Skip Away, the 1998 Horse of the Year and a member of the Hall of Fame, died of a heart attack this morning at Hopewell Farm in Kentucky, where he stood at stud. The stallion was 17 and had had a heart murmur for several years.

The big gray son of Skip Trial, by Ingot Way, was a birthday gift from trainer Sonny Hine to his wife Carolyn and raced in their red and gold colors. Running against the solid group of horses that graced the track in the mid-to-late 1990's (including Cigar, Formal Gold, Will's Way, Unbridled's Song, Louis Quatorze, Gentlemen and Behrens) Skip Away proved his mettle time and again, carrying as much as 131 pounds while competing at 14 different tracks across America and in Canada. When all was said and done, he'd compiled a career record of 38-18-10-6, with 10 Grade I victories and three divisional championships to go with the Horse of the Year title. His career bankroll of $9,616,360 ranks him third all time among North American runners. His accomplishments earned him a trip to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

Skip Away was stakes placed as a 2-year-old, finishing second in both the Cowdin and Remsen, and continued to flash that promise early in his 3-year-old season, finishing third in the Florida Derby. He broke through with a dazzling victory in the Blue Grass Stakes, defeating future classic winners Louis Quatorze and Editor's Note while running the nine furlongs in a record 1:47.29. But in the Kentucky Derby three weeks later, Skip Away flashed his detest for the Churchill Downs surface, finishing 12th. He came back to be second in the Preakness to Louis Quatorze and a hard-fought second in the Belmont to Editor's Note.

After a short break, Skip Away rebounded to win the Ohio Derby and the Haskell. After finishing third in the Travers, he picked up another Grade I win in the Woodbine Million. He then capped his year with a stunning upset of reigning Horse of the Year and fellow Hall of Famer Cigar, holding off the champion by a head in the Jockey Club Gold Cup to seal his title as champion 3-year-old.

Skip Away's 4-year-old campaign got off to a slow start, although his results were by no means disappointing considering the competition and the circumstances. He was second in the Donn Handicap to Formal Gold while giving that rival 10 pounds, then second in the Gulfstream Park Handicap while conceding nine pounds to Mt. Sassafras. He was third after being forced wide in the Texas Mile, then second in the Pimlico Special to the classy Gentlemen. He broke through by outdueling Formal Gold in the Massachusetts Handicap while conceding five pounds, then defeated both Formal Gold and Will's Way in the Suburban Handicap. The rivals took turns the rest of the year, as Will's Way won the Whitney with Formal Gold second and Skip Away third, and Formal Golf took the Iselein and Woodward with Skip Away second in both.

But with his rivals on the sidelines for the fall's biggest races, Skip Away would have the last laugh. He earned an easy victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, then coasted to a six-length score in the Breeders' Cup Classic, run that year at Hollywood Park. His winning time of 1:59.16 established a stakes record at the time (Ghostzapper would better it by winning in 1:59 flat in 2004). Although the 2-year-old Favorite Trick was named Horse of the Year for an unbeaten campaign, Skip Away was the Eclipse Award winner as champion older male.

Skip Away's swan song, the 1998 season, established him as one of the best handicap horses of the modern era. He began the year with a win in the Donn, carrying 126 pounds and conceding between 10 to 14 to his rivals; took the Gulfstream Park Handicap under 127 pounds, conceding between 13 to 15; and took the Pimlico Special under 128, conceding between 13 to 15. In the Massachusetts Handicap, Skip Away won under 130 pounds, giving his rivals between 14 to 23 pounds. After a win in the Hollywood Gold Cup at equal weights, Skip Away was assigned an incredible 131 pounds in the Iselin Handicap, conceding between 17 to 20 pounds. The weight very nearly got the better of him, as he was headed and passed in deep stretch by the classy stakes winner Stormin Fever, carrying just 113 pounds; but Skip Away battled back gamely for the victory.

Skip Away faltered late in the year, finishing third over a muddly Belmont strip in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and then displaying his hatred for Churchill Downs again while finishing sixth in one of the deepest editions of the Breeders' Cup Classic in history. But his exploits earlier in the year had been enough to earn Skip Away another divisional title, as well as the Horse of the Year trophy.

Standing at Hopewell Farm in Midway, Kentucky, Skip Away produced the earners of over $19.4 million, including Grade III winners Skipaslew, Sister Swank and Skip Code as well as Sanky Panky, a champion in South America. He will be buried at Hopewell Farm.

Blogger's Confession: Skip Away broke my heart in 1996 when he held off my equine hero, Cigar, to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup. But the torch was passed that day from one champion to another, and 'Skippy' proved himself every inch a worthy successor to that throne. He was my mother's all-time favorite runner and a family favorite to cheer on with his handsome dapple gray coat, likable connections, unique style of running with his high-stepping action and head held high and his toughness. It's strange that this incredibly generous horse, who showed his heart every time he was asked for more run, should have his heart give out on him at a relatively young age. Sonny Hine passed away in 2000 but posthumously was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2003. His best trainee joined him a year later - and joins him again now. It was hard to call my mother today and tell her Skippy was gone. It's hard to say goodbye to this old friend. Rest in peace, Skippy. Thank you for all the memories, and we hope Sonny was there to open the gate for you.