Pine Chip Passes

Word out of Europe indicates that Pine Chip (4,T1:51 [$1,710,858]), who was at one point the world’s fastest trotter, has passed away at the age of 29.

Officials with Sweden’s Broline Stud have confirmed the passing of Pine Chip, who on October 1, 1994 became the ‘world's fastest trotter’ after recording a 1:51 mile in a time trial at the Red Mile.

Bred by KMW Farms of Bethel, Pennsylvania and sold at the Harrisburg Sale for $17,000, Pine Chip was a bargain for yearling buyers Neal Goldman and Chuck Sylvester. Pine Chip was unraced at two due to an injury. However, at three, he won 16 of 24 races and was the leading money-winning trotter of 1993 with $1,363,483. He earned Trotter of the Year and Three-Year-Old Colt Trotter honours. The leading money-winning trotter won the American-National with an all-age track record of 1:55.3, Beacon Course Trot in a season's and stakes record 1:53.4, and the Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Colt Trot at Pompano Park with a season's record 1:54.2f. Pine Chip set a stakes record and two-heat world record in the Kentucky Futurity of 1:52.4 and 1:52.3 over rival American Winner. Other major stakes won by Pine Chip were the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, Historic Cup, Matron Stakes, Colonial Trot, Transylvania Stakes and the Keystone Classic.

As a four-year-old, Pine Chip was named Trotting Horse of the Year and voted to his second Trotter of the Year title. His seven victories from 10 starts included the Nat Ray, an elimination heat of the Elitlopp in Sweden, and the Breeders Crown for age three and up open trot at Freehold Raceway. The son of Arndon set a world record of 1:52.4 for a four-year-old on a mile track and 1:54 all-age record on Delaware, Ohio's half-mile track, breaking Mack Lobell's 1988 half-mile track record by two full seconds.

Most importantly that same year, history was made in Lexington with Pine Chip's 1:51 time trial. Fractions of :27.3, :55.2, 1:23.1 and a last quarter in :27.4 were clocked for the historic mile. Trainer Sylvester was quoted as saying, "Pure and simple, Pine Chip is the best I have ever trained." John Campbell, who also drove Mack Lobell, stated, "I am convinced Pine Chip could have beaten any trotter in the world – including Mack Lobell."

At the end of his racing career, Pine Chip was syndicated for over $200,000 and stood at Castleton Farm in Lexington, Kentucky for six breeding seasons before being exported.

Pine Chip also found success in breeding. His offspring won over $32 million. He has sired 70 $100,000+ winners, 27 $250,000+ winners, 11 $500,000+ winners and 4 $1,000,000+ winners.

Pine Chip’s foals have won many of trotting's most prestigious stakes races, including the biggest race of them all, the Hambletonian. Pine Chip sired back-to-back winners, Scarlet Knight in 2001 and Chip Chip Hooray in 2002.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Pine Chip.

(With files from the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame)