 It was raced on dirt since its inaugural running in 2001 until 2007 after the new synthetic Cushion Track had been installed.The race is named for the great Ack Ack, inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Horse of the Year in 1971, as well as ranking number 44 in the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century.This race was run as a stake in 2001.