He was among Southern California racing's first major stars of the 1970s. And he could do it all.

Based in the area for the second half of his career, this son of Battle Joined put together one of the most memorable seasons by an equine racing on the circuit. Even now, it is still thought of with reverence.

But Ack Ack did more before heading West. In fact, he is one of those unique Thoroughbreds that enjoyed success competing both in the East and West.

His first season came in 1968. Under the tutelage of W.W. Stephens, Ack Ack did well in three starts at Belmont Park, getting a win and two seconds while just sprinting.

Though destined to be a force in stakes races, he did not get his first taste of that level until the following year. Clearly on the Kentucky Derby trail, the first half of that year saw Ack Ack get his first stakes win in the Bahamas at Hialeah Park. He ultimately missed out on the spring classics, but he did get a win in the Derby Trial at Churchill Downs.

It could be said that Ack Ack showed promise with his juvenile record. That promise was confirmed throughout 1969 as Ack Ack produced a campaign filled with consistency and versatility.

With the exception of a fourth place in the Everglades Stakes, Ack Ack never finished worse than third in any other start that year. He captured multiple sprint and route races, including an allowance event on an off surface, and had no trouble moving from track to track. He raced in Florida, Kentucky, New York and Illinois, and it was in the latter state that he won his sophomore finale in the Arlington Classic. A horse that liked being forwardly placed, Ack Ack could also dominate. He took more than one race by multiple lengths, completely outrunning his opposition as he added more wins to his growing record. He also beat a future champion early that season, defeating future Horse of the Year Arts and Letters in an allowance at Hialeah.

Ack Ack compiled a excellent 1969 campaign with trainer F.A. Bonsal and regular rider Manuel Ycaza (who teamed with Ack Ack in most of the Thoroughbred's starts to that point), but he would go to even greater heights with his third conditioner and new regular jockey.

The 1970 season saw Ack Ack become an older horse. He also experienced a change of scenery. Never again would he race on the Eastern side of the country; Ack Ack's new home was California. With venerable trainer Charlie Whittingham at the helm and the legendary Bill Shoemaker in the irons, Ack Ack managed to win at Hollywood Park, Del Mar and Santa Anita, and it was at the Arcadia track where he scored his first turf victory in the Autumn Days Handicap.

Ack Ack exclusively sprinted during his first year in Southern California, but he was as consistent as ever, the lone off the board result coming from trouble in Hollywood Park's Premiere Handicap. But a return to routing was in store for 1971. And along with that came Ack Ack's best season.

Based at Santa Anita for the track's winter-spring meeting, and with Shoemaker aboard, Ack Ack got the new year started with a second in the Palos Verdes Stakes. That would be his lowest finish as a five-year-old. He and Shoemaker got back to the winner's circle next time out in the San Carlos, and they subsequently rolled to victories in the San Pasqual, San Antonio and Santa Anita Handicaps (he beat future Champion Grass Horse Cougar II in the latter). That period of Ack Ack's career again highlighted the many talents he possessed. He won going short and long, and won on fast and off tracks.

The Big 'Cap offered a glimpse of what Ack Ack could do on the track. Able to closely track the pace in past starts, Ack Ack was not averse to leading early, and he did that in the Big 'Cap. He showed he could win at a classic distance, and this was all accomplished with a beautiful and relaxed stride filled with elegance on an off track.

In several ways, the Big 'Cap was Ack Ack's crowning achievement in terms of just race victories. An excellent all-around talent from the beginning, Santa Anita's marquee event gave Ack Ack the opportunity to display those traits in an approximately two-minute span. It is symbolic of his immense greatness.

Moving across town to Hollywood Park, no one could match Ack Ack in the spring and summer. He and Shoemaker got that meet started with a win in the Hollywood Express Handicap, and they followed that up with another grass score in the American Handicap. Then came the main event of that session, the Hollywood Gold Cup. Again trying a mile and a quarter, Ack Ack handled the distance for a second time, joining the exalted club of horses that won the Big 'Cap and Gold Cup in the same year.

The Gold Cup proved to be Ack Ack's on-track finale, finishing up with nineteen wins and six seconds in twenty-seven career starts. But he retired a champion. He also cleaned up at the inaugural Eclipse Awards in 1971, collecting the trophies for Champion Sprinter, Handicap Horse and Horse of the Year, a fitting haul for a remarkable campaign.

Ack Ack would later gain entrance to the Hall of Fame, becoming part of the 1986 class. He also came up with another Big 'Cap win, for he sired Broad Brush, who took the 1987 renewal.

In addition, Ack Ack sired a champion in Youth, who was voted Champion Grass Horse for 1976. That also proved to be symbolic of Ack Ack's prowess and versatility as a racehorse. A winner on turf in his racing days, albeit only twice, Ack Ack gave Youth his ability to compete on the green. And Youth got the most out of it.

Ack Ack lived to the age of 24, passing on in 1990. But he is still remembered for his outstanding career, and has certainly attained legendary status just for his brilliant 1971 campaign in Southern California. It is one of the greatest seasons ever produced by a horse competing in this area, along with any season by a horse in general.

Kentucky racing also pays tribute to the bay champion, for the Ack Ack Stakes is hosted by Churchill Downs every autumn. For several years, Hollywood Park held the Ack Ack Handicap during its spring-summer meeting.

He was a sprinter, router, win machine and multiple champion. He was a dirt and turf horse, and someone who could unleash tactical speed. All of that combined to give the sport an amazing all-around Thoroughbred.