Leading American trainer Hubert 'Sonny' Hine, whose Skip Away was the country's second highest money earner, died last night after a long illness. He was 69.
Skip Away was Hine's best horse, winning 18 of his 38 starts and finishing with career earnings of US9,616,360 (#6.1million) _ behind only Cigar in US racing history.
The horse, who raced in the name of Hine's wife Carolyn, was champion three-year-old colt in 1996 after landing three grade One victories and he added another championship at four after lifting the Breeders' Cup Classic.
And he was voted 'horse of the year' in 1998 after notching seven wins, including four in Grade One company.
Born in New York in 1931, Hine saddled his first winner as a trainer in 1948 but then quit racing to work in law enforcement _ he had spells as a fingerprint specialist with the FBI and the state department in Hong Kong.
Returning to training full-time in 1957, his best horses prior to Skip Away included champion sprinter Guilty Conscience, triple Grade One winner Skip Trial and Florida Derby winner Technology.
