Ack Ack (February 24, 1966 – November 7, 1990) was an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse.
Background Ack Ack was a brown horse bred in Kentucky by Harry F. Guggenheim and owned by Guggenheim's Cain Hoy Stable. He was trained by Charlie Whittingham.
Racing career He raced with success from age two to four, scoring wins in the important 1969 Withers Stakes and Arlington Classic. In 1971 at age five, Ack Ack blossomed into the year's most dominant horse, winning seven straight graded stakes races on both dirt and grass courses at a variety of distances. His performances earned him United States Horse of the Year honors.
Following Guggenheim's death in January 1971, Ack Ack was sold by the executors of Guggenheim's estate. The horse won the San Carlos Handicap less than a week before Guggenheim died. New owner E. E. "Buddy" Fogelson, husband of actress Greer Garson, bought Ack Ack for $500,000. In 1971, Ack Ack won seven of eight races and finished second in the other start. He won his final race, the Hollywood Gold Cup, in which he carried 134 pounds.
Stud record At the end of the year, Ack Ack was retired to stand at stud at his birthplace of Claiborne Farm near Paris, Kentucky, where he sired 40 stakes winners, including champion sire Broad Brush and Youth, the 1976 American Champion Male Turf Horse, which won a combined four Grade/Group 1 races in France, Canada, and the United States.
Assessment In 1999, The Blood Horse, Inc., selected Ack Ack as one of the top 100 racehorses of the 20th century.
Sire line tree
Ack AckDarley Arabian Line: Camel BranchJumpers: Darley Arabian Sire LineSire Line: CamelThe Dynasty of DominoHall of Fame: Ack AckAmerican Classic Pedigree: Ack Ack YouthAmerican Classic Pedigree: Youth Teenoso Young Buster Carlton Young Sparticus Horus Seismic Wave Palemon Broadsword Flashing Steel Flying Target Joanies Chief Truce Maker Ackstatic Broad BrushAmerican Classic Pedigree: Broad BrushMaryland Horse Hall of Fame: Broad BrushThe Amazing Broad Brush Leaves Mark on the Derby Trail Schossberg ConcernAmerican Classic Pedigree: ConcernMaryland Horse Hall of Fame: Concern Good Night ShirtHall of Fame: Good Night ShirtMaryland Horse Hall of Fame: Good Night ShirtLegends Of Steeplechase: Cheekily-Named Good Night Shirt A 'Horse Of A Lifetime' Best Of Luck Nobo True IncludeAmerican Classic Pedigree: IncludeLongtime Airdrie Stallion Include Dies at 25Steadfast Airdrie Stallion Include Dies Ferox RedeemedRedeemed Relocated to Texas Don IncInclude's Son Don Inc Wins Latinoamericana Mishegas RikerChampion Two-Year-Old Male: RikerUndefeated Riker Reigns in Swynford Mongoose Quest Star Hesanoldsalt
Pedigree
Ack Ack is inbred 4S x 5S to the stallion Sir Gallahad, meaning that he appears fourth generation and fifth generation (via Gala Belle) on the sire side of his pedigree.
Ack Ack is inbred 5S x 4D to the stallion Sickle, meaning that he appears fifth generation (via Reaping Reward) on the sire side of his pedigree, and fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.
References
Ack Ack's pedigree and racing stats Ack Ack at the National Museum and Racing Hall of Fame L.A. Times article about Ack Ack