| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 9, 1931 |
| Died | March 17, 2000 (aged 69) |
| Occupation | Trainer |
| Horse racing career | |
| Sport | Horse racing |
| Career wins | 1,305 |
| Major racing wins | |
| Vosburgh Stakes (1981) Arlington Classic (1983) Carter Handicap (1984) Haskell Invitational Handicap (1985, 1992) Ohio Derby (1985, 1996) Pegasus Handicap (1985, 1989) Pennsylvania Derby (1985) Gulfstream Park Handicap (1986, 1987, 1998) Massachusetts Handicap (1986, 1997, 1998) Gardenia Stakes (1991) Florida Derby (1992) Molson Export Million (1996) Suburban Handicap (1997) Donn Handicap (1998) Hollywood Gold Cup (1998) Massachusetts Handicap (1998) Pimlico Special (1998) Woodward Stakes (1998) Breeders' Cup wins: | |
| Racing awards | |
| Eclipse Award for Outstanding Owner (1997) | |
| Honors | |
| National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame (2003) | |
| Significant horses | |
| Skip Trial,Technology,Bet Big Norquestor,Skip Away | |
Hubert "Sonny" Hine (January 9, 1931 – March 17, 2000) was an American Hall of FameThoroughbredhorse trainer best known as the trainer of 1998U.S. Horse of the Year,Skip Away.
Hine was born inThe Bronx,New York, the son of clothing merchant and trainer Arthur Hine. Predating his training career in horse racing, he often rode match races with his brother, Marvin. His training career began after high school when he hitchhiked to Charles Town and trained Miss Economy at Marlboro Race Course.
Before becoming a trainer, Hine joined theUnited States Air Force and attendedYale University for a year. While enrolled in apre-veterinary course atPennsylvania State University, he was contacted by theUnited States Department of State to become a special investigator inHong Kong, allowing him to become fluent inMandarin Chinese.
Hine became a full-time trainer in 1957, struggling upward with horses such as Amber Pass, Bet Big, Cojak, Guilty Conscience, Norquestor, Royal Hierarchy, Skip Trial and Technology, securing himself at venues such asMonmouth Park andMeadowlands Racetracks.
With Skip Away, Hine won the 1997Breeders' Cup Classic atHollywood Park Racetrack. The horse raced under the name of his wife Carolyn, who received the 1997Eclipse Award for Outstanding Owner. In 1998, Skip Away logged victories in theDonn Handicap, theGulfstream Park Handicap, thePimlico Special, theMassachusetts Handicap, theHollywood Gold Cup, thePhilip H. Iselin Stakes and theWoodward Stakes. He finished the year by winning theEclipse Award for Horse of the Year.
After a three-year battle withcancer, Hine died on March 17, 2000. In 2003, he was inducted into the U.S.National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.