Legendary Valley Thoroughbred Elected to Racing Hall of Fame

By gvwire

Published 2 years ago on

April 26, 2023

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California Chrome, the thoroughbred who captivated the nation in 2014 by winning the first two legs of the Triple Crown, will be enshrined in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame on Aug. 4 in Saratoga Springs, New York.

California Chrome was born at Harris Farms in Coalinga, where he grew up on the facility’s vast pastures. The chestnut colt with flashy markings had 16 wins — including seven Grade 1 stakes victories — in 27 career starts and lifetime earnings of $14.7 million.

In addition, California Chrome was voted Horse of the Year in 2014, when he won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, and again in 2016 under trainer Art Sherman. He finished fourth in the 2014 Belmont Stakes.

Following the Pegasus World Cup in January 2017, California Chrome retired to stud.

A Look at the Other Inductees

Jockey Corey Nakatani and horses Arrogat and Songbird also were elected to the Hall of Fame in the contemporary category.

Jockey Fernando Toro was elected via the historic review committee. John W. Hanes II, Leonard W. Jerome, and Stella F. Thayer were selected as Pillars of the Turf.

Nakatani won 3,909 races with purse earnings of $234.5 million in a career spanning 1988 to 2018.

Arrogate won seven times in 11 starts and his earnings of $17.4 million were a North American record. He was trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.

Songbird had a record of 13 victories and two runner-up finishes in 15 starts and earnings of $4.7 million. She earned Eclipse Awards for 2-year-old filly in 2015 and 3-year-old filly in 2016. She was trained by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer.

(Associated Press contributed to this story.)