Snow Chief is gone.

[richard burch]

long live the chief.

USA: Snow Chief, winner of the Preakness Stakes in 1986 and USchampion three-year-old male that year, has died at the age of 27.

According to the Blood-Horse, Snow Chief died of an apparent heart attack.

A Grade 1 winner in each of his three seasons on the track, the son of Reflected Glory was trained in California by Mel Stute, for whom he won both the Norfolk Stakes and Hollywood Futurity as a juvenile. His regular rider was Alex Solis.

He won the Florida Derby and Santa Anita Derby at three before his Preakness Stakes and then took the Strub Stakes, a Grade 1 at the time, and the Oaklawn Handicap as a four-year-old.

The biggest disappointment of Snow Chief's career came when he could finish only 11th as 2-1 favourite behind Ferdinand in the 1986 Kentucky Derby.

According to the Blood-Horse, his career record stood at 13 victories from 24 races for $3.38m in prize-money earnings.

"Snow Chief was the most durable horseI have ever trained," Stute said. "He could run in the mud, he could run on the dirt - he was something special."

[Danzig]

stute was right, snow chief was something special.

[richard burch]

it wasn't that long ago when they would bring him to the track and let walk in front of the crowd before the snow chief stakes.

bless him, he lived a long life.

[miraja2]

It was a little before my time as a serious fan of the sport, but given his multiple-acceleration, utterly dominant performance in the Santa Anita Derby (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn397BQbfLU) I certainly understand why he was the favorite in Louisville.

[Cannon Shell]

Snow Chief was a very good horse but everytime I hear his name i think of Melair

[cal828]

I saw him in the Oaklawn Handicap. Doesn't seem like it was so long ago.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Snow Chief was a very good horse but everytime I hear his name i think of Melair

Two bitchin horses man.

Both two of my all time favorites.

I almost missed my high school graduation so that I could bet Snow Chief in his debut.

[westcoastinvader]

Originally Posted by richard burch

it wasn't that long ago when they would bring him to the track and let walk in front of the crowd before the snow chief stakes.

bless him, he lived a long life.

He passed away in Paso Robles CA. Nice place to go.

His story with his "Sunshine Boys" owners was a compelling one in the Spring of 1986.

I'll freely admit that one of my favorite Kentucky Derby's ever was his....though my love after the fact was for Ferdinand, Shoemaker and Whittingham.

At one point of the race I believe the call was, "And here comes Snow Chief gaining on the outside!"