Chinook Pass (horse)
Encyclopedia
Chinook Pass was an American
Champion
thoroughbred
racehorse
. He was named for the stunning mile-high mountain pass that takes motorists to the very foot of 14,411 feet (4,392 m) Mount Rainier
as they travel between Eastern and Western Washington State, USA.
Bred and raced by retired Seattle policeman Ed Purvis under his Hi Yu Stables banner, Chinook Pass was out of the mare Yu Turn, a daughter of the important sire, Turn-To
. His sire was the Vanderbilt-bred Native Born, who was a son of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
inductee, Native Dancer
out of Sagamore Farm's two-time national champion mare, Next Move.
He was foaled at Dewaine Moore's Rainier Stables near Enumclaw, Washington
. Racing at age two, he won three of five starts, including the Washington Stallion Stakes at Longacres Racetrack in track record time. An injury in the Gottstein Futurity kept him out of racing for seven months.
Back on the track at age three, Chinook Pass made thirteen starts, winning eight, finishing second three times and third, once. He became the first three-year-old to win the Washington State Governor's Handicap in twenty-seven years.
At Longacres Racetrack in Renton, Washington
on September 17, 1982 Chinook Pass set a new world record of 0:55 1/5 for five furlong
s in winning the Longacres Owners Handicap, which remains the North American dirt record. http://www.horsehats.com/horse-racing-records.html
Near the end of 1982 he won the Meteor Handicap at Hollywood Park Racetrack in a time of 0:56 for five furlongs on turf which equalled the American record, and capped his three-year-old season with a track record-tying victory in the Palos Verdes Handicap, then the Santa Anita opening day feature, on a hand ride by jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. to finish in 1:07 3/5.
That year, he finished third in Eclipse Award balloting for Sprinter of the Year, and was voted Washington Horse of the Year.
At age four in 1983, Chinook Pass won five of seven starts and won the Eclipse Award as that year's American Champion Sprint Horse, the first by a horse bred in the state of Washington. Following four more stakes wins at Santa Anita Park
and an eight length victory in the Bing Crosby Handicap at Del Mar Racetrack
, he made a triumphal return to Washington where his six length win in the Longacres Mile equalled the largest margin in the race's history. However, he came out of the race with an injury to a front foreleg. Near the end of the year, he re-injured the leg and, although several attempts were made to bring him back to training, he never raced again.
At the end of the year he was again Washington Horse of the Year.
Hall of Fame Jockey Laffit Pincay Jr., who was aboard Chinook Pass for all his Southern California stakes wins and the Longacres Mile, has often stated that, "Chinook Pass is the fastest horse I ever rode and the fastest horse I ever saw." http://www.washingtonthoroughbred.com/WaTbStats/Chinook%20Pass,%20Chapter%201.pdf
Ron Charles, former president of Santa Anita Park, stated upon the occasion of the horse's 31st birthday that “Chinook Pass is, by far, the fastest sprinter I have ever seen, (and) on our 75th Anniversary, it is still my belief that he was the fastest sprinter ever to race at Santa Anita.” http://www.washingtonthoroughbred.com/WaTbStats/HOF_Chinook_31YO.htm
In 2000, Chinook Pass was named Washington's Horse of the Century.
In 2008, the 29-year-old Chinook Pass made his final visit to the racetrack, being honored at Emerald Downs
on the 25th anniversary of his win in the 1983 Longacres Mile.
Chinook Pass was euthanized on June 1, 2010 due to an emergent heart condition. In very good health up until his final day, he was the oldest living Eclipse Award winner at the time of his death at age 31 years, 1 month and 5 days.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Champion
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. He was named for the stunning mile-high mountain pass that takes motorists to the very foot of 14,411 feet (4,392 m) Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier is a massive stratovolcano located southeast of Seattle in the state of Washington, United States. It is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous United States and the Cascade Volcanic Arc, with a summit elevation of . Mt. Rainier is considered one of the most...
as they travel between Eastern and Western Washington State, USA.
Bred and raced by retired Seattle policeman Ed Purvis under his Hi Yu Stables banner, Chinook Pass was out of the mare Yu Turn, a daughter of the important sire, Turn-To
Turn-To
Turn-To was a British Thoroughbred stallion racehorse. He was sired by the great British stakes winner Royal Charger, out of the French mare Source Sucree, whose sire, Admiral Drake, was third on the French sire list in 1949....
. His sire was the Vanderbilt-bred Native Born, who was a son of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
inductee, Native Dancer
Native Dancer
Native Dancer , nicknamed the Grey Ghost, was one of the most celebrated and accomplished Thoroughbred racehorses in history, the first horse made famous through the medium of television. He was one of the best horses produced in USA after the war...
out of Sagamore Farm's two-time national champion mare, Next Move.
He was foaled at Dewaine Moore's Rainier Stables near Enumclaw, Washington
Enumclaw, Washington
Enumclaw is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 10,669 at the 2010 census.The Enumclaw Plateau, on which the city resides, was formed by a volcanic mudflow from Mount Rainier approximately 5,700 years ago....
. Racing at age two, he won three of five starts, including the Washington Stallion Stakes at Longacres Racetrack in track record time. An injury in the Gottstein Futurity kept him out of racing for seven months.
Back on the track at age three, Chinook Pass made thirteen starts, winning eight, finishing second three times and third, once. He became the first three-year-old to win the Washington State Governor's Handicap in twenty-seven years.
At Longacres Racetrack in Renton, Washington
Renton, Washington
Renton is an Eastside edge city in King County, Washington, United States. Situated 11 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington, Renton straddles the southeast shore of Lake Washington. Founded in the 1860s, Renton became a supply town for the Newcastle coal fields...
on September 17, 1982 Chinook Pass set a new world record of 0:55 1/5 for five furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
s in winning the Longacres Owners Handicap, which remains the North American dirt record. http://www.horsehats.com/horse-racing-records.html
Near the end of 1982 he won the Meteor Handicap at Hollywood Park Racetrack in a time of 0:56 for five furlongs on turf which equalled the American record, and capped his three-year-old season with a track record-tying victory in the Palos Verdes Handicap, then the Santa Anita opening day feature, on a hand ride by jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. to finish in 1:07 3/5.
That year, he finished third in Eclipse Award balloting for Sprinter of the Year, and was voted Washington Horse of the Year.
At age four in 1983, Chinook Pass won five of seven starts and won the Eclipse Award as that year's American Champion Sprint Horse, the first by a horse bred in the state of Washington. Following four more stakes wins at Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race...
and an eight length victory in the Bing Crosby Handicap at Del Mar Racetrack
Del Mar Racetrack
Del Mar Racetrack is an American Thoroughbred horse racing track at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in the seaside city of Del Mar, California, 20 miles north of San Diego. Operated by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, it is known for the slogan: "Where The Turf Meets The Surf." It was built by a partnership...
, he made a triumphal return to Washington where his six length win in the Longacres Mile equalled the largest margin in the race's history. However, he came out of the race with an injury to a front foreleg. Near the end of the year, he re-injured the leg and, although several attempts were made to bring him back to training, he never raced again.
At the end of the year he was again Washington Horse of the Year.
Hall of Fame Jockey Laffit Pincay Jr., who was aboard Chinook Pass for all his Southern California stakes wins and the Longacres Mile, has often stated that, "Chinook Pass is the fastest horse I ever rode and the fastest horse I ever saw." http://www.washingtonthoroughbred.com/WaTbStats/Chinook%20Pass,%20Chapter%201.pdf
Ron Charles, former president of Santa Anita Park, stated upon the occasion of the horse's 31st birthday that “Chinook Pass is, by far, the fastest sprinter I have ever seen, (and) on our 75th Anniversary, it is still my belief that he was the fastest sprinter ever to race at Santa Anita.” http://www.washingtonthoroughbred.com/WaTbStats/HOF_Chinook_31YO.htm
In 2000, Chinook Pass was named Washington's Horse of the Century.
In 2008, the 29-year-old Chinook Pass made his final visit to the racetrack, being honored at Emerald Downs
Emerald Downs
Emerald Downs is a thoroughbred racetrack in Auburn, Washington, located a half mile east of Highway 167. It is named after Seattle, the Emerald City.-History:...
on the 25th anniversary of his win in the 1983 Longacres Mile.
Chinook Pass was euthanized on June 1, 2010 due to an emergent heart condition. In very good health up until his final day, he was the oldest living Eclipse Award winner at the time of his death at age 31 years, 1 month and 5 days.
External links
- Pedigree and partial racing stats for Chinook Pass
- Chinook Pass at the Washington Racing Hall of Fame
- Lightning in a Bottle: The Story of Chinook Pass I, WA Thorougbred magazine http://www.washingtonthoroughbred.com/WaTbStats/Chinook%20Pass,%20Chapter%201.pdf
- Lightning in a Bottle: The Story of Chinook Pass II, WA Thorougbred magazine http://www.washingtonthoroughbred.com/WaTbStats/Chinook%20Pass,%20Chapter%202.pdf
- Lightning in a Bottle: The Story of Chinook Pass III, WA Thorougbred magazine http://www.washingtonthoroughbred.com/WaTbStats/Chinook%20Pass,%20Chapter%203.pdf
- Honoring Chinook Pass on his 30th Birthday, WA Thorougbred magazine http://www.washingtonthoroughbred.com/WaTbStats/Chinook%20Pass%20Turns%2030.pdf
- Legends Reunited: Chinook Pass and Laffit Pincay, Jr., WA Thoroughbred magazine http://www.washingtonthoroughbred.com/WaTbStats/LegendsReunited_Chinook&Pincay.pdf
- Oldest Living Eclipse Award winner turns 31, WA Thoroughbred Breeders & Owners Association http://www.washingtonthoroughbred.com/WaTbStats/HOF_Chinook_31YO.htm