It’s a Record: 86th Consecutive Loss for Zippy Chippy

Zippy Chippy, the hapless gelding who was banned from racing in New York, traveled to Massachusetts and suffered his 86th consecutive loss Sunday, breaking the record for most consecutive losses by a thoroughbred at the start of a career.

Zippy Chippy, an 8-year-old, finished a well-beaten third in a $3,000 maiden race at the Northampton Fair. His latest loss broke the record that he had shared with Really A Tenor, who raced in the 1980s, and Gussie May, who ran in the early 1990s. Really A Tenor and Gussie May both won in their 86th start.

Zippy Chippy, who went off at 5-1, was in contention early in the race, run at a distance of about 6 1/2 furlongs. The race chart said: “Dueled [for the lead], steadied to the second turn, bore out all three turns, tired.”

Haylee’s Halo, winner of the race, is trained by Dale Baird, who is the national leader this year in wins by a trainer with 240.

Zippy Chippy hadn’t run since last Sept. 8 at Finger Lakes. Stewards at the upstate New York track banned him after that race “for the public’s protection.”

Zippy Chippy has six second-place finishes, 11 thirds and earnings of $28,206. He earned $250 Sunday.