Snow Chief Will Stand at Stud Next Year at Birthplace

Snow Chief, who had earned $3.3 million, more than any horse in training, when a tendon injury forced his retirement last month, will stand at stud next year at his birthplace, Mira Loma Thoroughbred Farm, and is in the process of being syndicated for the equivalent of $4 million to $5 million.

According to Bahman Abtahi, who is managing the syndication, at least 20 lifetime breeding shares in Snow Chief will be sold for between $100,000 and $125,000 a share. Since there are 40 shares--each consisting of one annual breeding for life--the 4-year-old colt’s book value comes to $4 million to $5 million.

Ben Rochelle, who owned 50% of Snow Chief when he raced, has bought a controlling interest in the stallion from the estate of Carl Grinstead, who bred the horse, owned the other 50% and managed his career until his death earlier this year.

Rochelle is making 20 of his shares available to investors. Abtahi would not say how many of the remaining shares Rochelle also owns, but said that it was a “substantial” amount.

Before Rochelle increased his holdings in Snow Chief, a New Zealand group had made an offer to the Grinstead estate for the horse. Rochelle said last week that he would match the New Zealand offer in order to keep Snow Chief in California.

On Wednesday, Pearl Grinstead, Carl’s widow, declined to comment about what interest, if any, she would have in Snow Chief as a stallion. Forty-five of the Grinstead-Rochelle horses--all but Snow Chief and his dam, Miss Snowflake, who is in foal to Alydar--will be offered at a dispersal sale Oct. 12-14.

Snow Chief was foaled at Mira Loma in 1983 after Miss Snowflake had been bred to Reflected Glory, who died at age 23 earlier this year.