Zippy Chippy loses for 99th time

Zippy Chippy pushed his infamous losing streak to 99 straight races without a victory when he finished last in a maiden race at Northampton fair in Massachusetts on Saturday. It was his first race since last year's Northampton fair meet.

After breaking sharply, Zippy Chippy was steadied around the first turn of the six-furlong race and dropped back under jockey Joe Riston. He was rank for the rest of the race. Early leader Summer Deposit rolled to an easy win.

"He seems like one of those attitude horses," said Riston. "He was fidgety in the gate and he wanted to get out around that first turn. It just seems like he couldn't ever settle down and couldn't relax. Maybe he just didn't like the going."

Owner-trainer Felix Monseratte was unavailable after the race. A thunderstorm rolled into the Three County fairgrounds just as the field was loading in the gate.

Zippy Chippy missed getting his first win last year when he was beaten 1 1/2 lengths after taking the lead at the top of the stretch at Northampton on Sept. 6. His second attempt at last year's fair was scheduled for the last day of the meet but was rained out.