Snow Chief (foaled March 17, 1983 in California) is an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by Carl Grinstead, in 1984 retired vaudevillian and successful real estate investor Ben Rochelle bought a fifty percent interest in Grinstead's Blue Diamond Ranch thus becoming a half owner of the yearling, Snow Chief.

From a less than stellar pedigree, no one could have predicted Snow Chief's success in racing. Conditioned by veteran California trainer Mel Stute, Snow Chief made nine starts at age two, winning five, including the Norfolk Stakes and the Hollywood Futurity. His 1985 performances earned him California Horse of the Year honors, but Tasso, the 1985 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner was voted the Eclipse Award for American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt.

As a three-year-old, Snow Chief made a further nine starts. In California he won two stakes races then was sent to Florida where he won the important Florida Derby. Back in California he established himself as the solid Kentucky Derby favorite with a win in that state's most important race for three-year-olds, the Santa Anita Derby.

1986 U.S. Triple Crown

Snow Chief was sent off at even money as the bettors choice in the Kentucky Derby but proved to be a major disappointment. In a sixteen-horse field, he finished eleventh to winner Ferdinand. However, Snow Chief returned to form in the Preakness Stakes, defeating runner-up Ferdinand by four lengths. His handlers chose not to run him in the 1½ mile Belmont Stakes, instead they later sent him to Monmouth Park Racetrack where he won the Jersey Derby. For his performances in 1986, Snow Chief was named California Horse of the Year for the second straight year and was voted American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse.

Snow Chief returned to racing as a four-year-old in 1987. From six starts he won two and earned three seconds. His wins came in the Charles H. Strub Stakes at Santa Anita Racetrack in California and the Oaklawn Handicap at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Arkansas. He was retired to stud duty, producing offspring that have met with modest success. He currently stands at Diane Rochelle's Eagle Oak Ranch in Paso Robles, California.

References

• Snow Chief's pedigree and partial racing stats
• Video at YouTube of Snow Chief winning the 1986 Santa Anita Derby
• May 26, 1986 Sports Illustrated article titled A Day Of Redemption For The Chief
• Bloodhorse.com video profile of Mel Stute with Snow Chief
• Snow Chief at the Thoroughbred Times Interative Stallion Directory