Snow Chief

Snow Chief (March 17, 1983 in California – May 18, 2010) was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse.

Snow Chief
Sire	Reflected Glory
Grandsire	Jester
Dam	Miss Snowflake
Damsire	Snow Sporting
Sex	Male
Foaled	1983
Country	United States
Colour	Black
Breeder	Blue Diamond Ranch (Carl F. Grinstead)
Owner	Carl Grinstead & Ben Rochelle
Trainer	Melvin F. Stute
Record	24: 13-3-5
Earnings	$3,383,210
Major wins
Hollywood Futurity (1985) Norfolk Stakes (1985) California Breeders' Champion Stakes (1986) El Camino Real Derby (1986) Florida Derby (1986) Santa Anita Derby (1986) Jersey Derby (1986) Charles H. Strub Stakes (1987) Oaklawn Handicap (1987) American Classic Race wins: Preakness Stakes (1986)
Awards
California Horse of the Year (1985, 1986, 1987) American Champion 3-Year-Old Male Horse (1986)
Last updated on September 27, 2008

Background

Snow Chief was bred by Carl Grinstead. In 1984, retired vaudevillian and successful real estate investor Ben Rochelle bought a fifty percent interest in Grinstead's Blue Diamond Ranch, thus becoming a half owner of the yearling. Snow Chief was one of several winners produced by the mare Miss Snowflake: the others included Mujaazif, who won the Royal Lodge Stakes in 1990.

Racing career

1985: two-year-old season

Conditioned by veteran California trainer Mel Stute, Snow Chief made nine starts at age two, winning five, including the Norfolk Stakes and the Hollywood Futurity. His 1985 performances earned him California Horse of the Year honors, but Tasso, the 1985 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner, was voted the Eclipse Award for American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt.

1986: three-year-old season

As a three-year-old, Snow Chief made a further nine starts. In California, he won two stakes races, then was sent to Florida, where he won the important Florida Derby. Back in California, he established himself as the solid Kentucky Derby favorite with a win in that state's most important race for three-year-olds, the Santa Anita Derby.

Snow Chief was sent off at even money as the bettors' choice in the Kentucky Derby but in a sixteen-horse field, he finished eleventh to winner Ferdinand. However, Snow Chief returned to form in the Preakness Stakes, defeating runner-up Ferdinand by four lengths.

His handlers chose not to run him in the 1½ mile Belmont Stakes. Instead they later sent him to Garden State Park, where he won the Jersey Derby. For his performances in 1986, Snow Chief was named California Horse of the Year for the second straight year and was voted American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse.

1987: four-year-old season

Snow Chief returned to racing as a four-year-old in 1987. From six starts, he won two and earned three seconds. His wins came in the Charles H. Strub Stakes at Santa Anita Racetrack in California and the Oaklawn Handicap at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Arkansas. He was voted California Horse of the Year for the third time.

Stud career

He was retired to stud duty, producing offspring that have met with modest success. He stood at Diane Rochelle's Eagle Oak Ranch in Paso Robles, California, and died due to an apparent heart attack on the morning of May 18, 2010.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Snow Chief

Sire Reflected Glory drk.br. 1964	Jester bay 1955	Tom Fool	Menow
			Gaga
		Golden Apple	Eight Thirty
			Thorn Apple
	Lysistrata gray 1954	Palestinian	Sun Again
			Dolly Whisk
		Jaconda	Belfonds
			Jacola
Dam Miss Snowflake bay 1978	Snow Sporting drk.br. 1966	Snow Cat	Arctic Prince
			Calash
		Extatica	Claro
			Extasiada
	Bold Jewel ch. 1973	Any Time Now	Nigromante
			Time to Khal
		Bold Contessa	Bold Combatant
			Fleet Contessa

References

• Snow Chief's pedigree and partial racing stats
• Video at YouTube of Snow Chief winning the 1986 Santa Anita Derby
• May 26, 1986 Sports Illustrated article titled A Day Of Redemption For The Chief
• Bloodhorse.com video profile of Mel Stute with Snow Chief
• Snow Chief at the Thoroughbred Times Interactive Stallion Directory