Zippy Chippy Can’t Win for Losing

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.