The Kentucky Horse Park is welcoming another high-profile Thoroughbred to its Hall of Champions, having announced Nov. 21 with Lane's End the addition of five-time grade 1 winner Accelerate.
The 10-year-old son of Lookin At Lucky, champion older dirt male of 2018, had been standing at Lane's End following a brilliant racing career that included victories in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), Pacific Classic Stakes (G1), Santa Anita Handicap (G1), and Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes (G1). Accelerate won 10 of 23 starts and earned nearly $6.7 million.
"Accelerate is a very special horse to me and my family," said Kosta Hronis, who campaigned Accelerate for four seasons with trainer John Sadler. "I feel it is important for the Thoroughbred community to share its racing superstars with the fans of our sport. There is no better venue than the Kentucky Horse Park's Hall of Champions to showcase the talent and charisma of the Thoroughbred breed, and no finer equine athlete than Accelerate to represent the Thoroughbred racehorse."
Bred in Kentucky by Mike Abraham out of the stakes-placed Awesome Again mare Issues, Accelerate was sold to Lane's End Bloodstock for $380,000 during the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He made his racing debut at 3 for Hronis Racing, getting his first win at Del Mar in his fourth career start. He advanced quickly, capturing his first stakes and his first graded stakes in his next two starts. Accelerate ended his 3-year-old year with a third in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). He did his best running at 5 when he won six of seven starts—five in grade 1 stakes and two at the grade 2 level. His only loss was a second in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2).
Accelerate sired 62 winners, led by stakes winners Super Accelerate and Hal, along with five other stakes performers. His progeny have earned more than $3.28 million in purses.
"We are thrilled to welcome Accelerate into the Hall of Champions," said Kentucky Horse Park president Lee Carter. "Guests of the park will love meeting this Kentucky-bred champion and hearing his story for years to come. It is an honor that Lane's End Farm and Hronis Racing are entrusting Accelerate's care to the Kentucky Horse Park."
Accelerate joins two-time sprint champion Roy H at the Hall of Champions. Roy H's residency at the Horse Park was announced Nov. 19. The two Thoroughbreds will reside with Standardbred pacers Western Dreamer and Won The West, and Standardbred trotters Mr. Muscleman and Marion Marauder.
