Snow Chief Breeder Carl Grinstead Dies at 73 After 25 Years in Racing

Carl Grinstead, who bred Snow Chief for $2,000 and then saw the thoroughbred colt earn more than $3 million, died Sunday of cancer at age 73.

Grinstead, who lived with his wife Pearl in Chula Vista, had undergone stomach surgery in recent years but was at Santa Anita Feb. 8 when Snow Chief won the Strub Stakes, and saw him run fifth in the Santa Anita Handicap March 8.

As an owner and trainer, Grinstead was in racing for about 25 years, but stakes winners were rare until Snow Chief came along.

Grinstead got him by breeding his mare, Miss Snowflake, to Reflected Glory in 1982. As a runner, Miss Snowflake had earned only $2,300 and Reflected Glory, then 18 years old, was standing at Rancho Jonata in Buellton, Calif., for a $2,000 stud fee.

Snow Chief won the Hollywood Futurity in 1985 and set a record for most money earned by a 2-year-old when he totaled $935,740.

In 1986, Snow Chief finished 11th as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby, but was voted the country’s champion 3-year-old colt based on victories in the Florida Derby, the Santa Anita Derby, the Preakness and the Jersey Derby.

Grinstead was co-owner of Snow Chief with Ben Rochelle, a retired Beverly Hills vaudeville dancer who had become an equal partner in the stable in early 1984. Grinstead and fellow septuagenarian Rochelle became known as the Sunshine Boys through the success of Snow Chief.

Services and burial for Grinstead will be held at the Rose Hills Cemetery in Whittier at 11:30 a.m. Thursday.