AQHA September/October 2015 Magazine | Page 49

TRIBUTE TO A GREAT SPEEDHORSE Hempens Devil Q-19544 Hemp Jet (AJC name) Hemp Jet at 28yr Linton Victoria “The Fastest Horse I ever trained” Terry Chinner A champion of the short distance racetracks in this country, Hemp Jet was put down 14th July 2015 at Terry Chinners farm at Linton in Victoria due to complications from old age. He was 28 years old. Hemp Jet entered the world in the backyard of Doug Muirheads father's place at Springsure in Queensland on the 1st November 1987. His sire, the imported Quarter Horse Stallion Hempens Rambler’, was by Hempen TB and from Easy Rose by Easy Jet. Hemp Jet was out of She Devil by Three Devils (Three Ohs x Femme Fatale). Black Betsy, the dam of She Devil, was by Eddie Barnes (imp), the first AAA horse to come to this country. Black Betsy produced six foals of which five raced and all were winners. 1982 Black Gelding Bar Nick by Mr Bar Charge 1983 Brown Mare Bar Sorceress by Mr Bar Charge 1984 Brown Mare Dark Lady Devil by Mr Bar Charge 1986 Bay Mare Sarita Devil by Hempens Rambler (Unraced) 1987 Brown Gelding Hempens Devil by Hempens Rambler 1989 Brown Gelding Watchim by Watchim Makeit Hemp Jet had several trainers during his racing career. When he won at his first start, as a 2 year old with Mike Craven in Toowoomba, Mike quickly had the Toowoomba Sires Produce and The All Australian Futurity on the gelding’s agenda. Hemp Jet injured his knee at his next start, but still ran second. He took time off for surgery before resuming his two year old career In November 1990 he was transferred to the Terry Chinner stable and had his first start for his new trainer on Boxing Day over 320m, with Kevin Birse in the saddle. Hemp Jet broke the track record with his win that day. Stepping out five days later at Gympie on New Year’s Day and, ridden by Cathy Whiting, Hemp Jet won by eight lengths, breaking the 400m track record by three tenths of a second. The second placed horse was Grandstand Bunny Blue (Azuroutine x Tondara Sherrie), a talented sprinter who later became the dam of Destiny’s Fulfilled (by Model Bird), a brilliant filly trained by Adrian Ireland to win numerous races in Victoria. Bunny Blue was also the dam of Ala Gator, a gelding by Ala Dozen and winner of 13 races in North Queensland. Terry Chinner had Hemp Jet to the races six times for five wins and a second when beaten a half head by Ramblers Jet, a Hempens Rambler gelding from Jet Angel (Thundering Jet x Miss Ettaleo). Following the demise of sprint racing in Queensland, Hemp Jet returned to Doug Muirhead until Terry Chinner again entered the gelding's life and he ended up in Victoria as a paddock mate for Glenwood Henry. Around this time Sprint Racin