Zippy Chippy, horse racing’s loveliest loser, has died aged 31.
Tuan’s son is an Old Friends retiree at Cabin Creek in Central Greenfield, NY., a satellite of Kentucky’s Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement.
Campaigned by owner-trainer Felix Montserrate — who acquired the horse in 1995 by trading a Ford Truck — the Zippy Chippy is better known for losing races than winning them. . In 100 starts, he never crossed the finish line first. But flying gelding is famous in other ways – for its ridiculousness and for inclusion in carnival exhibits where he once raced against a baseball player.
In 2000, People Magazine even named Zippy Chippy one of the “Hottest Characters” of the year.
Due to antics such as refusing to step out of the gate and stopping mid-race, Zippy Chippy was banned from all races in North America, with the exception of the Northampton Fair in Mass. career as a pony excelled at his hometown track, Finger Lake in New York. Despite not winning in 100 starts, he finished second eight times and third 11 times and made $30,834 in his earnings.
Zippy Chippy, a Buckfinder Listen Lady mare, raised in New York by Capritaur Ranch. He sold for $2,500 at the Fasig-Tipton New York May Horses of Racing Age Sale in 1995 to Michael Barbarita from Carl Domino’s shipment.
In April 2010, an elderly campaigner found a home at Old Friends in Cabin Creek. Under the guidance of Cabin Creek owner and manager JoAnn Pepper, Zippy Chippy finally found solace with a pack mate, the Red Down South, a New York chestnut hybrid.
In recent years, Zippy Chippy and Red Down South have been the stars of Cabin Creek.
Cabin Creek’s Pepper said: “Zippy was our protagonist here, and he lived his life his way. “He was very content and wouldn’t do anything he wasn’t in the mood for. He taught me so much about life, and I’ll miss him forever.”
“Zippy has found her greatest success as a retired person,” said Old Friends founder and President Michael Blowen. “Joann and all the volunteers at Cabin Creek adore him, and he draws hundreds of fans to the ranch each year. He’s a star after all.
“We thank Joann and Mark Pepper and everyone at Cabin Creek for the wonderful care they have given Zippy. I know he will miss it all so much.”
