the northern slimy salamander ( plethodon glutinosus ) is a species of terrestrial plethodontid salamander found through much of the eastern two-thirds of the united states , from new york , west to illinois , south to texas , and east to florida , with isolated populations in southern new hampshire and northwestern connecticut .

it is one of 55 species in the genus plethodon and one of the first of its cogeners to be described .

the salamander is called " slimy " because it is capable of excreting a sticky , glue-like substance from its skin .

it is also sometimes referred to as the viscid salamander , grey-spotted salamander , slippery salamander , or sticky salamander , depending on which source is consulted .

due to its large geographic range , some taxonomic researchers have suggested splitting p. glutinosus into several distinct species , but this is not widely accepted .

northern slimy salamander

an adult northern slimy salamander . note the lack of white spots on this individuals regenerated tail .
occurs in the eastern two - thirds of the state . white - spotted slimy , mississippi slimy , and northern slimy salamanders are virtually indistinguishable , and make up the slimy salamander complex .
northern slimy salamander - this image , taken by todd pierson , is under an attribution - noncommercial - sharealike 2 . 0 generic license .
( bruce , et al . , 2000 ; hickman jr . , et al . , 2009 ;
northern slimy salamander
, 2007 )
highton , r . 1962 . geographic variation in the life history of the slimy salamander .
slimy salamander - chattahoochee river national recreation area ( u . s . national park service )
the northern slimy salamander is a member of the lungless salamander family . adult salamanders in this family do not have lungs but take in oxygen through their skin . northern slimy salamanders are smooth - skinned and are black with white or cream marbling or speckles . they can be 7 - 8 inches long .
a large female northern slimy salamander ( 65 mm svl ) was captured with the tail of a juvenile northern slimy salamander ( 27 . 5 mm svl ) protruding from its mouth ( powders , 1973 ) . o . predators . undocumented , but likely to include forest snakes , birds , and small mammals .
enature . com . 2007 .
northern slimy salamander
( on - line ) . enature . com . accessed february 22 , 2010 at urltoken .
northern slimy salamanders were found with southern zigzag salamanders ( p . ventralis ) , eastern newt efts , and northern dusky salamanders in knox county , tennessee ( powders , 1973 ) .
davidson , j . 1956 . notes on the food habits of the slimy salamander _ plethodon glutinosus _ .
g . territories . northern slimy salamanders and members of their complex aggressively defend territories ( thurow , 1976 ) .
background : the northern slimy salamander is a medium - large sized member of the “lungless” salamander family ( plethodontidae ) . this salamander gets its name from a glue - like secretion it emits from glands in its skin as a defense against predetors or when disturbed . the substance is difficult to remove from hands or clothing .
northern slimy salamanders are found in association with wehrle’s salamanders throughout the entire range of wehrle’s salamanders ( highton , 1972 ) .
highton , r . 1956 . the life history of the slimy salamander , _ plethodon glutinosus _ , in florida .
j . torpor ( hibernation ) . bishop ( 1941b ) reports finding northern slimy salamanders far below the surface during the winter .
breeds in fall in northern areas and spring to summer in southern regions of range .
northern slimy salamanders in cleburne county , alabama , are found beneath logs , rocks and occasionally beneath leaf litter ( rubenstein , 1969 ) .
distinguished from identical white - spotted slimy and mississippi slimy salamanders by range and genetic analysis . tellico salamander has a separate range and cumberland plateau salamanders are smaller and have a light chin . southern appalachian salamander usually has fewer and smaller white spots on back and sides .
competition at the range boundary in the slimy salamander : using reciprocal transplants for studies on the role of biotic interactions in spatial distributions .
northern slimy salamanders and chattahoochee slimy salamanders contact at the western edge of the blue ridge province in georgia ; there is no published information on their interactions ( highton and peabody , 2000 ) .
k . interspecific associations / exclusions . in a series of laboratory experiments with northern slimy salamanders and cumberland plateau salamanders , there was not a significant difference in frequency of occurrences for initiator , aggressor , escaper , and biter behaviors , but northern slimy salamanders were defenders significantly more often than were cumberland plateau salamanders . cumberland plateau salamanders were appeasers and intruders significantly more often than northern slimy salamanders ( bailey , 1992 ) . cumberland plateau salamanders show an increase in territorial behavior relative to shelter availability and population density when involved in interactions with northern slimy salamanders ( marvin , 1998 ) .
if you locate a slimy salamander , please contact the deep wildlife division at 860 - 424 - 3011 or deep . ctwildlife @ urltoken .
dlia / atbi . 2010 .
plethodon glutinosus ( green ) , northern slimy salamander - biodiversity of great smoky mountains national park
( on - line ) . discover life in america . accessed april 01 , 2010 at urltoken .
the six isolates of northern gray - cheeked salamanders ( p . montanus ) in the valley and ridge province are widely sympatric with northern slimy salamanders . the two species also are sympatric in a small section of the roan isolate of northern gray - cheeked salamanders . there is evidence of occasional hybridization ( highton and peabody , 2000 ) .
the range of the northern slimy salamander is in the eastern us from southern new york and pennsylvania to northern florida . there are some isolated populations in new hampshire , louisisana and texas . they only exist on the western edge of connecticut in northwestern fairfield county . they are very rare and are listed as a threatened species in connecticut .
northern slimy salamanders are reported from caves in dekalb , jackson , and marshall counties , alabama , and monroe county , illinois ( peck , 1974 ) .
northern slimy salamanders are found occasionally with northern zigzag salamanders ( p . dorsalis ) , cave salamanders ( eurycea lucifuga ) , and long - tailed salamanders on rock faces in the unglaciated sections of indiana ( d . a . b . , personal observations ) .
organ , j . 1960 . the courtship and spermatophore of the salamander _ plethodon glutinosus _ .
northern slimy salamanders get their name from their defense system . a threatened salamander exudes a glue - like substance that sticks to hands or predator mouths . while the predator is trying to remove the sticky stuff , which can collect leaves and debris to make quite an annoying mess , the salamander can escape . the goo is hard to wash off of hands .
m . longevity . northern slimy salamanders in frederick county , maryland , and bedford county , pennsylvania , live in excess of 5 yr ( semlitsch , 1980b ) .
competition at the range boundary in the slimy salamander : using reciprocal transplants for studies on the role of biotic interactions in spatial d . . . - pubmed - ncbi
interesting facts : this nocturnal salamander emerges from its burrow at dusk and retreats at dawn . it is occasionally active on rainy days . during a drought , the slimy salamander can be found deep underground or under rotting logs . the species hibernates underground from november to march .
if you happen to find a slimy salamander , leave it where you found it and only take photographs . you take the risk of getting
slimed
if you handle a slimy salamander , and the slime is difficult to remove . salamanders should never be collected from the wild . collection or removal of any slimy salamander is strictly prohibited by the connecticut endangered and threatened species act . if you lift any logs or rocks while rummaging through forests , remember to place them back exactly how you found them .
northern slimy salamanders are relatively resilient to disturbances , such as those associated with timbering operations , and are found frequently in second - growth forests and relatively small , fragmented woodlots . in indiana , northern slimy salamanders are widespread and abundant in areas that had up to 99 % surface erosion 100 yr ago ( d . a . b . , personal observations ) .
according to the u . s . fisheries and wildlife service , the slimy salamander is considered neither a threatened nor endangered species throughout its range . however , some species within the
habitat and diet : the slimy salamander is restricted to old second growth deciduous or hemlock forests with steep , rocky slopes . it hides under rotten logs and thick duff layers on the forest floor . slimy salamanders require wet or moist areas for breeding purposes .
conservation : slimy salamanders are tied to forest habitats . destruction of these habitats is the greatest threat to populations . logging of forests causes an increase in temperature and the rate of evaporation and possibly also impacts the salamander’s food source . like all lungless salamanders , pollutants , including herbicides and pesticides , are easily absorbed through their porous skin and are toxic to the slimy salamander .
873 - brodie , w . e . , g . gunter , 1958 , egg clutches and prehensilism in the slimy salamander , herpetology , vol . 13 , pg . 279 - 280
887 - davidson , j . a . , 1956 , notes on the food habits of the slimy salamander plethodon glutinosus glutinosus , herpetology , vol . 12 , pg . 129 - 131
juvenile northern slimy salamanders and juvenile eastern red - backed salamanders ( plethodon cinereus ) compete reciprocally when resources are limiting . interactions between adults are more obscure , but northern slimy salamanders may have reduced growth when eastern red - backed salamanders are present . in competition between these two species for territories , it appears that body size is the primary factor dictating territory ownership ( price and shield , 2002 ) .
highton and his colleagues ( highton , 1989 ; highton and peabody , 2000 ) recognize 16 species in the p . glutinosus complex as follows : western slimy salamanders ( p . albagula ) , tellico salamanders ( p . aureolus ) , chattahoochee slimy salamanders ( p . chattahoochee ) , atlantic coast slimy salamanders ( p . chlorobryonis ) , white - spotted slimy salamanders ( p . cylindraceus ) , northern slimy salamanders ( p . glutinosus ) , southeastern slimy salamanders ( p . grobmani ) , cumberland plateau salamanders ( p . kentucki ) , kiamichi slimy salamanders ( p . kiamichi ) , louisiana slimy salamanders ( p . kisatchie ) , mississippi slimy salamanders ( p . mississippi ) , ocmulgee slimy salamanders ( p . ocmulgee ) , savannah slimy salamanders ( p . savannah ) , sequoyah slimy salamanders ( p . sequoyah ) , southern appalachian salamanders ( p . teyahalee ) , and south carolina slimy salamanders ( p . variolatus ) . information gathered on these species has been published under the name
p . glutinosus
( indeed , petranka [ 1998 ] recognizes only tellico salamanders , northern slimy salamanders , cumberland plateau salamanders , and southern appalachian salamanders ) . because of this , the literature on
p . glutinosus
must be interpreted carefully and with a consideration of locality data .
taggart , t . 2010 .
white - spotted slimy salamander
( on - line ) . cnah - the center for north american herpetology . accessed february 22 , 2010 at urltoken .
genus produce noxious skin secretions as predator defense . white - spotted slimy salamanders produce copious amounts of slime which often gum up a predator ' s mouth , giving the salamander a chance to escape .
northern slimy salamanders have a largely parapatric range with tellico salamanders . they have been taken together at one site in polk county , tennessee , without any evidence of hybridization ( highton and peabody , 2000 ) .
northern slimy salamanders are sympatric throughout the known range of pigeon mountain salamanders . there is some evidence that indicates hybridization may rarely take place ( wynn et al . , 1988 ; highton and peabody , 2000 ) .
in ohio , the following species are associated with northern slimy salamanders : eastern newts ( notophthalmus viridescens ) , jefferson’s salamanders ( ambystoma jeffersonianum ) , spotted salamanders ( a . maculatum ) , small - mouthed salamanders ( a . texanum ) , marbled salamanders ( a . opacum ) , mountain dusky salamanders ( desmognathus ochrophaeus ) , northern dusky salamanders ( d . fuscus ) , northern two - lined salamanders ( eurycea bislineata ) , southern two - lined salamanders , long - tailed salamanders ( e . longicauda ) , northern ravine salamanders ( p . electromorphus ) , and red - backed salamanders ( pfingsten , 1989d ) .
the subspecies is at its northernmost range in connecticut , with only a few populations in western fairfield and litchfield counties . with such few populations , the slimy salamander is listed as a threatened species in connecticut .
range and habitat : slimy salamanders are found throughout eastern north america , except for southern florida , including all of south carolina and georgia . this salamander lives in moist , undisturbed woodlands and moist wooded ravines .
4 . conservation . northern slimy salamanders are listed as threatened in connecticut ( http : / / dep . state . ct . us ) and protected in new jersey , but are not listed in any of the other states within their range . among members of the p . glutinosus complex , northern slimy salamanders have the widest distribution . within this range , there are many federal and state properties that contain suitable habitat for these salamanders .
description : a large ( up to 9” ) , black colored salamander with numerous silvery white flecks on the body , tail , and head . the underside is black , but slightly lighter than the dorsum . the white sticky secretions that this species emits from its glands ( especially along the tail ) when disturbed further helps to identify the slimy salamander .
northern slimy salamanders are sympatric with yonahlossee salamanders ( p . yonahlossee ) only in the vicinity of skulls gap , smyth county , virginia . a probable f1 hybrid was found at this location ( highton and peabody , 2000 ) .
northern slimy salamanders occur within 0 . 4 km of jordan ' s salamanders ( p . jordani ) on parsons bald , swain county , north carolina . there is no evidence of hybridization ( highton and peabody , 2000 ) .
ii . breeding habitat . the courtship of a pair of northern slimy salamanders in giles county , virginia , was observed on the bank of a road within a bare area of about 0 . 3 m2 ( pope , 1950 ) .
awareness and education of the slimy salamander ' s life history and habitats are invaluable tools for conservation . consider the preservation of important mature growth forests . not only are salamanders important , but their presence indicates a healthy habitat .
at a site in randolph county , west virginia , the following salamanders have been found in close association with northern slimy salamanders : wehrle’s salamanders ( p . wehrlei ) , red - backed salamanders , northern dusky salamanders , mountain dusky salamanders , spring salamanders , four - toed salamanders ( hemidactylium scutatum ) , and spotted salamanders ( d . a . b . , personal observations ) .
h . aestivation / avoiding dessication . in new york , northern slimy salamanders disappear from their usual haunts and may be found only by digging deeply into the soil or following the crevices that extend far into banks ( bishop , 1941b ) .
wells , kentwood d . ; wells , roger a . ; 1976 , patterns of movement in a population of the slimy salamander , plethodon glutinosus , with observations on aggregations , herpetologica , 32 ( 2 ) : 156 - 162
virginia department of game and inland fisheries . 2010 .
white - spotted slimy salamander ( plethodon cylindraceus )
( on - line ) . virginia department of game and inland fisheries . accessed april 01 , 2010 at urltoken .
the slimy salamander has an extensive range throughout the eastern and central united states . starting in central new york and the southern tip of wisconsin , the range covers much of the eastern seaboard , moving southward to central florida and the gulf coast and westward to parts of east texas and oklahoma . it is notably absent from the lower mississippi valley , presumably because flooding causes frequent disturbance to the preferred habitat of the slimy salamander in that region ( grobman 1944 ) .
adult northern slimy salamanders are terrestial and prefer mature forest with alot of ground debris and cover . they live under leaf litter and logs . they may come to the surface to hunt when it rains . they are nocturnal . adults overwinter underground .
northern slimy salamanders have a long contact with white - spotted slimy salamanders from maryland south through west virginia , virginia , and tennessee , from the potomac river to the french broad river . hybrid populations are known from washington county , maryland , and highland , washington , and smyth counties , virginia ( highton and peabody , 2000 ) .
members of the plethodon glutinosus complex frequently become immobile when initially contacted . northern slimy salamanders were included in a field study on immobility ; however , it is not possible to separate their behavior from the other members of this complex in this published data set . immobility may increase survival by making the salamander less likely to be detected , especially by visually oriented predators ( dodd , 1989 ) .
jaeger , robert g . ; gabor , caitlin r . ; 1999 , salamander social behavior , reptiles magazine 7 ( 7 ) : 32 - 47
vess , tomalei j . ; harris , reid n . ; 1997 , artificial brooding of salamander eggs , herpetological review 28 ( 2 ) : 80
when threatened , the slimy salamander will lash out with its tail , secreting a sticky , gluey substance . potential predators that come into contact with this substance may experience mastication ( sticky jaw binding ) , thus reducing the movement of the jaws .
e . adult habitat . northern slimy salamanders are 8–12 times denser in mature hardwood forests than in young pine monocultures ( bennett et al . , 1980 ) , and denser in old pine stands than younger pine stands ( grant et al . , 1994 ) .
r . parasites . northern slimy salamanders are sometimes infected by the astomatous ciliate , cepedietta michiganensis ( powders , 1970 ) . for a considered list of the parasites of north carolina animals now considered to be in the glutinosus complex , see rankin ( 1937 ) .
northern slimy salamanders are found with pigeon mountain salamanders ( p . petraeus ) , southern zigzag salamanders , green salamanders , long - tailed salamanders , cave salamanders , and spring salamanders on pigeon mountain , walker county , georgia ( wynn et al . , 1988 ) .
3827 - wells , k . d . , wells , r . a . , 1976 , patterns of movement in a population of the slimy salamander , plethodon glutinosus , with observations of aggregations , herpetologica , vol . 32 , pg . 156 - 162
conservation concerns : the major threat facing the slimy salamander is the loss of undisturbed mature forests in southwestern connecticut to urban and suburban development , road fragmentation , and habitat degradation . preservation of these habitats is crucial for the survival of this species in our state .
the slimy salamander is vulnerable to parasitism by some nematode worms , particularly when guarding an egg clutch , due to poor nutrition . the small activity range of the species also makes it a victim of predation by a number of snakes that occur in the geographical range or
an unusual association consisting of three members of the plethodon glutinosus complex occurs at a site in polk county , tennessee . here , southern appalachian salamanders , tellico salamanders , and northern slimy salamanders occur sympatrically . there is no evidence of hybridization at this location ( highton , 1984 ) .
conservation status : slimy salamanders are common throughout their range and are not protected in our region or federally .
952 - organ , j . a . , 1960 , the courtship and spermatophore of the salamander plethodon glutinosus , copeia , vol . 1960 , pg . 34 - 40
sever , david m . ; morphology and seasonal variation of the mental glands of the dwarf salamander , eurycea quadridigitata , herpetologica , 31 ( 3 ) : 241 - 251
in new york , bishop ( 1941b ) reports northern slimy salamanders as commonly being found beneath logs and stones in woods , in the crevices of shale banks , and along the sides of gullies and ravines . he also reports them from under moist humus and leaf mold or in manure piles .
male green salamanders ( aneides aeneus ) exhibit aggressive behavior towards northern slimy salamanders ( canterbury and pauley , 1991 ) . other interactions between these two salamanders likely include competition for space , nesting sites , and food ( bailey , 1992 ; marvin , 1998 ) . green salamanders are found frequently to occupy higher crevices in rock faces than are northern slimy salamanders ( baltar , 1983 ; cliburn and porter , 1987 ; waldron , 2000 ) . this stratification may be due to superior climbing abilities of green salamanders ( cliburn and porter , 1986 ) or to competition ( canterbury and pauley , 1991 ) .
as with all species of plethodon , northern slimy salamanders do not migrate to breeding grounds , and they do not have large home ranges . thus , they can exist in habitats of smaller size than many other amphibian species . conservation activities that promote mature closed - canopy forests should benefit this species .
, lack the grooves running from nostrils down to lip that slimy salamanders have . there are several species in the
northern slimy salamanders are sympatric throughout most of the range of cumberland plateau salamanders in the cumberland plateau of eastern kentucky and western west virginia and in areas in adjacent tennessee and virginia . there is evidence that the two species occasionally hybridize ( highton and macgregor , 1983 ; highton and peabody , 2000 ) .
description : slimy salamanders were once considered one species ( p . glutinosus ) but have recently been split into 13 separate species . they all look similar and are best differentiated by range . slimy salamanders are large salamanders , reaching 6 . 75 in ( 17 cm ) , with blackish - blue color and scattered silvery - white or gold spots all over their body . its tail is round and its venter is grayish black or slightly lighter than the dorsum . the slimy salamander gets its name from the slimy secretions it produces when threatened , which stick like glue and are hard to get off . they have approximately 16 costal grooves .
the slimy salamander complex can be found inhabiting most of the eastern united states from connecticut south to florida and west to oklahoma and missouri . the actual locations may somewhat disjunct due to available habitat . the preferred habitat of the slimy salamander complex is moist undisturbed woodlands and moist wooded ravines . during the day , the salamanders will be located under logs , stones , and other forest floor debris , as well as in burrows . at night , after rains , or during humid moist weather , the slimy salamanders can be located while foraging for food above ground . during hot and dry weather , the salamanders will seek shelter underground in burrows , caves , in or under fallen logs , and in rock crevices .
the slimy salamander has mainly black skin , covered by abundant silver - white or brassy specks , or both ; the ventrum has variable shades but is generally lighter than the dorsum . the organism is distinguished from other dark salamanders in its range by the presence of a nasolabial groove . more noticeably ,
depending on the latitude of origin , female slimy salamanders may breed either annually or biennially , with the more southern populations breeding annually . sexual maturity is also linked to latitude , with the southern populations maturing faster . this may be due to the ability of the salamander to remain active longer and thus have a longer growing season . in southern populations , males may become sexually mature in one to two years as compared to four years in northern populations . most individuals breed the year following sexual maturity . the majority of females in the southern populations reach sexual maturity at two years and lay eggs for the first time at three years , as compared to four years for maturity and five years to oviposition in northern populations . there are also differences in size at sexual maturity between the populations . the southern populations mature at a smaller size compared to the northern populations . for example , southern males are typically 1 . 6 - 2 . 1 inches ( 40 - 53 mm ) snout to vent , while northern males are typically 2 . 1 - 2 . 8 inches ( 53 - 70 mm ) . depending upon the latitude , the timing of egg deposition can vary from late spring and early summer in the northern portions of the range to late summer and early fall in southern populations ( petranka , 1998 ) . however , courtship in the northern portions of the range can take place in the previous fall , with egg deposition taking place the following spring ( organ , 1968 ) .
northern slimy salamanders from somerset county , new jersey , courted in september and october . the early stages of courtship were not observed , but the tail - straddling stage was similar to that described for white - spotted slimy salamanders from whitetop mountain , virginia ( organ , 1960a , 1968 ) . a female collected in southern illinois on 27 april had a spermatophore in her cloaca when she was preserved on 9 may ( highton , 1962b ) .
description : the slimy salamander is mostly black with white flecks and blotches along the sides and top portion ( dorsum ) of the body . the belly is typically lighter in base color than the rest of the body . the slimy has 15 to 17 ( typically 16 ) costal grooves ( vertical flanks along a salamander’s sides ) . the tail accounts for half or more of the total body length , which ranges between 4 . 5 to 6 . 5 inches . the tail also is cylindrical ( distinguishing it from the laterally flattened tail of the similar - looking jefferson and blue - spotted salamanders ) . juveniles look similar to adults .
a . breeding . reproduction is terrestrial . females from populations in alabama had sperm present within the spermatheca in the spring ( trauth , 1984 ; note the species identities of the specimens in this study cannot be precisely determined , as exact locality data is unknown , although it is likely that at least some were northern slimy salamanders ) .
the following food items were reported for northern slimy salamanders from knox county , tennessee : annelida , gastropoda , diplopoda , chilopoda , isopoda , phalangidea , pseudoscorpionida , aranae , acarina , collembola , homoptera , hemiptera , coleoptera , diptera , formicidae , and non - formicid hymenopteran and other insect larvae ( powders and tietjen , 1974 ) .
living in the nearctic biogeographic province , the northern part of the new world . this includes greenland , the canadian arctic islands , and all of the north american as far south as the highlands of central mexico .
1 . historical versus current distribution . northern slimy salamanders ( plethodon glutinosus ) are present throughout kentucky , west virginia , and pennsylvania , extending northwest into southern illinois , southern and western indiana , and eastern ohio , south through tennessee into northeastern alabama , northern georgia , and extreme southwestern north carolina , east into western virginia , maryland , and new jersey , and northeast into southwestern connecticut and southern new york , with a disjunct population in southern new hampshire . populations range in elevation from sea level to about 1 , 500 m ( petranka , 1998 ) .
962 - pope , c . h . , 1950 , a statistical and ecological study of the salamander plethodon yonahlossee , bull . chicago acad . sci . , vol . 9 , pg . 79 - 106
slimy salamanders are only occasionally available through the pet trade . additionally , slimy salamanders purchased through the pet trade may also lack the requisite locality data to ensure that hybrids are not produced . if salamanders of unknown genetic background are produced then they should be labeled as potential hybrids to prevent accidental escape and interbreeding . collecting slimy salamanders should only be accomplished after a through review of the regulations in the relevant state .
jaeger , robert g . , joseph , raymond g . , barnard , debra e . 1981 . foraging tactics of a terrestrial salamander : sustained yields in territories . animal behavior 29 ( 4 ) : 1100 - 1105
selby , michelle f . ; winkel , scott c . ; petranka , james w . ; 1996 , geographic uniformity in agonistic behaviors of jordon ' s salamander , herpetologica , 52 ( 1 ) : 108 - 115
northern slimy salamanders contact southern appalachian salamanders on the western side of the blue ridge mountains in tennessee , southwest of the french broad river . at one site in polk county , tennessee , they occur sympatrically and probably do not hybridize . however , at two other transects in monroe and sevier counties , tennessee , there are narrow hybrid zones ( highton and peabody , 2000 ) .
a large salamander ( 4 . 5 to 8 . 0 inches in length ) having black dorsum with small , white or silver spots scattered over the body . belly is lighter than the back and the tail is round .
jaeger , robert g . ; joseph , raymond g . ; barnard , debra e . ; 1981 , foraging tactics of a terrestrial salamander : sustained yields in territories , animal behavior , 29 ( 4 ) : 1100 - 1105
males collected in october from rochester and ithaca , new york , had vas deferens packed with sperm ( bishop , 1941b ) . the vasa deferentia from northern slimy salamanders collected in bedford county , pennsylvania , and frederick county , maryland , were enlarged during september–october . one male collected in october and all those collected in march in southern illinois had large vasa deferentia . ( highton , 1962b ) .
intensive harvest of mature forest greatly reduces salamander density in the logged area ; population recovery occurs slowly ( herbeck and larsen 1999 ) . however , logging is not considered to constitute a major threat to the security of the global population .
the slimy salamander complex is a group of large eastern woodland salamanders , with adults commonly reaching lengths of up to 6 . 75 inches ( 17 cm ) . depending on the author , there may be as few as three species ( petranka , 1998 ) or as many as thirteen different species ( conant and collins , 1991 ) . however , the species are generally indistinguishable in the field . the only way to tell the species apart ( except for chromosomal analysis ) is to know the locality origin of each salamander . for the purpose of this article , the different species can all be treated as the same species .
jaeger , robert g . ; fortune , deborah ; hill , gary ; palen , amy ; risher , george ; 1993 , salamander homing behavior and territorial pheromones : alternative hypotheses , journal of herpetology 27 ( 2 ) : 236 - 239
the slimy salamander is a territorial species , like most plethodontids . individuals , both male and female , can become very aggressive in competition for space toward members of both their own species and competitor species ( marvin 1998 ) . females fiercely guard their clutches , in some instances neglecting to forage for food , and may abandon eggs if they discover any tampering at the nest site ( highton 1956 ) .
the following diagram shows the approximate ranges of the species of slimy salamanders . for precise range information , please consult current published guidebooks or information available locally .
1 . determining the factors that influence the distribution of species has been a longstanding goal in the field of ecology . new techniques such as ecological niche modelling have the potential to aid in addressing many broad questions in ecology , evolutionary biology , and behavioural ecology . 2 . this study combines broad - scale ecological niche models with fine - scaled studies of biotic interactions to examine how abiotic and biotic interactions affect the spatial distribution of the terrestrial salamander species plethodon glutinosus ( northern slimy salamander ) , in a potential contact zone shared with plethodon mississippi ( mississippi slimy salamander ) . 3 . the core habitat in the interior portion of the range of p . glutinosus and the contact zone are distributed in unique environmental niche space . 4 . the form of competition , inter - or intraspecific , significantly affected mass loss of adult salamanders . salamanders lost more mass when interacting with a heterospecific . 5 . abiotic conditions strongly influenced the impact of competition on salamanders . under stressful environmental conditions at the field site located in the contact zone , salamanders lost more mass than at the field site located in the interior of the range . 6 . furthermore , adult salamanders from range - edge populations and core populations ( from the interior of the range ) differed in their respective abilities to compete under the abiotic conditions in the contact zone .
10812 - organ , j . a . , 1990 , salamander survey section one 1990 , prepared for the mount rogers national recreation area , jefferson national forest , 40 pgs . , dept . of bio . of the city college of new york , new york
northern slimy salamanders are believed to breed in the spring and again in the fall . 4 to 12 eggs are laid under rocks , logs or in burrows . the female guards her clutch until hatching which takes about 3 months . the spring - laid eggs hatch around august . the larval stage of these salamanders occurs inside the eggs . there is no aquatic stage , the salamanders hatch out as miniature adults that will mature in 3 to 5 years .
p . anti - predator mechanisms . nocturnal . secretive . northern slimy salamanders and members of their complex produce large amounts of skin secretions that have an adhesive component ( brodie et al . , 1979 ) . these adhesives bind to potential predators and can compromise both mastication and locomotion . individuals will body flip and lash their tails when attacked by shrews ( brodie et al . , 1979 ) . they will vocalize when physically disturbed ( mansueti , 1941 ) .
the following salamanders were collected along with northern slimy salamanders on mount cheaha , cleburne county , alabama : spotted dusky salamanders ( desmognathus conanti ) , seepage salamanders ( d . aeneus ) , seal salamanders ( d . monticola ) , southern two - lined salamanders ( eurycea cirrigera ) , three - lined salamanders ( e . guttolineata ) , spring salamanders ( gyrinophilus porphyriticus ) , red salamanders ( pseudotriton ruber ) , and webster’s salamanders ( p . websteri ; rubenstein , 1969 ) .
highton , r . , g . maha , l . maxson . 1989 . biochemical evolution in the slimy salamanders of the _ plethodon glutinosus _ complex in the eastern united states .
occurs in the southern appalachian and piedmont regions of the appalachian highlands , as well as the southern coastal plain . it is found in the blue ridge and piedmont physiographic provinces of virginia and north carolina , west to the french broad river and south to the northern piedmont of south carolina . outside of that area ,
slimy salamanders to me are somewhat misnamed , as a better name would have been sticky salamanders . the first time you try to restrain one with your bare hands is a memorable experience . the salamander will coat your hand in a seemingly never - ending supply of thick , sticky mucous that is very difficult to remove by washing . my first attempt to catch one by hand resulted in my having to spend about 10 minutes scrubbing the mucous off with sand in a nearby stream .
houk , lynne d . ; bell , alison m ; reagen - wallin , nancy ; feldhoff , richard c . ; 1998 , effects of experimental delivery of male courtship pheromones on the timing of courtship in a terrestrial salamander , plethodon jordani ( caudata : plethodontidae ) , copeia 1 : 214 - 219
sexually mature slimy salamanders are easy to differentiate as the males have a large readily visible mental gland on the chin during the breeding season . additionally , male slimy salamanders have papillose cloacal glands , but this is only readily visible under a magnifying lens . in plethodontid salamanders , the mental gland secretes hormones that increase receptivity for courtship in the female salamander ( houk et al . , 1998 ) . the hormones are transferred to the females by rubbing the mental gland and its secretions on the female ' s body , head , and nasolabial grooves . adult females can be identified by the observance of eggs through the wall of the abdomen , or by the lack of a mental gland during the breeding season .
the slimy salamander is commonly found beneath stones and decaying logs in wooded areas and alongside streams , as well as in the crevices of shale banks and along the sides of gullies and ravines ( davidson 1956 ; grobman 1944 ) . it generally moves about underground using animal and insect burrows ( cowley 1999 ) . mean home - range area is 3 . 01 + / - . 613 sq . meters for adults and 3 . 46 + / - 1 . 851 sq . meters for juveniles ( marvin 1998 ) .
impact their communities with their burrowing by contributing to the dynamics of the soil . they dig and break up the soil to increase aeration . white - spotted slimy salamanders also are host to many internal parasites including :
white - spotted slimy salamanders are generally solitary , but will congregate under optimal cover objects to avoid dessication during dry periods . females and juveniles are much more likely to share a cover object than multiple , territorial males .
range : there are at least 16 subspecies of slimy salamanders which look the same but are genetically variable . overall , this species ranges from texas to florida , north into missouri and illinois and northeast into new york and connecticut .
this species can be found in the usa . the complex covers southern new hampshire ( disjunctive ) , western connecticut , and new york south to central florida , west to missouri , eastern oklahoma , and south - central texas ( disjunctive ) ( petranka 1998 ) . according to highton et al . ( 1989 ) , plethodon glutinosus covers northeastern usa to central illinois , south to central alabama , central georgia , western virginia , northern maryland , and central new jersey .
habits : slimy salamanders prefer to stay under logs , stones , debris , or in burrows during the day and come out on moist nights forage for invertebrate prey . during the breeding season male adult slimy salamanders , unlike females , have a large mental gland on the chin , which they use to stimulate the female . they breed annually , depositing about 6 - 36 eggs under logs or dirt in the summer or early fall . these eggs will usually hatch around october and young do not have an aquatic larval stage . they mature in about 3 years .
gravid females will retain the eggs unless a suitable nesting site and medium are provided . in the wild slimy salamanders nest underground in burrows or in rotted logs . a loose deep substrate can be provided to allow the females to dig an appropriate nesting chamber . as an alternative , small burrows can be created from small diameter pvc and buried in the substrate . if the female salamander is frequently disturbed , the eggs may be retained indefinitely or laid and then abandoned . if the female retains the eggs , egg deposition can be hormonally induced . however , hormonally induced females rarely brood the eggs . rearing of plethodontid eggs is a labor - intensive task with a high failure rate unless specialized equipment can be purchased . ( bernardo and arnold , 1999 ) .
takes place at the beginning of april and eggs are deposited anytime from late spring in the northern part of the range to very late summer at the range ' s southern tip . eggs are laid in moist areas such as caves or under the bark of rotting trees . clutch size ranges from 4 to 12 eggs . hatchlings emerge close to three months after eggs are deposited ( highton 1956 ) . juveniles have no aquatic stage and develop directly to adulthood , as the species is entirely terrestrial ( feder 1983 ) .
begins courtship and mating in the spring and fall . white spotted slimy salamanders lay six to thirty six eggs in an underground retreat such as underneath or within a log , or in a moist crevasse during late spring . the female is tasked with guarding the nest and her eggs hatch after 2 to 3 months .
is a terrestrial species and completes its entire life cycle on land . it is also a lungless species and breaths through its skin and membranes of the mouth and throat . white - spotted slimy salamanders are named for their spotted appearance and defensive strategy of secreting a very sticky substance from its skin glands that is extremely difficult to remove .
life history : slimy salamanders are late spring - time breeders , much like many other connecticut amphibians . not much is known about the breeding activities of slimy salamanders . it is suspected that they are sexually mature at 5 years of age and that the females only breed every other year . unlike most other salamanders , open water is not needed for the laying of eggs . instead , the 13 to 34 eggs ( average 16 - 17 ) are usually deposited in decaying logs or attached underneath rocks . all development takes place within the eggs , including metamorphosis , so that the emerging juvenile salamanders appear as smaller versions of the adults . the juveniles may have just as many , if not more , white flecks on their bodies .
female slimy salamanders do not sexually mature until they are two years old , and cannot lay eggs until approaching age three . the same is true for most males , although some have been found capable of breeding at two years of age . in regions where the growing season is short , a wait of three years is almost certain before sexual maturity is reached ( highton 1962 ) .
life history : reproduction occurs in the summer , with eggs being attached to the roof of an underground cavity or rock crevice . the larval stage is completed within the egg , and hatching occurs 2 - 3 months after the eggs are deposited . newly hatched slimy salamanders apparently do not emerge from their hidden retreats until the following spring . sexual maturity is reached in 3 - 5 years .
slimy salamanders can be easily maintained in plastic shoeboxes or sweater boxes lined with moistened unbleached paper towels . the shoebox or sweater box should have several crumpled paper towels , in addition to the ones lining the bottom , for the salamanders to use as shelter . this will help alleviate any stress the animal may be undergoing . unbleached paper towels have several advantages for use besides ease of cleaning . they serve as a suitable parasite and pathogen free substrate for animals undergoing a quarantine period . additionally , the towels serve as an excellent substrate for monitoring the success of courtship by allowing the easy detection of spermatophores . the paper towels should be changed at least once a week and preferably no more than twice a week , as cleaning too frequently may stress the salamanders and depress feeding activities ( jaeger et al . , 1981 ) . care must be taken to prevent the escape of the salamander , so tight fitting lids are required . several small holes can be drilled at each corner of either the lid or shoebox to facilitate air exchange . for long - term maintenance , the salamanders can also be set up in terrariums .
this species is one of a group of slimy salamanders referred to as the plethodon glutinosus complex . their appearances are similar and may be impossible to distinguish in the field ; there are 13 genetically distinct species in this group . short of genetically testing animals using laboratory techniques the best way to distinguish among these species is from their distribution maps . the list of these species and their common names as noted by the peterson reptiles and amphibians field guide is as follows :
body usually shiny black with well scattered spots . spots may be larger or small , white , gray or yellow on sides and silvery , white or brassy flecks on head back and tail . dark colored throat . slate colored belly generally noticeably lighter than dorsal color . skin will create a sticky or slimy secretion when animal is handled . nasolabial grooves present . 16 costal grooves , although may range from 15 to 17 . the tail is round in cross - section .
this is a large salamander that produces sticky secretions from the tail when handled . the entire ventral surface is slate - colored ; the back and sides are darker and sprinkled with silvery - white or metallic gold markings . the total length is 11 . 5 - 20 . 5 cm . the average egg is 5 . 5 mm in diameter , creamy white , and are often suspended from the ceiling of a cavity , such as a crevice of a shale bank , but may be deposited under rotten logs or moss . in the coastal plain , the eggs are laid annually in the late summer or fall . in the mountains , the eggs are laid every other spring . this species may be found under rocks or logs during the day , or wandering the forest floor at night .
white - spotted slimy salamanders may be active during the day or night , but are most active during rain events and at night . little is known regarding migratory movements , but studies have shown that individuals move no more than 90 meters . distance moved seems to correlate with age and more specifically , reproductive maturity . juveniles move less than 6 m , whereas salamanders between 55 and 65 svl moved the most . this length is most seen in individuals that have recently reached reproductive maturity and are likely moving in search of mates .
is defined by a slimy , glue - like secretion released from its skin glands . it has 16 costal grooves , on rare occurrences 15 or 17 , and generally ranges from 4 . 75 to 6 . 75 inches in length ( conant and collins 1998 ) . hatchlings are born with only slight dark coloration on the dorsum and none on the ventrum ; melanin for the specks begins to appear on the dorsum after three days . adult females exhibit slightly larger snout - to - vent lengths than adult males , but are otherwise similar in appearance ( highton 1956 ) .
slimy salamanders should be kept in a cool area such as a temperature - controlled room or a basement . the temperature should not be allowed to rise above 76°f ( 24 . 4°c ) as stress and potential death can result . if possible , the salamanders should be kept at a cooler temperature as opposed to a warmer temperature , as there is some evidence that salamanders kept at cooler temperatures are better able to resist sudden increases in temperature ( sealander and west , 1969 ) . cycling of the temperatures for breeding should be accomplished slowly , preferably not varying the temperature more than one degree per day .
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thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the iucn red list of threatened species website , we are grateful for your input .
frost , d . r . 2014 . amphibian species of the world : an online reference . version 6 ( 27 january 2014 ) . new york , usa . available at : urltoken . ( accessed : 27 january 2014 ) .
highton et al . ( 1989 ) recognized many species in this complex , but petranka ( 1998 ) regarded recognition of these as premature and referred to all of them as plethodon glutinosus . a more recent study revealed that nominal p . glutinosus is not only a species complex , but also that it is not monophyletic in nature ( fisher - reid and wiens 2011 ) . for the purposes of this assessment , all of the biological populations treated as nominal p . glutinosus are considered in the assessment until such time as there is formal taxonomic resolution to the species identities involved .
justification : listed as least concern in view of its wide distribution and presumed large population .
the total adult population size is unknown , but it probably exceeds 100 , 000 . there are hundreds of occurrences . in the southern appalachians , populations fluctuated over a 20 - year period ( early 1970s to early 1990s ) , with no apparent long - term trend ( hairston and wiley 1993 ) .
there are wooded slopes , ravines , floodplains , shalebanks , and cave entrances ; most often in hardwood forest , sometimes in pinelands . it is generally under or in rotting logs , stumps , or leaf - litter , or under rocks , during the day . goes underground during dry or freezing weather . eggs are laid in rotting logs , underground , or in rock crevices , where they develop directly without a larval stage .
maintenance of mature hardwood forest habitat is key to the long - term persistence of viable populations of this species ( petranka 1998 ) . further research on the taxonomy of this species complex is required to clarify the biological identities of the taxa involved .
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this amphibian feeds at night on a variety of invertebrates , such as earthworms , snails , slugs , spiders , centipedes , and millipedes , as well as larval and adult insects .
avoid the use of fertilizers , herbicides , and insecticides in your yard . if you need to use these products , purchase ones that are natural and organic .
state of connecticut disclaimer , privacy policy , and web site accessibility policy . copyright © 2002 - 2018 state of connecticut .
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pertinent references : petranka , james w . 1998 . salamanders of the united states and canada . smithsonian institute press , washington .
account author : anna tarter , university of georgia - revised by j . d . willson


zippy chippy ( born april 20 , 1991 ) is a thoroughbred race horse , a bay gelding , who is notable for being winless in 100 races .

zippy chippy 's pedigree includes many famous horses , such as ben brush , buckpasser , busanda , bold ruler , count fleet , man o ' war , nasrullah , native dancer , northern dancer , round table , tom fool , war admiral and the greatest " blue hen " broodmare of the twentieth century , la troienne .

zippy chippy

owner and trainer felix monserrate and his horse , zippy chippy , in 2010 .
monseratte became zippy chippy ' s trainer after 20 starts . there were several close calls as zippy chippy was second eight times while earning us $ 30 , 834 .
' that ' s the one you gotta help . that ' s zippy chippy ! '
zippy chippy in retirement at old friends at cabin creek . ( old friends at cabin creek )
zippy chippy even lost a 40 - yard race to minor - league baseball player jose herrera .
the legend of zippy chippy and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle . learn more
today , zippy chippy is 25 years old and living on a retirement farm in greenfield , ny .
a long - awaited book on the life of zippy chippy may still be a year away , but the official zippy chippy ice cream , zippy chippy gelato , debuted — and sold out — last month at an event in kentucky . half - pint containers could be available at the saratoga track this summer .
“i asked where i could find a book on zippy chippy” thomas says . “but there wasn’t one . ”
zippy chippy ( left ) seen racing at freehold raceway in freehold , n . j . in 2001 .
that somebody is likely to be joann pepper , zippy chippy ' s landlord and his most enthusiastic fan .
zippy chippy has seven second - place finishes and 12 thirds for career earnings of $ 29 , 167 .
now - retired zippy chippy descended from champions - - but finished with a professional record of 0 for 100 .
not even starting the race as the betting favorite could get zippy chippy his first win in a career of futility .
a well written book about zippy chippy , the horse that loved to race , just not win . i enjoyed it .
the legend of zippy chippy : life lessons from horse racing ' s most lovable loser , is published by mccelland & stewart .
“what do you do ? ignore him ? he is the one you got to help the most . that’s zippy chippy . ”
felix monserrate and his horse , zippy chippy , were possibly the two most stubborn players in thoroughbred racing . ( emily schoeneman )
zippy chippy will enjoy retirement alongside seven other retired racehorses , most notably 1992 travers and jim dandy winner and millionaire thunder rumble .
zippy chippy did manage to finish second eight times . he got a few thirds . his career winnings totaled $ 30 , 000 . it ' s a record that makes one wonder why his owner kept bringing zippy chippy to the track . joann pepper thinks part of the reason was that zippy came cheap .
hey buddy , why the long face ? zippy chippy is a race horse who broke record after record — for being the losingest thoroughbred in north american history . we speak with the author of a new book about the horse that was more chippy than zippy .
the legend of zippy chippy : life lessons from horse racing ' s most lovable loser by william thomas will be released april 5 .
toronto — they ' re related but it ' s obvious zippy chippy didn ' t get grandfather northern dancer ' s racing genes .
toronto - they ' re related but it ' s obvious zippy chippy didn ' t get grandfather northern dancer ' s racing genes .
with a bridle nameplate that reads ‘racing’s biggest loser , ’ zippy chippy can rightly claim to be the worst racehorse of all time .
william thomas discusses his book , ' the legend of zippy chippy , ' on the agenda in the summer , july 21 , 2016 .
“there’s just something about that name , zippy chippy , ” said bill flynn , then a reporter for oag affiliate wxxi in rochester , n . y . , who was on the scene in 1999 for zippy chippy ' s record setting 86 th consecutive race without a win .
he traded a beat - up white ford pickup for the horse . for all that he lost , at least zippy chippy tried , and tried again , at least that is how monserrate saw things . “felix always believed he could turn zippy chippy into a star , ” schoeneman said recently .
zippy chippy , whose horse racing record was 0 - 100 , is seen with his owner felix monserrate ( left ) . zippy ' s story will be published in a book next month ( right )
in the legend of zippy chippy , life lessons from horse racing’s most lovable loser , author and humourist william thomas chronicles zippy’s ascension , or rather , decline , into the history books . thomas writes :
zippy would go on to set his own records in his own way — by losing . his idiosyncratic story is told in william thomas’ new biography “ the legend of zippy chippy ” ( mcclelland & stewart ) .
the legend of zippy chippy : life lessons from horse racing ' s most lovable loser , from author william thomas , is set to be released april 5 .
that produced groans from the crowd of about 100 people in the rickety wooden grandstand . zippy chippy had started the race as a 2 - 1 betting favorite .
zippy chippy , 21 , the hapless horse who lost 100 consecutive races , has taken temporary residence at old friends , the scott county farm for retired thoroughbreds .
zippy chippy , 25 , is currently at greenfield center , n . y . , farm , hanging out with best friend and fellow gelding red dawn south .
but zippy chippy , despite a pedigree that also includes bold ruler ( secretariat ' s father ) and u . s . triple crown winner war admiral , lost all 100 races he ran . canadian humourist william thomas chronicles the american - bred gelding ' s colourful career in his book
the legend of zippy chippy .
“he ran good and he got tired toward the end , ” jockey juan rohena said of zippy chippy . “he was real sharp and he tried real hard . ”
on the occasion of only a game ' s 20 th anniversary , bill littlefield went in search of zippy chippy , to offer our apologies … and maybe a carrot .
this july 20 , 2012 photo shows zippy chippy , front , sharing a paddock with his pal and fellow gelding red down south , at old friends farm near georgetown , ky . they ' re related but it ' s obvious zippy chippy didn ' t get grandfather northern dancer ' s racing genes . the canadian press / ap / bruce schreiner
william thomas is the author of a new book , the legend of zippy chippy : life lessons from horse racing ' s most lovable loser . he recently sat down with as it happens host carol off to discuss zippy ' s story .
foaled at capritaur farm in new york , zippy chippy boasts a pedigree that includes northern dancer , buckpasser , bold ruler and round table—some of the fastest horses of all time .
before the race , monserrate was optimistic , despite the fact his horse was starting on the outside—a position he doesn’t like . he said zippy chippy was “relaxed and happy . ”
zippy chippy was apparently a betting favorite due to his record , not in spite of it . at one point , the odds on him winning were listed as even money .
fans and trainers had opposite views , however , of whether zippy chippy is good for thoroughbred racing , a sport that has seen a steady decline in interest over the years .
but for zippy chippy , his notoriety as the most losingest thoroughbred in racehorse history is why the 25 - year - old bay gelding has legions of fans across the world .
but zippy had a complicated relationship with racing and training , and the happier felix got , the more zippy loved to terrorize him .
as it happens first told the story of zippy chippy in 1998 , when he lost his 85th race . this tied him for the record for losingest horse in thoroughbred racing history .
but zippy chippy became a sideshow . in august 2000 he lost a 40 - yard dash to jose herrera , a centre - fielder with the triple - a rochester red wings .
zippy chippy wasn’t zippy , for despite his name he tended not to run a lot , although he wasn’t lame one hundred times he entered races . never did he win and sometimes zippy just stood still , and he would not begin the call would be “their off ! ” but zippy wasn’t off at all he’d look around as if to say , “let’s go back to the stall . ”
by losing 100 times in 100 career starts , zippy chippy cemented his legend as a loveable loser , a rogue whose face adorns coffee mugs captioned with “winners don’t always finish first . ”
owner and trainer felix monserrate , who has remained optimistic despite his horse’s career - long losing streak , said he would bring zippy chippy back to the three - county fair next year .
zippy chippy was born in april 1991 in upstate new york . he was eighth in his first race on sept . 13 , 1994 , at belmont park at 15 - 1 odds .
zippy earned a different kind of fame . in 100 starts , zippy won 0 . but winners don’t always finish first . watching zippy rack up his 0 for 100 record became such a popular pastime that stories about him on the blood - horse web site got more reads than stories about kentucky derby winners , and in 2000 people magazine voted zippy chippy one of the year’s “most intriguing characters . ”
on january 1 , 2015 zippy celebrated his twenty fourth birthday , he seems happy being the star at cabin creek and i can only assume has lasted a lot longer than that old horse van he was traded for . i had a two dollar win ticket on zippy chippy , that hung around for years , that of course , i can ' t find but i do have my original , first addition zippy chippy t - shirt from 2000 .
and then . . . he heard laughter . marisa was standing in front of zippy chippy , wagging her finger and telling him he’d been “a very bad boy , ” over and over .
zippy chippy runs no more . unless he wants to – say when he ' s at the far end of the corral and somebody shows up at the gate with something good to eat .
the 9 - year - old gelding finished third saturday in the eighth race at the three - county fair , extending zippy chippy’s record as the losingest horse in american thoroughbred history to 88 races .
zippy chippy , ridden by pedro carrasqual , finished seven lengths behind winner bidakeno in the $ 10 , 100 six - furlong race . the six other competitors were all 4 - year - olds .
zippy chippy turned 24 years old last month . the dark brown gelding and former western new york resident is stabled at the cabin creek farm — a kind of old folks home for thoroughbred racehorses .
zippy chippy ' s current home is at a farm called old friends at cabin creek , established 10 years ago in greenfield , n . y . , a quick run from the track in saratoga springs . well , quick for any horse but zippy . anyway , old friends , which is supported by donations , a few grants , and fundraisers , some featuring zippy , is home to 14 retired race horses , though capacity is supposed to be 12 . according to joann pepper , zippy chippy is among those ok with sharing space with a pal .
“after waving goodbye to his van , felix went into the barn as the new and proud owner of zippy chippy , a horse that had nowhere to go but up , ” humorist william thomas writes in “the legend of zippy chippy : life lessons from horse racing’s most lovable loser , ” his entertaining new book . “by way of offering his opinion of the trade , the horse immediately bit him . ”
until he was banished from finger lakes , things were pretty dull , but zippy came close to ruining his career on october 3 , 1995 when he finished with a rush to finish second in a five and one half furlong race , had the race been six furlongs , zippy chippy would just have been another horse . after his last finger lakes race , it was almost a year before zippy returned to massachusetts , at the three county fair in northampton , for his only start of 1999 . a new millennium and a new zippy chippy were on the horizon .
zippy chippy , the gelding who became famous for losing all 100 of his lifetime starts , has been retired to the old friends retirement farm ' s bobby frankel division in greenfield center , n . y .
thomas is an avid hiker . he was tramping through the finger lakes region a few years back when he stopped into a bar near zippy’s home track . the conversation turned to secretariat , the greatest of the greats . then , the bartender mentioned zippy chippy , the anti - secretariat .
a year later , zippy was still running . and he was still slow .
zippy chippy was born to father compliance and mother listen lady , and he can count northern dancer , man o ' war , bold ruler , and war admiral as some of his famous ancestors , it says .
zippy chippy finally won march 17 , 2001 , beating standardbred paddy ' s laddy in a match race at freehold raceway . later that year , he defeated rochester player darnell mcdonald in a 50 - yard sprint .
part of zippy chippy ' s problem could be that he doesn ' t get much work . some tracks banned him after he dawdled at the start of three races in 1998 at finger lakes in new york .
loss after loss , felix would defend zippy chippy . “say you have three children , ” he’d tell local sportswriters . “one is a lawyer , doing well . the other a doctor , very , very successful . but the third one , not so smart , so he’s working at mcdonald’s . what do you do , ignore him ? ” no , felix would say . “that’s the one you gotta help . that’s zippy chippy ! ”
thomas describes zippy chippy’s laid - back attitude towards life and sport in glowing terms , and uses the horse’s story to rail against a winning - obsessed culture that drives athletes to cheat and dope in order to get ahead .
he spent those two months training zippy to bolt out of he gate ; one more suspension — three was the limit — and zippy’s career would be over . it went better than felix could have hoped : every single time , zippy would break clear .
monserrate acquired zippy in a 1995 trade with his breeder for an old horse van .
if you want to see zippy chippy or any of his more accomplished neighbors at old friends , summer visiting hours are 11 a . m . to 4 p . m . , tuesday , thursday , friday , and saturday .
zippy may have been forced out of professional racing , but his fans loved him all the more for it . a new jersey contingent presented zippy with an enormous hallmark card .
zippy chippy will go down in history as one of the most famous thoroughbreds in horse racing history — for never having won a single race . one hundred races without breasting the tape . neigh , not one . zero . zip .
zippy , according to the post , continued to be a frequently uncooperative regarding his training .
so , in a way , it was fortuitous that zippy never won , blowen said .
charlie pierce is not known for going easy on athletes , and zippy was no exception .
when zippy was later beaten in a 40 - yard - dash by a minor league baseball player , monserrate chalked it up to zippy allowing his opponent to win , the post reported .
people magazine listed him among its most interesting personalities in 2000 . he has an entry in the encyclopedia of new york and now he has his own book — the legend of zippy chippy — written by his official biographer , canadian humourist william thomas .
it wasn’t for a lack of trying . zippy chippy , who has a habit of stalling at the start of races , led out of the gate and was neck - and - neck with second - place miner’s claim for much of the race .
the fair , where zippy chippy set the record for losingest horse last year , is the only track that hasn’t banned him from racing . years of losing , bad behavior and his habit of stopping at the starting gate have soured tracks on him .
writing a biography of a horse reveals some interesting limitations of the life - narrative genre itself . thomas frequently gets inside zippy chippy’s head , describing how his subject feels about racing , eating and taking it easy in a high - stakes world . either thomas is a telepathic horse whisperer and zippy chippy is the smartest horse in the world , or else the author has used a lot of creative licence . it makes you reflect on the fact that all biographers are probably just as imaginative with their subjects .
old friends founder and president michael blowen saw zippy almost win a race in the late 1990s .
shortly after a race on june 3 , 1995 , monserrate traded an old horse van with zippy ' s original breeder , for ownership of the horse . they would remain together for around 15 years , before monserrate sold zippy chippy , assured that he would spend his days at a retirement home for thoroughbred race horses , and what a fifteen years it was .
felix monserrate , schoeneman’s spouse , saw otherwise . he was a puerto rican immigrant , an incurable dreamer and a horse trainer who typically lost more than he won at the finger lakes racetrack in upstate new york . but his affections for zippy chippy were partly justifiable .
“stupendously , at the turn of this century , a racehorse by the name of zippy chippy became america’s greatest attempter . glorious was this horse in failure , tireless in the trying game . there was no winning , no cheating , no million - dollar contract for this remarkable athlete , because when all was said and done and put out to pasture , he was the great zippy chippy – a record - setting , always - struggling , full - striding scoundrel who became the best thoroughbred in professional racing at stealing people’s hearts . ”
zippy chippy did make some money with special appearances that drew plenty of fans , and in 2000 people magazine named him one of the year’s most intriguing personalities . today , he is retired , living out his days on a farm near saratoga , n . y .
trouble was , each mounting loss only boosted zippy chippy ' s cult following . he was banned from finger lakes racetrack in farmington , n . y . , in 1998 for failing to leave the gate three straight times , earning him a usa today cover story .
philadelphia - - he couldn ' t win in traditional horse races . he couldn ' t win against a minor league baseball player . and friday night , zippy chippy showed that he couldn ' t win when competing against other horses who have never won a race .
in 2000 , the same year he lost to the minor league player , people magazine named zippy chippy to its list of the year ' s most fascinating personalities . to his credit , the next year , zippy did beat another minor - league player , darnell mcdonald ( a former boston red sox outfielder who is now an outfielder with the new york yankees ) .
over three years , zippy ran 70 races at finger lakes , and the more he lost , the higher his star rose . but it was the race at finger lakes on june 23 , 1998 , where zippy really set himself apart : of the six other horses bolting out of the starting gate , zippy was not among them . the bell went off , but zippy chose not to hear it .
eventually , his jockey got zippy going , but it was more of a laid - back stroll .
so on the rainy november morning that felix’s 8 - year - old daughter , marisa , went missing , his heart was in his throat . she had grown up with horses all her life , and was oddly enamored of zippy chippy . felix ran to the stall .
michael blowen , founder and president of old friends in scott county , feeds carrots to zippy chippy on wednesday , july 18 , 2012 . the horse is on loan to the scott county center through the month of august . photo by greg kocher | staff gkocher1 @ urltoken
in his 86th race in september 1999 , zippy chippy broke the record for consecutive losses without a win . in his 87th race sept . 1 , he came heartbreakingly close to the winner ' s circle . he led all the way before being edged by a nose .
in a culture whose mythology is saturated with formulaic tales of greatness and achievement , the legend of zippy chippy is a subversive celebration of failure . thomas revels in his subject’s absolute lack of interest when it comes to living up to his potential . the author includes family trees showing zippy’s bred - for - perfection pedigree—he was related to secretariat , seabiscuit and a dozen other all - time great racehorses—which make zippy seem like the wayward , layabout son of a high - achieving family .
emily schoeneman could see what her husband couldn’t . what she saw in zippy chippy , an ornery racehorse with donkey - like ears , a taste for coors light , pizza and doritos , and with zero wins in 20 career races , was a colossal error in male judgment .
horse lovers everywhere can agree on one thing : that horses have a lot to teach us , whether it’s patience , responsibility , or in the case of the irresistible bay thoroughbred race horse named zippy chippy , that one should never give up . and always go out laughing .
after his retirement , zippy chippy did a short stint as an outrider pony at his home track , finger lakes in 2005 . after that he spent his day ' s with the monserrate family , who claimed he was family , until a deal was struck that sent him to cabin creek farm in greenfield , new york . cabin creek is affiliated with old friends a retirement farm for race horses in kentucky . zippy chippy , gained national attention in 2000 , when he made people magazines , list of most interesting personalities . in 2001 , zippy was involved in what were billed as a couple of
publicity stunts
, hey a guys gotta make a living .
so begins william thomas’ the legend of zippy chippy : life lessons from horse racing’s most lovable loser . the unusual biography takes us through the life of america’s most unsuccessful thoroughbred racehorse who , over the course of his 100 - race career , lost every single professional race he entered .
over time , the more zippy lost , the more famous he became . he had a cult following among racing fans , who continued to bet on zippy , still holding out hope that he might eventually win .
but at approximately 2pm et all eyes turned towards the post parade for race 2 . zippy chippy was going to post ! surprisingly the crowd was abuzz with talk of zippy . the majority of patrons at this small , fair track seemed to be well aware of the story unfolding before them . zippy received a warm round of applause as the post parade passed in front of the grandstand ( almost close enough to touch ! ) . as zippy ( in the orange silks of the # 7 horse ) approached the starting gate folks were clicking away with their cameras and jockey willie belmonte winked and said ,
felix ' s groom owned zippy and wanted to get rid of him because he was moving to florida ,
thomas said .
felix said , ' kill the zippy horse ? no way , jose . '
his owner , felix monserrate , has shared his tale of woe with jay leno on
the tonight show .
and zippy chippy himself appeared on the pages of people magazine . last year , the magazine named the horse to its list of the year ' s 50 most fascinating personalities .
the new york post reported that zippy was a rebellious and uncooperative horse when it came to training - and by the time felix monserrate traded his truck so he could have zippy , the horse had already lost 20 races .
despite all this , zippy often went off as the favorite in the pre - race odds , blowen said .
and zippy showed some spirit as he and red galloped together down a hill to the paddock ' s edge .
felix already had a scar on his back from zippy’s inaugural bite . a few months later , felix and zippy were standing in front of the horse’s stall , and when felix turned around , zippy grabbed his shirt by the mouth and dangled the trainer in midair . as felix flailed and yelled , his fellow track workers laughed and laughed .
after beginning his career amid high hopes at belmont park — home to the belmont stakes of triple crown fame — zippy chippy tumbled from lesser track to lesser track , until bottoming out in the horse - racing boondocks , where his owner planned to sell him to a slaughterhouse before monserrate intervened in 1995 .
zippy chippy lives today upon a lovely farm and there he doesn’t do a single living creature harm the people come to visit him and some of them conclude that zippy chippy is a joke , and i would find that rude if i could not image that somehow ziggy’s worked it out perhaps he chose to beat the game , then beat it in a rout he did not suffer injuries . he didn’t suffer fools he got himself tossed off the track because of racing’s rules which say a horse that doesn’t try cannot participate if ziggy figured that one out i think it would be great for zippy need not run these days , and still he gets to eat he lacks for neither food nor love , he is a horse complete
zippy chippy ( usa ) b . g , 1991 { 23 - b } dp = 10 - 5 - 17 - 2 - 0 ( 34 ) di = 2 . 24 cd = 0 . 68 - 100 starts , 0 wins , 8 places , 12 shows career earnings : $ 30 , 834
monserrate described this tactic as zippy wanting “to see the other horses out in front of him before he run . ”
zippy , however , was friendly toward monserrate ' s daughter marisa . after searching for the girl , who ' d disappeared , monserrate saw the eight - year - old being nuzzled by zippy in a stall , the post recounted .
why when other horses ran , would zippy choose to be the only one unmoved by dreams of mighty victory ? some said the zippy had not heart , and some said he was nuts . one theory had it that he was a fumble footed klutz . but what if zippy chippy had a bigger brain than most ? and if he knew winning was an empty sort of boast if all the winning did was made some wealthy guy make money ? and what if zippy found that idea sort of sad and funny ? and what if he thought , “well they’re gonna to feed me anyway . why work as if without the work i wouldn’t get the hay ? ”
“after waving goodbye to his groom and his van , felix went into the barn as the new and proud owner of zippy chippy , a horse that had nowhere to go but up , ” thomas writes . “by way of offering his opinion of the trade , the horse immediately bit him . just like that . ”
there , zippy was passed among owners and wound up in the hands of felix monserrate , a 52 - year - old trainer who traded his 1988 ford truck for the horse . felix knew zippy was a nonstarter — at 0 - for - 20 , his losses were unprecedented for a thoroughbred . but monserrate didn’t like the way zippy’s previous owner treated him .
in his book , thomas writes of the love between horse and trainer , even though zippy seemed to enjoy tormenting monserrate .
the point is you don ' t have to come first to be a winner . zippy has proven that .
a week ago , zippy chippy , running against a field with a combined record of 0 - 132 , finished second by a neck . it was the best result in the career of a horse which , earlier this summer , lost a 40 - yard dash to a minor league outfielder in rochester , n . y .
in may 2000 , people magazine named zippy among their most interesting personalities , and when zippy ran his next race — against a minor league baseball player named josé herrera — the national news media was there . zippy did not disappoint , losing a 40 - yard dash to the 27 - year - old center fielder for the rochester red wings in less than five seconds .
i enjoyed this book and found it humorous , but the story was heavily added with tales of other sports . while these were amusing and analogous to zippy chippy , it broke up the flow of the story a bit . any fan of the underdog , humor or sports will find reading this a charming way to pass the time .
all of this belies zippy chippy ' s pedigree . his sire , compliance , is a son of northern dancer , who won the kentucky derby and the preakness stakes in 1964 . his dam , listen lady , was a daughter of the stakes - winning buckfinder , who was sired by buckpasser , the 1966 horse of the year .
owner and trainer felix monserrate bought the new york - bred compliance gelding for $ 2 , 500 and earned $ 30 , 834 with him . zippy chippy , now 19 , finished second eight times and third 12 times in his long career . when he retired in 2004 , he briefly served as a track pony at finger lakes .
zippy was within reach of setting his own record : just two races away from notching the most losses by an american thoroughbred .
in 2001 , zippy was last in a seven - horse field in which all the other competitors had never won , either .
“time now for our weekly zippy chippy update , ” bill littlefield told only a game analyst charlie pierce in 2000 . “last week the little gelding , who couldn ' t , and never has , and no doubt never will , ran his record losing streak to 87 when he finished second at a county fair right here in massachusetts . ”
zippy’s next race was sept . 8 , 1998 . it was a chilly day , and the stands were packed — this race would determine zippy’s fate . he was placed in no . 2 position , and among bettors that day , he was a favorite .
and so within minutes loss number 100 was in the record books and zippy was unsaddled and heading back to the barn . . .
felix , typically , would not concede athletic superiority . zippy , he said , “let josé win to make him feel good . ”
during the finger lakes races , monserrate envisioned a dozen doughnuts waiting in the jockey room if zippy ever attained that elusive first win .
zippy chippy was born on april 20 , 1991 , in upstate new york . he was the great - great - grandson of bold ruler , who fathered secretariat , and his family tree included triple crown winner war admiral , man o’ war , northern dancer and native dancer , who alone sired 295 winning horses with a combined generated income of $ 183 million .
finally , zippy put felix down . “he’s a strong horse , ” felix said . “he can hold you for a long time . ”
zippy’s story is very much an underdog’s story , and i asked thomas what it is about the little guy that appeals to us . “i think it’s because we’re all little guys . felix always said people related to zippy . they presented him with cards saying , ‘keep going , zippy’ and ‘don’t ever give up , ’ or ‘zippy , i feel for you , i just lost my job today . ’ it was always about hope . and i can tell you , at the track on most days in those barns there’s more hope than hay . ”
while other horses won millions in their careers , zippy chippy lost 100 races and earned a paltry $ 30 , 834 in his 10 years of racing . this is despite the fact that some of his ancestors were such successes as war admiral , the 1937 triple crown winner , and northern dancer , who in 1964 was the first canadian thoroughbred to win the kentucky derby .
from his earliest days , zippy was his own horse . he never really took to harnesses or saddles . told to run in one direction , zippy went the other . he stuck his tongue out at strangers and loped while other horses galloped . he terrorized trainers yet charmed children .
the legend of zippy chippy is the perfect antithesis of all the bullshit self - help books and rags - to - riches stories that are lionized everywhere else . in a world where everyone on instagram is having a better life than you , it’s a refreshing reminder to just keep on marching—or , in this case , trotting at a leisurely pace—to the beat of your own drummer .
“felix saw a lot of zippy in himself , ” thomas said this week in toronto . “they were both stubborn . they both never quit , and yet felix was proud to be a trainer and zippy was proud to be a racehorse , he just wasn’t very good at it . ”
zippy came to hate training so much that he trashed the exercise barn , kicking out part of the track’s fence and smashing the electric box . if handlers found themselves late with zippy’s food , they’d skip delivery rather than risk his wrath . some would only feed him with a rake .
another : “keep trying . god knows there are millions of us who relate to your struggles . ” zippy’s professional record : 0 - 100 .
retired from racing in 2004 , zippy had a brief second career as an outrider’s pony at his home track , finger lakes in new york .
zippy is now 25 and resides at old friends at cabin creek , a thoroughbred retirement farm in new york state not far from saratoga springs .
‘he was neither a speedster nor a steeplechaser , not a long - haul closer or a railside racer . he was zippy chippy , a free spirit at large and far from the grind of greatness , not sweating but celebrating the small stuff of life . he was at all times a professional racehorse , thriving , indeed rejoicing , in a quirky little world of his own . ”
felix monserrate couldn’t curb his enthusiasm after trading his rattletrap ford van for the thoroughbred racehorse with the royal pedigree . yes , it was disconcerting that zippy chippy hadn’t won any of his first 20 starts . but monserrate chalked that up to poor training . he figured a horse whose family tree included man o’ war , native dancer and the father of the greatest thoroughbred of them all—secretariat—was destined to become as well known , perhaps even better known , than his famous ancestors . if ever there was a horse born to run , it was zippy .
always allowing red to eat first , zippy also refused to walk into a trailer for a summer trip to kentucky until his companion climbed on ahead .
zippy got bumped hard twice but didn ' t go down and kept challenging black rifle for the lead before losing by a nose ,
thomas said .
zippy ' s jockey , juan rohena , was screaming at the stewards booth , ' foul , foul , foul , call an inquiry . '
the more people said zippy wouldn ' t win , the more felix said , ' he ' s going to win . you watch . '
it was raining on the august day when i visited old friends at cabin creek . the farm was beautiful anyway . it was chilly , too , but the horses didn ' t seem to mind . i found myself wondering out loud in the presence of pepper whether zippy chippy , reluctant race horse , laughing stock , butt of the jokes of a thousand railbirds , had at last found the perfect home .
our mission is to provide dignified retirement and to raise awareness of racehorse needs ,
says joann pepper . she owns and manages cabin creek with her husband , mark . they welcomed zippy chippy aboard in 2010 . negotiations to secure the horse took almost two years before monserrate settled for $ 5 , 000 , potential rights to a disney movie and the comfort of knowing that the animal was in good hands .
well , 10 , 000 people showed up because zippy had fans ,
thomas said .
as the crowd chants ,
ten , nine , eight , ' somewhere around four or five , zippy starts eating the grass and must ' ve thought , ' man , this grass is really nice . '
felix thought that zippy’s performance and behavior were the result of poor training , but he underestimated the horse , who by turns was stubborn , playful and lazy .
zippy chippy earned over $ 30 , 000 during his career , finishing second eight times ( once by a head , in race # 87 ) and third 12 times . he came in dead last 18 times and next to last in 24 races . monserrate admitted to keeping his horse by entering in allowance fields , which feature better talent but don ' t permit horses to be purchased as is the case in claiming races .
since arriving in scott county on friday , zippy has not lived up to his reputation as a biting , ill - mannered cuss . he and his paddock mate , red down south , stick close to each other . never one to do anything first , zippy watched as red took the initiative to roll in the dust .
“they bumped along like that – the cocky , underachieving racehorse and his cockeyed , optimistic trainer … they were standing in front of the horse’s stall when felix turned to pick up a bucket , and zippy turned to pick up felix . the trainer found himself suspended in midair , yelling for help and flailing his arms around behind him , trying to get zippy to release him . zippy had picked him up by the collar and was holding him a foot off the ground . felix’s angry shouts at the horse to put him down were answered by the loud laughs of a few track people watching the two of them perform this shed - row slapstick act . the louder felix screamed , the more raucous the laughter of the bystanders , many of them workers now coming over from other barns . eventually zippy got tired of the gag and put his owner down . ‘he’s a strong horse , ’ felix said , now that his feet were back on terra firma . ‘he can hold you up for a long time . ’ forget man o’ war and bold ruler ; zippy chippy’s most influential ancestors may have been laurel and hardy ! ”
he should have been better than he was ,
explains thomas , adding that zippy ' s lineage includes famous racehorses northern dancer , native dancer and war admiral .
“not everybody can be a winner , ” zippy’s trainer would say . “he wanna run . he’s always ready to go . but he don’t always go too good . ”
“he had enough time to rub his itchy nose on the near pole , stop to catch his breath at the half - pole , and take a leak on the quarter pole before entering the stretch , ” thomas writes . “with number one on his silks and at number one in the program , zippy chippy , number one in the hearts of the faithful at trackside , had come in a disappointing last by four yards more than a football field . ”
other incidents weren’t as funny . there was the day zippy cornered felix in his stall for an hour . he held a monserrate relative hostage for nearly four hours . felix’s partner , emily , called zippy “a miserable thing who wants everything done for him when he wants it , makes faces , bites , kicks , and is not very intelligent . ”
on april 10 , 2004 , zippy made his 100th start at the three county fair in northampton , mass . he finished dead last and was retired in 2010 to cabin creek in greenfield center , n . y . , a satellite of the old friends organization . zippy finished second eight times and third 12 times , earning $ 30 , 572 .
“he was owned primarily by felix monserrate , who got zippy in a trade for a pick - up truck , and raced him throughout his entire career , ” pepper said .
zippy was eventually demoted from finger lakes to a fairground in massachusetts . his final loss came in 2004 . he broke from the starting gate , pivoted toward the grandstand and bowed to his fans , like roy rogers’ horse , trigger . after stretching his winless streak ( against horses ) to 0 - 100 , zippy retired to his stall for a nap .
a few minutes prior to post time zippy was the 2 - 1 favorite , but by the time the gates opened he was the 7 - 2 second choice . on the bullring
zippy was now also known as “cellar dweller . ” he got a 60 - day suspension , setting off protests in the sports pages and among fans . he was their underdog .
on march 17 , 2001 , which just happened to be st . patrick ' s day , zippy raced the appropriately named paddy ' s laddy , a harness horse in a match race at freehold raceway . after spotting the pacer an eight of a mile zippy ran down the standardbred to prevail by a head and notch the first victory of his career . in august of 2001 zippy headed another promotion , this time he raced humans . it happened in rochester , at the rochester red wings baseball stadium and involved player from the team . it seems there were three , roughly forty yard dashes , the first in true zippy fashion , he dwelt at the start and was soundly beaten . the other two he reportedly won .
they ' re inseparable , they roll around in the mud and dirt together ,
thomas said .
but zippy is still a star , bringing people to the farm .
old friends hopes to put together a fund - raiser using zippy ' s name . there ' s a plan to challenge volunteers to raise pledges and then have those volunteers ride a zip line at the mega cavern in louisville , a former limestone mine with 17 miles of underground passageways . the event might be called
zip for zippy
or some such thing .
felix was heartened , and offered yet another explanation for zippy’s late starts : “he just want to see the other horses out in front of him before he run , ” he said .
just a month before zippy ' s arrival , another new york - bred horse , red down south , was added to cabin creek ' s stable . the pair have become inseparable .
it’s not like zippy’s demeanor changed — he could still be cranky and mean , and his job performance wasn’t getting better . but for felix and his family , the horse was a keeper .
during his time with monserrate , zippy once held his owner off the ground by his shirt , and in a different instance spent 60 minutes cornering him in a stall , according the newspaper .
felix grabbed him yelling , ' i don ' t want him to win this way . ' the inquiry was overturned , as most are , and zippy lost by a nose .
he comes out of the gate , turns to the crowd and almost does a bow before taking off ,
thomas said .
zippy knew he was the star of the show .
and zippy is often called the
losingest horse in history ,
but he can ' t take the futility record title . thatt belongs to thrust , who had 105 losing starts in the 1950s .
in the meantime , the public can come see zippy through august at old friends , where there are tours at 10 a . m . and at 1 and 3 p . m . each day .
zippy managed to lose most of those races under the guidance of his trainer , felix monserrate , who stuck with his horse even though others suggested he send it out to pasture , sopranos - style .
zippy chippy started his career at belmont park , he had some decent pedigree in his line and there probably was some expectation he would become a decent racehorse . his first seven races were on the nyra circuit , five at belmont and two at aqueduct , all maiden special weight races . his jockeys included the aforementioned mike smith , julio pezua , robbie davis , jose santos , jorge chavez and richard migliore . even when he shipped to finger lakes he had the services of kevin whitley and leslie hulet , two legends at the farmington oval .
monserrate would bear the scars from that chomping on his back for the rest of his life . ( in his never - ending quest to be a contrarian , zippy bit the back rather than the hand that fed him . ) those teeth marks would serve as reminders of the thoroughbred’s legendary stubbornness , a trait that would exasperate his trainer time and time again . but zippy’s desire to stop and smell the roses ( occasionally during races ) rather than run for the roses also would endear him to monserrate and the horse’s legion of fans . the more zippy lost , the more people loved him . he clearly didn’t subscribe to hall of fame football coach vince lombardi’s mantra that “winning isn’t everything ; it’s the only thing . ” in zippy’s case , winning was a never thing . and he was quite content with that .
the thing was , zippy was felix ' s pet , which broke every rule of horse racing . but their lives were intertwined forever and zippy became the highlight of felix ' s life ,
says thomas .
it was a wonderful sort of relationship about a man and a horse , neither of which was very good a what they did , but it didn ' t stop them from trying .
last june , felix monserrate died from heart problems and pneumonia . he was 72 . one of his greatest wishes was to see zippy’s life , like other legends of the track , memorialized in the movies .
it was at great barrington , mass . , and zippy ' s running , and he finishes second ,
blowen said .
but there ' s an inquiry into the horse that won .
“his name is red down south , and he ' s 12 , and the minute they got together , they became best friends , and they have not been separated since , ” pepper said . “so he ' s lucky . it ' s really the truest horse relationship that i ' ve ever seen . zippy loves red and respects him , and red looks out for zippy . it ' s beautiful . ”
and zippy actually has won . publicity stunts in 2001 included a 50 - yard dash win over rochester red wings baseball player darnell mcdonald and a victory in a race versus harness horse paddy ' s laddy .
monserrate was always able to look beyond zippy’s recalcitrance and shortcomings . “say you have three children , ” he explained . “one is a lawyer , doing well . the other , a doctor , very , very successful . but the third one , not so smart , so he’s working at mcdonald’s . what do you do ? ignore him ? course not . he’s the one who needs your help . that’s zippy . ”