In the spring of 2004, a truly captivating tale, seemingly crafted for a motion picture, enthralled sports enthusiasts. It contained virtually every dramatic element: a homicide, severe health challenges, immense financial stakes, unexpected champions, and a rising talent emerging from modest roots. Even over two decades later, its narrative appears almost too incredible to be true.
For a sport often drawn to stories of the underestimated, Smarty Jones perfectly embodied this spirit, yet he surpassed the typical narrative of a determined competitor. This courageous horse, hailing from Pennsylvania, deeply resonated with a nationwide audience during his pursuit of the Triple Crown, a feat not accomplished since Affirmed in 1978. In Philadelphia, he represented the exceptional talent they had long anticipated. Smarty Jones consistently triumphed.
“It generated immense excitement. Individuals typically uninterested in horse racing suddenly found themselves captivated by Smarty Jones,” remarked Dick Jerardi, who for many years covered horse racing and college basketball for the Philadelphia Daily News, and in 2004 served as a weekend broadcaster at 610 WIP, then the sole all-sports radio outlet in the metropolis.
“Equestrian racing became a subject of discussion, extending beyond my segments to include the morning program and other broadcasts airing on WIP during that period.”
The city of Philadelphia had experienced a significant championship drought since the 76ers, spearheaded by Moses Malone, defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1983 NBA Finals. Their cherished Eagles had recently suffered their third consecutive defeat in the NFC championship, while the Flyers of the Eric Lindros era and Allen Iverson’s Sixers consistently fell short of ultimate success, and the Phillies hadn’t reached the playoffs since 1993. Philadelphia sports enthusiasts were yearning for triumph, and Smarty’s unassuming narrative possessed all the compelling elements.
Smarty represented the hometown equine hero, distinct from the elite lineage of Kentucky thoroughbreds. His proprietors, Roy and Pat Chapman, enjoyed considerable recognition across the city due to their Chapman Ford outlets. Both trainer John Servis and jockey Stewart Elliott were prominent figures within the region, though neither had previously approached the prestige of the Kentucky Derby.
“I recall penning at one juncture, ‘It originated from such an obscure background that its starting point was almost invisible,’” Jerardi stated. “That largely reflects how the public perceived Smarty Jones. While I wouldn’t equate him directly to ‘Rocky,’ he certainly possessed a similar appeal, given the city’s affection for those who defy expectations.”
Smarty was conceived at the Chapmans’ Someday Farm in Pennsylvania, sired by a mare named I’ll Get Along, whom their trainer Bob Camac had personally chosen for the pair.
Additionally, Camac selected the pairing with Elusive Quality. The offspring from this union arrived on February 28, 2001, a date that by chance coincided with the birth anniversary of Pat Chapman’s mother, Milly “Smarty Jones” McNair.
Roy “Chappy” Chapman experienced deteriorating health due to emphysema, and the couple’s world was further shattered in December 2001 when Camac and his spouse, Maryann, were tragically killed by their stepson in a dispute over finances.
It appeared to be the appropriate moment for the Chapmans to withdraw from the realm of horse racing.
Following a suggestion from a farm superintendent, the Chapmans decided to retain the hopeful chestnut yearling, whose birth aligned with their mother’s special day. Naturally, the Chapmans then required a mentor for the horse. Mark Reid, who had formerly trained for the couple, put forward one of his previous assistants, John Servis, who was performing exceptionally well.
The initial horse under Servis’ tutelage for the Chapmans nearly never competed professionally. Approximately three weeks into his time with Servis, Smarty Jones sustained severe injuries during a training mishap in the starting gate, including multiple skull fractures and a fractured left orbital bone, almost resulting in the loss of an eye.
Patricia Hogan, the veterinarian who cared for Smarty at the New Jersey Equine Clinic in Clarksburg, N.J., mentioned his appearance was so poor that the clinic personnel affectionately referred to him as “Quasimodo.” After being carefully rehabilitated over 12 days at the clinic, followed by six weeks recovering on a farm, Smarty Jones eventually reached the racecourse. From that point onward, his progress became unstoppable.
Under Elliott’s guidance, he secured victories in his initial three races—two at Philadelphia Park and one at Aqueduct in New York—by an aggregate margin of 27 ¾ lengths. Commemorating its centennial, Oaklawn Park presented an unprecedented $5 million prize, the largest ever offered by an American track, to any horse capable of winning the Rebel Stakes, Arkansas Derby, and Kentucky Derby in 2004. Servis had already planned Smarty Jones’ route through Hot Springs, Ark., to the Kentucky Derby, and after triumphant runs in the Southwest Stakes, Rebel, and Arkansas Derby, Smarty Jones proceeded to Louisville with the ambition of becoming the first undefeated Kentucky Derby champion since Seattle Slew in 1977, with a substantial financial incentive awaiting.
“Smarty Jones consistently delivered maximum effort. He exerted his absolute best. Losing was simply not an option for him,” Elliott recounted. “As his victories mounted, his performance improved, and his desire intensified. He possessed an unwavering resolve. John played a crucial role in cultivating this by maintaining his unbeaten streak.”
“It’s comparable to a pugilist who maintains a winning record; he begins to perceive himself as invincible.”
Regardless of the weather, Smarty Jones proved insurmountable on the day of the Kentucky Derby. Following a deluge that drenched Churchill Downs, Smarty Jones effortlessly navigated the muddy track, securing a $5 million bonus, a 2 ¾-length triumph over Lion Heart, and an unforeseen level of widespread recognition.
“Our journey to Kentucky for the Derby was by car,” Servis recalled, mentioning that he marked the Derby victory with his wife and another pair over pizza in the hotel lobby, having neglected to book a dinner table. “As we departed that Monday morning, just beyond Lexington on the highway, a car started honking insistently – my initial thought was I had inadvertently cut someone off. I glanced over to see two couples in the vehicle, with one young woman leaning out, shouting, ‘Smarty Jones! Smarty Jones!’ … It was quite extraordinary.”
Upon their arrival back in Pennsylvania, the Servis household discovered their residence adorned in the Chapmans’ distinct blue and white hues, with streamers and inflatables decorating their garden and a significant portion of their street. A prominent billboard in Philadelphia offered commendation to Smarty Jones, and a substantial media frenzy trailed the entourage upon their return to Philadelphia Park. Indeed, an estimated 5,000 admirers stood ten deep along the barrier to witness Smarty Jones, accompanied by John Servis in a Flyers Jersey, during his morning workout session.
The volume of media inquiries surged to such an extent that Servis’ wife, Sherry, intervened to manage the scheduling of interviews and other demands. Following the Arkansas Derby, Jerardi had simply encouraged Servis to remain authentic, which he did.
“He maintained remarkable accessibility, expressed himself articulately, and served as an excellent representative for the horse, as did the Chapmans, John’s spouse, Sherry, and Stewart Elliott,” Jerardi commented. “The entire group conducted themselves as if they had navigated such circumstances numerous times previously, despite having absolutely no prior experience with anything of this magnitude.”
An unprecedented 112,668 spectators gathered for the Preakness Stakes as an intense Smarty-craze swept across the Mid-Atlantic territory, and following a decisive 11 ½-length dominant win in Baltimore, the enthusiasm for Smarty Jones surged far beyond all expectations.
During the three-week interval separating the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, Smarty Jones prominently featured on the front pages of newspapers and magazines nationwide. He became the primary subject of conversation in Philadelphia, a city deeply longing for a championship, which was prepared to celebrate the undefeated colt with a parade down Broad Street following a Belmont Stakes triumph – a celebration, it must be noted, that had not received endorsement from John Servis or the Chapmans. Although the Flyers were engaged in their Eastern Conference Finals campaign, Smarty Jones dominated discussions on sports talk radio.
“In my opinion, they had no alternative,” Servis remarked with amusement. “The public was curious and eager to discuss him. If WIP aimed for listener call-ins, I genuinely believe they had limited options other than to address the subject.”
Regrettably, Smarty Jones’ journey did not conclude with a fairytale outcome. He encountered substantial early contention during the initial phases of the Belmont Stakes. Despite appearing poised for victory as he entered the final stretch of the 1 ½-mile Test of the Champion before an unprecedented audience of 120,139, Marylou Whitney’s Birdstone accelerated past him in the final moments, thwarting his Triple Crown aspiration by a single length. Smarty Jones never competed again, being retired in August 2004 due to what was characterized as “persistent bruising at the base of the cannon bone” within his fetlock joints.
The phenomenon surrounding Smarty provided an exhilarating experience in the spring of 2004, resonating both locally in Philadelphia and across the nation, even without a perfectly happy conclusion. Two decades later, articulating the profound bond that formed between the public and Smarty Jones, the Chapmans, John Servis and his staff, and jockey Stewart Elliott remains challenging.
“How frequently does a horse from Philadelphia Park progress to the Kentucky Derby or the Triple Crown, let alone actually secure victories in those esteemed contests?” Elliott pondered. “The magnitude of support and fascination he garnered was truly astonishing. While many are fans of equestrian sports, he managed to attract individuals completely unfamiliar with or previously uninterested in horse racing.”
Those closely associated with Smarty Jones graciously allowed spectators into their personal journeys for several months that spring. This factor, undeniably, significantly contributed to his widespread appeal.
“Chappy’s health was declining, and that was apparent to everyone,” Servis commented regarding Roy Chapman, who passed away in February 2006. “My spouse and I made a concerted effort to share our narrative and invite public engagement. I believed that, given the success the industry had brought us, we had an obligation to reciprocate, and so we consciously decided to be accessible for interviews, to recount our experiences, and trust that people would appreciate it.”
“They navigated every aspect of the situation, extending even to the Belmont Stakes,” Jerardi observed. “Truly, there could be no more disheartening loss, yet John proceeded to the winner’s circle to commend Nick Zito [Birdstone’s trainer]. Few individuals would display such grace, but he did, and his character remained steadfast.”
