 from 1936 through 1938. A native of Oceanport, N.J., Conway also conditioned Hall of Fame member Crusader, as well as standouts Speed Boat, War Glory, and War Heros.
Edward L. Bowen (1942-2025) was a prolific racing journalist and historian for more than 60 years and served the sport in various other capacities, including 24 years as president of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. A native of Welch, W. Va., Bowen was an Eclipse Award-winning journalist, editor-in-chief of The BloodHorse, author of 22 books about horse racing, and chairman of the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame Nominating Committee from 1987 through 2024.
Arthur B. Hancock III was born in Nashville, Tenn., and for six decades has been a significant presence in American racing and breeding through his establishment of Stone Farm in 1970 near Paris, Ky. A member of one of the sport's most prolific racing and breeding families, Hancock's grandfather, Arthur B. Hancock, Sr., founded Claiborne Farm, while his father, Arthur B. “Bull” Hancock, Jr., expanded the operation to be among one of the most important breeding operations in the country.
In partnership with one of his longtime clients, Manhattan real estate broker Leone J. Peters, Hancock bred and raced Gato Del Sol, who won the 1982 Derby. Hancock and Peters also teamed up to breed Risen Star, winner of the 1988 Preakness Stakes and GI Belmont Stakes. Through H-G-W Partners, Hancock owned and raced Hall of Fame member and 1989 Horse of the Year Sunday Silence, whose wins included the Kentucky Derby, Preakness , and GI Breeders' Cup Classic. Hancock also co-bred 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus.
Richard Ten Broeck (1811-1892) was one of American racing's most prominent and accomplished figures in the 19th century, enjoying success as a racehorse and racetrack owner, Thoroughbred breeder, and international racing pioneer. A native of Albany, N.Y., Ten Broeck took over management of the Bingaman (Louisiana) and Bascombe (Alabama) courses in 1847 and in 1851, he purchased Metairie Race Course in New Orleans for $27,000. Under his management, Metairie became the premier track in the country in the decade prior to the Civil War.
Broeck holds the distinction of being the first American owner to win an important race in England. With the help of Lecomte, Prioress, and Starke, he held a presence in that country for three decades.
Bred in Kentucky by the Nuckols Brothers, Decathlon (Olympia–Dog Blessed, by Bull Dog) raced from 1955 through 1957, compiling a record of 25-8-1 from 42 starts and earnings of $269,530. Purchased at Keeneland in 1954 for $15,500 by Robert J. Dienst (the president of Ohio's Beulah Park) and campaigned under his River Divide Farm banner, Decathlon was trained by Rollie Shepp. In his three years of racing, the bay colt won 18 stakes and was twice named Champion Sprint Horse (1956, 1957). He set track records at Monmouth Park, Suffolk Downs, and Tropical Park, equaled two track standards at Tropical, and matched the world record for 5 1/2 furlongs (1:03 1/5) at Tropical in the first division of the Inaugural Handicap in 1956.
Bred in Kentucky by Hiram Berry, Hermis (Hermence–Katy of the West, by Spendrift) raced from 1901 through 1905 with a record of 28-8-6 from 55 starts and earnings of $84,155. The chestnut was trained by Charles Hughes (July 1901 through August 1902), Jack McCormick (August 1902 through October 1902), and Alexander Shields (June 1903 through July 1905). He raced for a variety of owners, including H. M. Ziegler, L. V. Bell, and Edward R. Thomas (who paid a record $60,000 for the horse). Hermis was retrospectively recognized by The BloodHorse-published book The Great Ones as Horse of the Year in 1902 and 1903; Champion 3-Year-Old Male in 1902; and Champion Older Male in 1903 and 1904.
To view more information on all the inductees, click here.
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