LITTLE ROCK — Loser horse finally able to cash in
A horse that never posed in the winner’s circle is living the good life this summer on a scenic Kentucky farm, and his losses could mean a big victory for retired thoroughbreds.
Zippy Chippy belied his name during a remarkable winless streak, failing to win any of his 100 starts during a career at tracks in the Northeast. His futility earned the hapless loser a spot on People magazine’s list of the most interesting personalities.
Now the 21-year-old dark brown gelding, who last raced in 2004, has emerged from the pack as a lovable ambassador for the humane treatment of old horses no longer able to bring in money from racing or breeding to pay their feed and veterinarian bills.
Old Friends, a central Kentucky farm for retired thoroughbreds, is hoping to capitalize on Zippy Chippy’s notoriety. A fundraiser is planned next month along witha line of Zippy Chippy-inspired merchandise.
The marketing campaign may show that the horse isn’t such a loser after all in a region that reveres thoroughbred champions.
“I guarantee you that within a year, Zippy Chippy will earn more in retirement than he did onthe track,” said Michael Blowen, founder and president of Old Friends farm.
Zippy Chippy earned just over $30,000 in racing, mostly from a number of second- and thirdplace finishes.
Blowen, a retired movie critic for The Boston Globe, said the horse’s life script resonates with people.
“I think more people can identify with a horse that loses all the time than a horse that wins all the time,” he said. “I think that’s part of the fun of it. Because there are more losers in the world than winners.” Seasonal move
British golfer Lee Westwood is moving to Florida and told the Vancouver (British Columbia) Sun why.
“The English winters and the English summers,” Westwood said.
Still Champ
Champ Bailey is used to the adrenaline bursts and unscripted chaos that comes with playing in the NFL.
But the Denver Broncos cornerback said nothing could have prepared him for the rushhe experienced Monday when he joined the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds in an F-16 flight over Cheyenne, Wyo.
“It’s different,” he said in comparing the hour-long flight to playing in afootball game. “I can only imagine the type of preparation [the pilots] need to go through to get to that point to fly jets like that.
“It’s great, and it’s a great feeling, but I wouldn’t want tofeel that every day.”
Lt. Col. Jason Koltes, who is the operations officer for the Thunderbirds, flew Bailey in his two-seat jet.
Koltes said he did his best to put Bailey “through the ringer” on their trip. That included exerting a force of more than nine times the force of gravity during the tough combat maneuvers and aerial rolls, dips, twists and turns.
“Champ said, ‘I could take anything you dish out,’ so I tried,” Koltes said. “And sure enough there was nothing I could do in the aircraft that he couldn’t handle.”Quote of the day
“He’s going to have the
whole state of Arkansas loving him in a very short time.” Carrollton (Texas) Hebron defensive coordinator Erich Mach on Arkansas freshman defensive end Deatrich Wise.
Sports, Pages 20 on 07/25/2012