Kip Deville: $3,325,489 Diamond in the Rough

                                                                                                                          By Avery Oden

On the occasion of Kip Deville's induction into the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame this weekend on the 26th, I thought I'd pay tribute by recalling some of the greatest moments in the career of this track scorcher. 

Kip Deville’s story starts with humble beginnings. Bred by Dr. Warren Center, trained by Mike Neatherlin, and owned by Dee Neatherlin and Roy Cobb, he began his races at Remington Park in 2005.

Things were looking up for Kip when the 2-year-old won his first race by 3 ½ lengths with Justin Shepherd up. On his very first race, the youngster had throttled the race and taken an huge victory. This was either a case of extreme luck or incredible talent.

His next race was the final night of the season in 2005. He took to the track a second time, and ran his hardest only to take 5^th on the turf in the Centennial Stakes. His trainers and owners disappointed, they chucked his first victory up to luck. 

Kip Deville would glide along in relative obscurity for his next five races, winning his first stakes event in the $40,000 Texas Heritage in March 2006.

Kip Deville at the NetJets Breeder's Cup in 2007

Then, just a month later, Kip Deville gained industry-wide attention by demolishing the Grand Prairie Turf Challenge at Lone Star Park. He won by an astounding 4 full lengths.

Realizing that this was no ordinary race horse, the offers came pouring in to buy this young talent. He was quickly purchased by the powerful IEAH Stables for an amount that went well into six figures. They toured the world with him, and put him against the very best in the industry.

Kip Deville’s fame grew quickly, but never got ahead of him. In the shorter races, he’d demonstrate speed and ferocity. In the longer ones, he’d display focus and strength. He rapidly began racking up victories, that soared well into the millions.

But it was his victory at the $2 million Breeders Cup Mile that set Kip Deville’s name in stone as a legend. In what turned out to be the most important race of his life, Kip ran a near-perfect race and received the honor of becoming the Breeders Cup Champion, surpassing Clever Trevor.

Kip Deville was now the highest-earning Oklahoma-bred race horse of all time.

Then, almost as fast as he came onto the scene, he vanished. Not even 4 years after his swift rise to fame, he was tragically diagnosed with Laminitis. The world then lost Kip Deville in June of 2010.

Although he may be gone, his story and his legacy will always live on here at Remington Park. Next week he will be honored in the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall Of Fame, and we’ll always have the Kip Deville Stakes race to keep him in our memory.

The induction ceremony for the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame at Remington Park is part of Oklahoma Derby week, leading to the state's biggest Thoroughbred race on Sunday, Sept. 30. The ceremony is a ticketed event, open to the public, benefitting the Hall of Fame. Reservations can be made now by calling 405-424-1000.