A millionaire on the track, but even more famous as trainer Steve Hobby’s longtime stable of horses, Chindi died on February 2. The snow-white horse was 29 years old.
Hobby said Chindi’s physical condition had deteriorated over the course of several weeks, adding that he believed it was due to a neurological disorder caused by advanced age, which is rarely achieved for a purebred racehorse. strains.
“When he got bad, he went really fast,” Hobby said in the coach’s stands on Friday morning. “I noticed the little things that were driving him, such as he kept turning left and I had to constantly correct him. He didn’t put hay in his bucket of water. He did the right thing. Then he started to lose action in the back. I didn’t get him to the track for four or five days. It was neurosis. He was about to fall and couldn’t get up. I took him out the other day, in the morning. I just took him out to clean the stall and it was almost impossible for me to get him back to my booth. He was about to fall. .”
Guys, the CHINDI Legend passed away today at the age of 29. I’ve been thinking longer on Instagram ( @cresran) but I just want to reiterate my thanks to his countless fans. A final note – Steve Hobby has kept him spotless for 29 years and deserves credit. Thank for all pic.twitter.com/EoFFA9LfVp
— Cres Ran LLC (@cresran) February 3, 2023
Campaigned by Hobbyist’s most esteemed client, Oklahoman Carol Ricks (Cres Ran), Chindi had an 18-13-23 record from 81 starts in her lifetime and earned $1,000,838. Ricks, 93, learned of Chindi’s death on Thursday night from her grandson, Ran Leonard, who now manages Cres Ran’s racing operations.
“She was very upset,” Leonard said Friday morning. “I mean, we’re all like that. But my grandmother, she’s obviously a wonderful person in every way. But she has a really good knack for turning things around like that and just comment on how lucky we are for everything he’s given us all that time.” his racing career and his post-race career. And, how much has he dedicated to Oaklawn and how much has he contributed to racing in general and as an ambassador for the sport this sport.
“She said something about how he basically gave us two lives. He had a life as a racehorse and then a life as an uncle. ponies in the stables. We got more than we could have expected from him. Twenty-nine years is a long time.”
Ricks’ late husband, Ran, bought Chindi privately on the advice of blood supply agent Omar Trevino, who happened to see his horse and dam, Rousing, while reviewing a some land near Lexington, Ky.
A late sprinter, Chindi—the Navajo word for “ghost”—has scored seven career victories at Oaklawn Park, including the 1998 Counting Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3). Chindi took the lead 11 distances by a quarter mile and remained seventh after half a mile before unleashing her patented stretch kick to win Don Pettinger 1 1/2 of the way. Pettinger, who now represents Oaklawn-based jockey Travis Wales, regularly rode Chindi early in his career.
Chindi wins Scissortail Stakes 1997 at Oaklawn Park
“The horse is pretty cool,” Pettinger said Friday morning. “He’s very happy. When I get there I’ll let him step back and he’ll go back there. When you ask him that last 1/4 mile, he’ll kick in there and make up a lot. People will think: ‘He’s defeated, he’s defeated’ because he’s so far back.”
Chindi debuted on March 15, 1997 in Oaklawn and retired in 2005. His retirement at Ricks’ CresRan ranch in north Oklahoma City disagreed with castration and he quickly transitioned to fine horse. position of Hobby, a position he held for nearly two decades.
“But then again, he never really spent time there (the ranch) because he wanted to be at the racetrack with Steve,” Leonard said. “He’s Steve’s horse as much as ours, if not more. They have a relationship that can’t be put into words. I really don’t believe in things like this as a rule. general, but my grandmother spent the last two weeks going through all these old Chindi pictures and trying to organize them and stuff, and then this happened. It was like, ‘There’s something in that world. told you?’ It’s crazy when things like that happen.”
Videotapes
As the years passed, Chindi’s popularity grew, especially at Oaklawn, where he had 24 career starts and was often the subject of renowned equestrian photographer Barbara Livingston. Hot Springs Mayor Pat McCabe has declared March 15, 2020 “Chindi Day,” allowing Oaklawn fans the chance to replay the game in the winners’ circle and indoor paddock between games. race. He had been the morning fixture in Oaklawn, escorting Hobby’s horses to and from the track.
Steve Hobby (left) and Chindi in the winners’ circle during Chindi Day celebrations in March 2020 at Oaklawn Park
“Sure,” Hobby said when asked if Chindi would gain more popularity after his racing career ended. “I don’t know why. I think longevity is one thing. People are so used to him and he’s always around. It’s like he’s immortal. That’s why people see him. he died. Like, ‘Chindi might ‘not die. He’s Superman.’ “
Hobby says he can keep half of Chindi’s ashes, maybe sprinkle some on Oaklawn’s finish line. The other half, Hobby said, will go to Ricks.
“It was the right choice, to be made,” Hobby said. “I did the humanitarian thing. He lived a wonderful life and I will look back on all those wonderful memories.”
In honor of Chindi, Leonard asked fans to donate to purebred retirement charities in their states.
This press release has been edited by BloodHorse Staff for content and style.
