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-   -   Snow Chief is gone. (http://www.derbytrail.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36173)

richard burch 05-18-2010 03:25 PM

Snow Chief is gone.
 
long live the chief.

USA: Snow Chief, winner of the Preakness Stakes in 1986 and USchampion three-year-old male that year, has died at the age of 27.

According to the Blood-Horse, Snow Chief died of an apparent heart attack.

A Grade 1 winner in each of his three seasons on the track, the son of Reflected Glory was trained in California by Mel Stute, for whom he won both the Norfolk Stakes and Hollywood Futurity as a juvenile. His regular rider was Alex Solis.

He won the Florida Derby and Santa Anita Derby at three before his Preakness Stakes and then took the Strub Stakes, a Grade 1 at the time, and the Oaklawn Handicap as a four-year-old.

The biggest disappointment of Snow Chief's career came when he could finish only 11th as 2-1 favourite behind Ferdinand in the 1986 Kentucky Derby.

According to the Blood-Horse, his career record stood at 13 victories from 24 races for $3.38m in prize-money earnings.

"Snow Chief was the most durable horseI have ever trained," Stute said. "He could run in the mud, he could run on the dirt - he was something special."

Danzig 05-18-2010 03:30 PM

stute was right, snow chief was something special.

richard burch 05-18-2010 03:38 PM

it wasn't that long ago when they would bring him to the track and let walk in front of the crowd before the snow chief stakes.

bless him, he lived a long life.

miraja2 05-18-2010 04:10 PM

It was a little before my time as a serious fan of the sport, but given his multiple-acceleration, utterly dominant performance in the Santa Anita Derby (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn397BQbfLU) I certainly understand why he was the favorite in Louisville.

Cannon Shell 05-18-2010 04:23 PM

Snow Chief was a very good horse but everytime I hear his name i think of Melair

cal828 05-18-2010 04:28 PM

I saw him in the Oaklawn Handicap. Doesn't seem like it was so long ago.

2Hot4TV 05-18-2010 06:03 PM

I remember him running with his down and refusing to give up the lead. Gutty little horse.

Melair was out of the same Dam?

DaTruth 05-18-2010 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2Hot4TV (Post 649104)
Melair was out of the same Dam?

Nope. Melair smoked him in the Silver Screen.

DaTruth 05-18-2010 09:49 PM

That was some great racing put on by Snow Chief, Ferdinand, and Broad Brush in the winter of 1987 at Santa Anita.

westcoastinvader 05-18-2010 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard burch (Post 649073)
it wasn't that long ago when they would bring him to the track and let walk in front of the crowd before the snow chief stakes.

bless him, he lived a long life.

He passed away in Paso Robles CA. Nice place to go.

His story with his "Sunshine Boys" owners was a compelling one in the Spring of 1986.

I'll freely admit that one of my favorite Kentucky Derby's ever was his....though my love after the fact was for Ferdinand, Shoemaker and Whittingham.

At one point of the race I believe the call was, "And here comes Snow Chief gaining on the outside!"

Indian Charlie 05-18-2010 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell (Post 649084)
Snow Chief was a very good horse but everytime I hear his name i think of Melair

Two bitchin horses man.

Both two of my all time favorites.

I almost missed my high school graduation so that I could bet Snow Chief in his debut.

SCUDSBROTHER 05-19-2010 11:15 AM

For some reason, the '86 Malibu was one of my favorite races. They both seemed to really want that. Snow Chief was always that way, but Ferdinand brought it that day, too. Ferdinand hadn't run since his 3rd in the Belmont. Snow Chief was coming off knee surgery, and hadn't raced since July. Both trainers were ready though.

LARHAGE 05-19-2010 11:34 AM

I had a son of Snow Chief, he died from colic about 20 years ago, he was beautiful but so slow my Morgan mare beat him in a match race. :p I loved the horse though as I loved Snow Chief.

I was at Hollywood Park when Melair smoked Snow Chief, I was so disappointed, but Melair was something special.

Indian Charlie 05-19-2010 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LARHAGE (Post 649243)
I had a son of Snow Chief, he died from colic about 20 years ago, he was beautiful but so slow my Morgan mare beat him in a match race. :p I loved the horse though as I loved Snow Chief.

I was at Hollywood Park when Melair smoked Snow Chief, I was so disappointed, but Melair was something special.

Yeah, I was there that day too.

That's the only time I ever saw a standing ovation given to the winner of a race that wasn't the odds on favorite (she wasn't even favored, of course).

When she went from 3/4s in 108 to 7/8ths in 119.4, I thought to myself that I'll probably never see a performance like this ever again.


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