Zippy Chippy Can’t Win for Losing
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ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Zippy Chippy, winless in 86 horse races, had no better luck against two-legged competition.
The horse, who has lost more races than any thoroughbred in U.S. racing history, was vanquished yet again Thursday night, this time in a 40-yard sprint against a minor league baseball player.
Jose Herrera, 27, the base-stealing center fielder for the Rochester Red Wings, bolted far ahead of the 9-year-old gelding on the outfield grass at Frontier Field and won by at least three lengths.
The “2000 Red Wings Derby” was staged before Rochester’s game against Scranton/Wilkes Barre.
Herrera high-fived all-comers as he was carried across the field in triumph on his teammates’ shoulders. The race lasted less than five seconds.
Oddsmakers had the horse as a 2-to-1 underdog.
Zippy Chippy has been banned from competition at the Finger Lakes Race Track in nearby Farmington and, because of reciprocal agreements, from most other racetracks.
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