Skip Away Dies at 17 Years Old

Skip Away was born April 4, 1993 in Florida. He was out of Ingot Way and sired by Skip Trial. As a yearling, Skip Away was bought by Hubert Hine for his wife whose vision problems made it difficult for her to spot any other colored horse on the track. The original sale price was $30,000, but it was knocked down to $22,500 after a chip was discovered in the colt's ankle. The surgery to remove the chip was never done.

At two, Skip Away raced six times, and won only once, his record for the year 6-1-3-1. He destroyed a maiden field by almost thirteen lengths at Monmouth Park. He then went on to finish second in the G2 Remsen Stakes by a neck, second in the G2 Cowdin Stakes by a nose, and second in the Gilded Time Stakes, his first start on turf. He also finished third in the World Appeal Stakes.

At three, Skip Away cast off his average two-year-old record and began to shine. His record was 12-6-2-2. His wins included the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup where he defeated the superhorse Cigar, G1 Woodbine Million Stakes by four lengths, G1 Haskell Invitational Handicap, G2 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes by six lengths, the G2 Ohio Derby by three and a half, and an allowance at Gulfstream where he dominated the field by twelve lengths. He also finished third in the G1 Travers Stakes and G1 Florida Derby.

Skip Away didn't have much luck in the Triple Crown. He finished a dismal twelfth in the Kentucky Derby before coming back to finish second in the Preakness to Louis Quatorze and second in the Belmont to Editor's Note.

Skip Away's season earned him the Eclipse Award for Champion 3-Year Old Colt in 1996.

The now four-year-old colt only continued to improve. He was never out of the money at four, with a record of 4-5-2 in eleven starts and over $4 million in earnings. The crown jewel of his season was a win the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic in 1:59.00. He also won the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup for the second consecutive year, G2 Suburban Handicap, and G3 Massachusetts Handicap. He finished second in the G1 Pimlico Special to Gentleman, G1 Woodward Stakes to Formal Gold, G1 Gulfstream Park Handicap to Mt. Sassafras, G1 Donn Handicap to Formal Gold, and G2 Philip H. Iselin Handicap to Formal Gold. He was third in the both G1 Whitney Handicap and the Texas Mile Stakes.

He was the 1997 winner of the Eclipse Award for Champion Older Male.

At five, Skip Away was at his best. He won seven of his eight races, finishing third only once. Skip Away won the G1 Hollywood Gold Cup, G1 Pimlico Special Handicap by three and a quarter lengths, G1 Woodward Stakes, G1 Gulfstream Park Handicap by two and a quarter lengths, G1 Donn Handicap by two and three-quarter lengths, G2 Phillio H. Iselin Handicap, and G2 Massachusetts Handicap in a new track record time of 1:47.15. His only loss of the year came in his attempt to win the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup for the third consecutive year. He lost to Wagon Limit and Gentleman.

After his winning season at five, he was named the 1998 Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male.

Skip Away's final record was 18-10-6 out of 38 starts and $9,616,360 in earnings. He's the third richest racehorse in North America. He was inducted into the U.S. National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2004.

As a sire, Skip Away stood for $10,000 in Kentucky and produced twenty stakes winners.

The 17-year-old stallion died of an apparent heart attack on May 14th in his paddock at Hopewell Farm.

RIP Skip Away