More than 40 years since its peak prowess, Chinook Pass remains in the discussion regarding the fastest thoroughbreds ever. In September 1982 at Longacres in Renton, Chinook Pass ran what still stands as the swiftest five furlongs ever run on dirt, 55 1/5 seconds. That same year, he also equaled three other track or course records, for five furlongs at Hollywood in 56 seconds in the Meteor Handicap on grass; 5 1/2 furlongs at Longacres in 1:02.40; and six furlongs at Santa Anita in 1:07.60 while winning the Palos Verde Handicap. The Enumclaw-raised horse won the 1983 Eclipse Award as the nation’s champion sprinter. Chinook Pass remains the only Washington-bred horse ever to win a national award. That’s why it was later named Washington’s Horse of the Century. Horse racing Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay Jr., who rode Chinook Pass to seven stakes victories, once paid the gelding the highest praise: “Affirmed (1978 Triple Crown winner) was the best horse I ever rode, but Chinook Pass was the fastest.”
Chinook Pass started 25 races, winning 16 and taking second four times. Chinook Pass retired after winning the Longacres Mile by six lengths in 1983. Chinook Pass was bred and owned by Ed Purvis’s Hi Yu Stables and was raised and trained at Dewaine Moore’s Rainer Stables. Bud Kiokstad was the lead trainer for all but the last five races, which were overseen by Laurie Anderson.