A relentless drive to win is what determines champions. Longevity and consistency over time equals excellence. Combined, you have a Hall of Fame career. Precisionist was a champion, and the first week of August the handsome Florida-bred chestnut is being inducted into racing's hallowed National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Precisionist's well-deserved induction to the Hall of Fame is a fitting tribute to one of Florida's all-time great racehorses. Bred by industry pioneer Fred W. Hooper (one of two champions Hooper bred; the other being Susan's Girl), Precisionist won an impressive 17 stakes races from coast to coast. Numbered among his victories were the Woodward Stakes (G1), Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) and Santa Anita's prestigious Strub Stakes Series. In capturing the Strub Series Precisionist found himself in elite company, joining Round Table, Hillsdale, Ancient Title and Spectacular Bid as the only runners to sweep the series.

Blazing speed was Precisionist's main weapon. What made him especially tough as a racehorse was that in addition to his early speed, Precisionist possessed the rare and coveted ability to harness his early foot and carry that speed a route of ground. Speed and stamina: a dangerous combination, for sure, and one that spelled defeat for many a rival that lined up against him.

For all the speed he possessed, Precisionist also had nerves that rattled easily. His learned ability to carry his speed was a result of patient handling and hours and hours of schooling from trainer Ross Fenstermaker.

"We spent a lot of time on the racetrack and in the paddock," Fenstermaker told The Blood Horse in 1985. "We schooled him almost every day. In the morning, we'd just stand around on the track and spend a lot of time out there. It was time consuming, but it sure helped Precisionist."

In his sprint championship season of 1985, Precisionist captured four of his nine outings. He won that year at distances ranging from six furlongs to 1 _ miles. His clocking for six furlongs in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Sprint on a blustery day at Aqueduct was a sizzling 1:08 2/5. Three-quarters of a length behind him at the wire that afternoon was fellow Florida-bred Smile. An 88-year-old Hooper, holding tightly to one of the shanks attached to Precisionist's bridle, led his star into Aqueduct's winner's circle following the race with a smiling Chris McCarron perched atop the collected chestnut's back. The Breeders' Cup victory was a crowning moment in Precisionist's career, and a testament to Hooper's Florida breeding program.

Precisionist was one of eight runners to earn more than $1 million in 1985. The successful season placed him in the company of Horse of the Year Spend a Buck, Proud Truth, Chief's Crown and Gate Dancer on the seasonal earnings list. His earnings that year also boosted his overall career bankroll to more than $1.8 million, and placed him right behind Forego and Kelso and just ahead of Round Table and Exceller on the North American lifetime leading money-winning list.

A son of the Hooper stallion Crozier, Precisionist retired from racing the following year after annexing the Californian (G1) at Hollywood Park and the Woodward (G1) at Belmont. His hopes as a stallion were quickly dashed, however, as Precisionist battled fertility problems. He returned to training following the 1988 breeding season and managed to win three races, including two stakes at Del Mar. When he was finally retired for good, Precisionist had racked up 20 wins from 46 career starts and had earned $3,485,398, a Hall of Fame career indeed.

Also being inducted into the Hall of Fame this month is the late trainer Sonny Hine, who conditioned Florida-bred and 1998 Horse of the Year Skip Away and sprint champion Guilty Conscience. During Hine's stellar career, he trained 46 stakes-winning horses. Skip Away, a champion for three seasons and a winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) over Cigar, was his best.