Former Horse Trainer Gets Probation In Witness Case

Yesterday, the prosecutor's office dropped another 20-count indictment that had charged attempted theft by deception, theft by deception and falsifying insurance records, said James A. Ronca, assistant prosecutor.

According to the tampering charge, on April 9 and 10, 1985, Sipp tried to ensure that a state witness, Walter Johnson, also of Springfield, would be absent from the insurance-fraud trial. Johnson was expected to testify that he had helped Sipp apply for the inflated policies. Sipp had offered to send Johnson on a vacation in exchange for the man's absence from the trial, according to prosecutors.

In 1981, Sipp was the nation's second-most successful horse trainer. That year, horses trained by Sipp won 272 races at tracks including Keystone and Atlantic City. Three years later, a Burlington County grand jury indicted

Sipp on charges of submitting $142,500 in inflated insurance claims on nine horses that died while in his care from 1980 to 1984.

Since he was indicted, Sipp's license to train thoroughbred racehorses has been suspended by the New Jersey Racing Commission. Last week, Charles Bradley, deputy director of the commission, said Sipp would have to reapply for a license before the board would decide whether the suspension should be lifted. After the proceeding, defense attorney Francis Hartman said it was unlikely that Sipp's license would be restored.