Quiet natured with the biggest ears, Chips would wait in the stables on race day, eating our hot chips and loving the attention.

In the paddock Chips would sniff our head and make sure we would pat him or he would pin his ears back and turn away.

Gaining respect in the racing industry as the commentators pick and a tireless racer that tried as hard as any Melbourne Cup runner, trainer Can Lentery was often commended for Chips’ hard work and stunning Bay colour.

Starting in around 20 races throughout his career, Chips often finished among the winners, prompting him to qualify for a more challenging race.

In the qualifying race, Chips tripped over another runner’s feet 600m away from the line and stumbled, picking himself up in a show of true grit to finish.

Coming off the track, the damage to Chips’ hoof was clear, with the veterinarian diagnosing a damaged tendon putting an end to his racing career not long after 2012.

With regular check-ups over the next eight weeks, it became clear that Chips’ tendon would not heal to allow him to race safely, leaving us with the choice to put him down or retire him to the paddock at Ben Lomond.

It took us three weeks to decide and with Chips not showing signs of pain, he was transported home, returning to the district in the middle of the night, searching for his friend Claude, a fellow racehorse.

Moving from his home in Newcastle, with Claude, to the Glen Innes district proved difficult for Chips, struggling in the cooler climate.

When we rugged him, he would prick his ears, turn his head and sniff the rug—enjoying the warmth.

Adapting to the cooler temperatures and enjoying his time in the New England region, Chips retired comfortably and lived out his remaining years in the paddock, remembered as a big-hearted racer; a prize winning thoroughbred who loved hot chips.