Skip Away (USA)
April 4, 1993 – May 14, 2010
Skip Trial (USA) x Ingot Way (USA), by Diplomat Way (USA)
Family 14-f
April 4, 1993 – May 14, 2010
Skip Trial (USA) x Ingot Way (USA), by Diplomat Way (USA)
Family 14-f
A tough, consistent competitor, Skip Away failed to win a Classic race but did everything else that could be expected of a top American racehorse. For three consecutive seasons, he danced all the major dances on the East Coast, earning the nickname “The Iron Horse,” and he made a successful raid on California at age 5. Except at Churchill Downs, a track he clearly loathed, he could always be counted on to give his best. His record at stud was unimpressive.
Race record
38 starts, 18 wins, 10 seconds, 6 thirds, US$9,616,360
1995:
1996:
1997:
1998:
Honors
Assessments
Skip Away was rated #32 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by an expert panel assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
Rated at 115 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile males of 1995, 11 pounds below co-highweights Maria's Mon (the official divisional champion) and Unbridled's Song.
Highweighted at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1996.
Co-highweighted with Gentlemen at 128 pounds atop the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1997.
Highweighted at 130 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1998, 3 pounds above second-rated Awesome Again.
As an individual
A big, strong gray horse standing 16.2 hands, Skip Away had a bone chip in one knee, but this never seemed to bother him. He was consistently generous as a racehorse and ran well over both fast and off going. His greatest weapon was a high cruising speed, but although he was a powerful galloper, he did not have the best of action; as rival trainer Dale Romans said of him, "All four legs are going in different directions, but they're all moving really really fast." He also tended to pound heavily on his forehand and to climb in front. He did not have brilliant acceleration but could deliver a long, sustained drive and was a determined battler on the track. As a stallion, Skip Away was very territorial, yet had the odd quirk of calming down if tied to the back wall of his stall. He had a very affectionate relationship with owner Carolyn Hine and was also said to be fond of his regular jockey, Mike Smith. He developed a heart condition that eventually killed him.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Skip Away sired 303 winners (57.8%) and 21 stakes (4.0%) winners from 522 foals of racing age. His offspring generally shared his durability and willingness if not his talent, but they often showed his high, inefficient action.
Notable progeny
Slip Away (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Red Knight (USA)
Connections
Foaled at Indian Hill Farm in Florida, Skip Away was bred by Anna Marie Barnhart. He was owned by Carolyn Hine, whose husband Hubert "Sonny" Hine purchased the colt for her as a birthday gift for US$30,000 at the 1995 Ocala Breeders Sales February 2-year-olds in training sale. After learning that the colt had a chip in his knee, Ms. Barnhart agreed to refund US$7,500 of the colt's purchase price to cover the cost of knee surgery, which never took place. Skip Away was trained by Sonny Hine, and the Hines turned down a US$5 million offer for their beloved colt following his impressive win in the 1996 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. The horse was ridden to his victory in the 1997 Breeders' Cup Classic by Mike Smith. Following his retirement from racing, “Skippy” entered stud at Hopewell Farm in Kentucky in 1999. He died of a heart attack at Hopewell in 2010 and was buried in his paddock.
Pedigree notes
Skip Away is inbred 5x5 to Mahmoud. He is a half brother to Ingot's Dance Away (by Gate Dancer), dam of Grade 3 winner Dance Away Capote (by Capote) and stakes winner Platinum Couple (by Tale of the Cat). His dam, Ingot Way, is a stakes-winning full sister to Grade 3 winner Ingot's Ruler and is out of Ingot, a winning daughter of Iron Ruler. The next dam in the tail-female line, Glorious Night, is a winner by 1953 Kentucky Derby winner Dark Star out of the Count Fleet mare Queen Fleet, a half sister to four stakes winners.
Fun facts
Last updated: May 8, 2024
Race record
38 starts, 18 wins, 10 seconds, 6 thirds, US$9,616,360
1995:
- 2nd Remsen Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Cowdin Stakes (USA-G2, 8FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Gilded Time Stakes (USA, 5FD, Monmouth)
- 3rd World Appeal Stakes (USA, 8FD, The Meadowlands)
1996:
- Won Woodbine Million Stakes (CAN-G1, 9FD, Woodbine)
- Won Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
- Won Buick Haskell Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Monmouth)
- Won Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Keeneland)
- Won Ohio Derby (USA-G2, 9FD, Thistledown)
- 2nd Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- 3rd Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Florida Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
1997:
- Won Breeders' Cup Classic Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Hollywood)
- Won Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Suburban Handicap (USA-G2, 10FD, Belmont)
- Won Massachusetts Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Suffolk Downs)
- 2nd Pimlico Special Handicap (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Woodward Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Gulfstream Park Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Donn Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Philip H. Iselin Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Monmouth)
- 3rd Whitney Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Texas Mile Stakes (USA-L, 8FD, Lone Star Park)
1998:
- Won Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Hollywood)
- Won Pimlico Special Handicap (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Woodward Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Gulfstream Park Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Donn Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Philip H. Iselin Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Monmouth)
- Won Massachusetts Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Suffolk Downs)
- 3rd Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2004)
- Monmouth Park Hall of Champions
- Eclipse Award, American Horse of the Year (1998)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (1996)
- Eclipse Award, American champion older male (1997, 1998)
Assessments
Skip Away was rated #32 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by an expert panel assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
Rated at 115 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile males of 1995, 11 pounds below co-highweights Maria's Mon (the official divisional champion) and Unbridled's Song.
Highweighted at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1996.
Co-highweighted with Gentlemen at 128 pounds atop the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1997.
Highweighted at 130 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1998, 3 pounds above second-rated Awesome Again.
As an individual
A big, strong gray horse standing 16.2 hands, Skip Away had a bone chip in one knee, but this never seemed to bother him. He was consistently generous as a racehorse and ran well over both fast and off going. His greatest weapon was a high cruising speed, but although he was a powerful galloper, he did not have the best of action; as rival trainer Dale Romans said of him, "All four legs are going in different directions, but they're all moving really really fast." He also tended to pound heavily on his forehand and to climb in front. He did not have brilliant acceleration but could deliver a long, sustained drive and was a determined battler on the track. As a stallion, Skip Away was very territorial, yet had the odd quirk of calming down if tied to the back wall of his stall. He had a very affectionate relationship with owner Carolyn Hine and was also said to be fond of his regular jockey, Mike Smith. He developed a heart condition that eventually killed him.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Skip Away sired 303 winners (57.8%) and 21 stakes (4.0%) winners from 522 foals of racing age. His offspring generally shared his durability and willingness if not his talent, but they often showed his high, inefficient action.
Notable progeny
Slip Away (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Red Knight (USA)
Connections
Foaled at Indian Hill Farm in Florida, Skip Away was bred by Anna Marie Barnhart. He was owned by Carolyn Hine, whose husband Hubert "Sonny" Hine purchased the colt for her as a birthday gift for US$30,000 at the 1995 Ocala Breeders Sales February 2-year-olds in training sale. After learning that the colt had a chip in his knee, Ms. Barnhart agreed to refund US$7,500 of the colt's purchase price to cover the cost of knee surgery, which never took place. Skip Away was trained by Sonny Hine, and the Hines turned down a US$5 million offer for their beloved colt following his impressive win in the 1996 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. The horse was ridden to his victory in the 1997 Breeders' Cup Classic by Mike Smith. Following his retirement from racing, “Skippy” entered stud at Hopewell Farm in Kentucky in 1999. He died of a heart attack at Hopewell in 2010 and was buried in his paddock.
Pedigree notes
Skip Away is inbred 5x5 to Mahmoud. He is a half brother to Ingot's Dance Away (by Gate Dancer), dam of Grade 3 winner Dance Away Capote (by Capote) and stakes winner Platinum Couple (by Tale of the Cat). His dam, Ingot Way, is a stakes-winning full sister to Grade 3 winner Ingot's Ruler and is out of Ingot, a winning daughter of Iron Ruler. The next dam in the tail-female line, Glorious Night, is a winner by 1953 Kentucky Derby winner Dark Star out of the Count Fleet mare Queen Fleet, a half sister to four stakes winners.
Fun facts
- Sonny Hines picked out Skip Away for his wife at the 1995 OBS February sale partly because of his gray coloring; Carolyn had poor vision, and Skip Away's color made it easier for her to see him.
- Gulfstream Park's Broward Handicap was renamed the Skip Away Handicap in 2001. It was most recently run in 2019 as a listed race for 4-year-olds and up and was carded at 9.5 furlongs on dirt.
- As recounted by the Lexington Herald-Leader, the most unusual souvenir request Sonny Hine ever got regarding his star was from a lady at Saratoga. Plastic bag in hand, she requested a manure sample, adding that she had collected manure “from some of the best horses in the world.”
Last updated: May 8, 2024