Looking Back at A.P. Indy

re: Looking Back at A.P. Indy

Jeff Brass — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:11:58 GMT

For a stud that did not shuttle down to the south such as the Coolmore horses did he will never get full credit for his 142 stakes winners here in the U.S. his horses were full of vigor & ability to run all distances and race courses thru out the road. A.P.'s horses will show up for generations to come as hard honest horses. Not horses for courses. But horses that are as honest as they come.

re: Looking Back at A.P. Indy

Jeff Brass — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:56:15 GMT

A.P. Indy I don't think will ever his due justice not only as a racehorse, but also as a sire at stud. He had 142 stake winners when they were not shuttling sires to the Southern Hemisphere. Nor were their crops anywhere as large as they are now.The first thing you knew when you had a A.P. Indy foal was how healthy they were. The rest is history and sadly to say is the fact of us no longer seeing A.P.'s offspring on the track much longer.

Respectfully-Jeff Brass

re: Looking Back at A.P. Indy

longtimeracingfan — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:01:28 GMT

Ian, Byron, sceptre, thanks for your comments and input. Yeah, just think how much longer Indy might have gone with all his equipment!!! I knew about Roman Ruler, but did not know about Court Vision. There are a number of others out there too. Both racing and at stud.

BTW over the years I have had several colts, born with two testicles, that did not drop them until nearly yearlings... and one colt (born with two) did not drop them until he was about 16 months; in fact when I hauled him from Colorado to California the CO brand inspector called him a gelding--- that "gelding" had two normal testicles a few weeks later, and was fully fertile until his death at 26 as the aftermath of a spinal injury. I still have several of his kids... and all are normal and, in the case of the daughters, have produced normal colts (both testicles dropped at normal ages).

Thanks for bypassing my dreadful typos.... and yes, Bill Car, what a wonderful contribution Saint Liam made in his all too brief life.

re: Looking Back at A.P. Indy

sceptre — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:13:49 GMT

A (journalist's) call to one of the top equine teratologists might shed some light on the genetics of equine cryptorchidism. As I understand it, it's cause is often genetic, but the precise genetic mechanism(s) not fully appreciated. It appears that the condition does have an impact on fertility. Amusing, isn't it, that those so motivated to expunge EIPH from the breed rarely, if ever, state concern about cyptochidism when the former is causally less genetic than the latter.

re: Looking Back at A.P. Indy

Rodney — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:26:19 GMT

Does anyone have some contact info. for the photographer who took that pic of Indy as a foal?

Would love an 8X10 print to hang in my study.

Regards to all!

re: Looking Back at A.P. Indy

BILL CAR — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:42:14 GMT

Ian......on a side note....how about an article on Saint Liam.....what could have been....his stats....97 foals...82 starters, 65 winners..13 black type....3 graded.....Champion Older Female...HOY......pretty impressive...thx

re: Looking Back at A.P. Indy

Byron Rogers — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:42:11 GMT

To answer the question, it is something that in this case may be inherited via the female line. There are a number of horses from the Lassie Dear family that had one testicle removed at some stage in their race career. Mambo in Seattle and Court Vision spring to mind in recent times.

re: Looking Back at A.P. Indy

Ian Tapp — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:10:29 GMT

longtimeracingfan,

You should check out The Horse's section on cryptorchidism which has several interesting articles, many from the science side. One link there mentions Roman Ruler, who had an undescended testicle removed while in training.

Thoroughbreds aren't (directly) selected for fertility traits, so many of these reproductive-related issues have to be managed. That being said, my understanding is that cryptorchidism itself is not a cause of subfertility (one functional testicle is adequate for fertility).

re: Looking Back at A.P. Indy

longtimeracingfan — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:27:13 GMT

Just curious... have always been an AP Indy fan for many reasons, but have been a bit leery due to his being a monorchid--- in other breeds (and in dogs) this is a HUGE negative...

In the racing industry this appears to be only a minor inconvenience, with half-castration being done (as was done on Indy in his early creer. Since this is a genetic trait, I'm wondering how many of his sons (and sons of his daughters) have inherited this? It has cropped up a lot in the Slew line so I assume Indy follows right along...

Monorchidism or cryptorchidism, if left uncorrected, can lead to cancer and other ailments; not being a vet I can't comment more, but I am interested in hearing from someone who can clarify this for me.

Being a ridgling certainly hasn't bothered (assuming, of course, they had the glandectomy) many well known runners. And auction buyers aren't mightily thirown off by it either.

By all means, more news on this most illustrious horse, and a "visit" to him in his retirement, would be most welcome.

re: Looking Back at A.P. Indy

Kari — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:37:36 GMT

I remember him falling to his knees at the gate, and STILL winning. He was great to watch!! I remember how low he carried his head while running. He is such a pretty guy!

re: Looking Back at A.P. Indy

Melissa P — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:03:55 GMT

A grand-looking boy from foaling on! His running style was quite unusual, but he almost always managed to get there. His true brilliance, and the aspect that will always be most memorable, came in the breeding shed. I'm so glad there are so many of his sons (and grandsons) now successful in the breeding shed. I look forward to seeing his branch of the Slew-line continue.

re: Looking Back at A.P. Indy

LongStoryTB — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:30:36 GMT

Thank you for the beautiful pictures of this wonderful horse!! How is he doing in his retirement? Would love to see some pics of him in his retirement mode.

re: Looking Back at A.P. Indy

Diego Garcia — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:31:00 GMT

I have had a great experience with the A.P.Indy sire Abduction crossing him with mares of the Northern Dancer family. He transmits stamina & speed and has a great scope of lines with which he crosses well.

re: Looking Back at A.P. Indy

skyfire — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:05:42 GMT

Wow, what a horse!! It is fabulous that Seattle Slew lives on through the great AP, and his fabulous son Bernardini. I think that Bernardini will be prove to be AP's greatest stallion son.

re: Looking Back at A.P. Indy

nan — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:07:31 GMT

A.P.Indy is the "patriarch" of a long line of "winners"

and a horse for the ages.... besides he is still the best

looking fella around.