Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

re: Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

sten — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 00:52:57 GMT

What does A.P.stand for?

re: Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

Boxwood — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:45:09 GMT

Great article!! And ironically enough I just saw AP at Lanes End on Monday. He looks great and truly is an incredible rock star.. I know he is enjoying his retirement - you can see it in his eyes..sorry I can't post a photo here..I took several ...long live the King!!

re: Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

txhorsefan — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 01:44:54 GMT

Sunny Farm - I love your dialogue! And I totally agree that is a wonderful idea that would befit a royal retirement. Here's hoping Lane's End will do something special like that for him. :)

re: Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

smartycat — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 19:03:24 GMT

Thank you Lenny for a beautifully written richly deserved tribute to one of my all-time favorite stallions. Indeed, what a legacy he has established that continues through his offspring. Appreciative kudos also to Bill Farish & his Lanes End staff for their impeccable management of his career. I am so thankful I got to visit with this magnificent champion last October - he looked very happy & content. I hope he enjoys many healthy years ahead. Long live this king! How I wish ALL ex-Thoroughbred racehorses could retire knowing they will be cared for in a manner similar to A.P. Indy.

re: Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

LauraJ — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 00:35:42 GMT

@Nine Bells, you have a rather odd concept of "average."

re: Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

Jon — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 15:53:26 GMT

Both AP Indy and his daddy loved to eat. They had that in common too. Yes, it's nice to see so many of his grandsons (out of his sons) in this year's Derby chase. I'm watching them...and his own son, Astrology. I'm also keeping my eye on Slew's grandsons, Alternation (out of his daughter Alternate) and Sway Away (out of his daughter Seattle Shimmer). I'll be glued to the TV tomorrow watching them in the Arkansas Derby. Wish they were not in the same race, but....

re: Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

TerriV — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 21:06:01 GMT

This past November the Sunday after the Breeders Cup, we left Louisville and drove to Lane's End. We'd called and they were having an Open House. We were so impressed with all the stallions but the one who still stood far and above the others was AP Indy. I fell in love with him all over again. What a wonderful personality!! I had a picture taken while he let me hug and pet him. You'd never have known he was a stallion. He is still as gorgeous and impressive as he was in his youth and is the epitome of the Thoroughbred.

re: Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

Matthew W — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 17:56:33 GMT

Lenny, I was at Lakeshore Lanes, in Albany, Oregon, when I first saw A P Indy race--he ran a rather slow 6 1/2 furlongs, over a heavy/slow track---me and my friends all said he was the next year's Derby winner--we were only wrong cuz he got hurt--I loved that head-low action--ala Snow Chief--as well as John Henry--I think some horses learn how to get their air better by slanting their "snouts" forward, thus, head-low---any how, he held it low, and he had the stamina! As a horse/sire, A P Indy accomplished over here what Sunday Silence might have done--along with Storm Cat the most importand sire lineage of the era....(in USA)

re: Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

NINE BELLS — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 15:55:42 GMT

great in the breeding shed , avarage on the track

re: Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

michelle — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 15:07:27 GMT

@ MRO: A.P. Indy had NOTHING to do with Allen Paulson. He was bred by William Farish (the 3rd) and William Kilroy. Put through sale and purchased by Tomonori Tsurumaki for 2.9 million as a yearling. Please, don't misinform people!

A.P. Indy is one of 3 of the top sires we've lost in recent times. (Kingmambo,Storm Cat and A.P) I have been lucky enough to ride some of his babies and grandbabies! Work for Frankie Brothers (trainer of Puplit) and anything to do with A.P is completely a dream to be around! I can only hope he lives a long happy retirement. "You've done enough for us!"

re: Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

Slew — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:54:20 GMT

If you loved Slew, you couldn't help but love A P Indy. (Also, being a fan of the Indy 500, and amazed by AJ Foyt...I sort of connected the 2 in my mind). A great champion, and a champion sire. And just look at the Derby horses we're rooting for this year...just how many were sired by A P and his sons at stud? Royally bred, dominant on the track, reigning as a sire, what more could we ask? Thanks A P, for everything...enjoy your retirement; it has been well-earned.

Lenny, will he stay at Lane's End or go to the Ky Horse Park to gossip in the Hall of Champions with Cigar?

re: Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

Al Bowe — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 11:45:05 GMT

Lenny,

A super tribute to super horse. I saw him a few years back and even as an old man he was all class. He looked us straight in the face with the most intelligent eye I have ever seen in a horse. He is the most significant breed shaper in recent times and is a potent sire of sires and a leading broodmare sire. We loved A.P. Indy so much that we recently purchased one of his sons, A.P. Magic who is out of the superb race mare Magicalmysterycat by Storm Cat. A.P. Magic stood his first season on our farm in South Africa and he got every mare he covered pregnant. We are so happy to have the blood of A.P. Indy live on in our new foals to hit the ground in a few months. Now it is time for A.P. Indy to leave the girls alone, rest for awhile and reflect on all he has done.

re: Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

Sunny Farm — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 04:29:43 GMT

I was sad to hear the news that A.P.INDY has been pensioned but was consoled by the beautiful photo slide show by Blood Horse the same day. THANK-YOU !

He has been a great stallion, an awesome stallion, and I hope he enjoys his retirement.

(Hold on...he is sending me an e.s.p. via astrophysics )

OKAY....

HE SAID :

"A retired /aged sire would like his own little herd to call his family & keep his sense of importance. I think it would be nice if I had my own barn & paddocks built with two old companion horses near me."

("An old barren mare-black-bay preferred and an old gelding, solid color, no greys" )

"In this way ,I; A.P.INDY would have my own herd to watch over and they will also watch over me." "The old mare will order me around over the fence and be next to me in her own stall & I will be delighted."

(The gelding & I can talk about women and give each other the long suffering looks )

"The new barn should have windows looking out at the activities going on at the farm & I -A.P.INDY- could start by going over to visit my new stall and companions untill I was ready to move in for good" (& he would let you know when he was ready to move from his esteemed position in the stallion barn.)

Oh, and A.P. INDY said he'd like a Schneiders stable rug, navy blue with the wither relief & "To get one for his woman & gelding " That :

" He can afford it"...and he wants his own Chamomile & dandelion garden ..near his new stable "

I would like to see this great stallion view the world as just starting out -instead of- just ending up. He deserves to have his own family -something that belongs to him and to him alone & MOST important of all is that he has equine FRIENDS as well as all his "servants " and his pride remains AS the great sire he has always been.

re: Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

Shelby's Best Pal — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 04:02:10 GMT

Thank you, Lenny, for writing about A.P. Indy. Excellent job! I remember 1992 and '93 quite well. A.P. Indy with Eddie D. aboard was a thrill.Loved his Breeders' Cup Classic win. Another colt from that crop of '89 that I also followed and still admire was Bertrando. My interest in racing revved up after following their racing careers.

re: Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

Diana_NV — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 03:24:45 GMT

A great son of Slew! Was hoping he would be the choice for Zenyatta, but apparently the flame went out and the torch was passed to his princely son. I love A.P. Indy, too. What a great classic race horse and a great sire to keep the Slew line going. His contribution to the industry is unforgettable.

re: Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

Alex'sBigFan — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 02:48:52 GMT

Lenny, what a beautiful and poignant article about "your" A.P. Indy. I am reading it with tears in my eyes. I knew an article from you was coming the second I read about him being pensionned. A.P. Indy succeeded in racing as well as in breeding. He has made his remarkable contribution to the breed. The main thing is that he is still sound and living, so many have gone before their time, that is the one thing for us to be thankful for. And when we peruse the pedigrees so ferociously as we do and we see that old familiar A.P. Indy in there, we can rest assured that he is still walking amongst us, even if he has lost the virility. At least he is here, unlike Danzig, Secretariat, Hennessy, etc. I hope Lane's End takes care of him well in his later years and I'm glad that statue of him is there where it belongs. I hope they find some interesting things for him to do, A.P. would probably love a visit soon from his #1 fan, Lenny. Animals walk the earth with us for such short times, canines 10-15 yrs. if they are lucky, and equines 20-25 yrs. if they are lucky. In a way they are all gifts from God, and A.P. Indy is a special gift, he has forever left his stamp on thoroughbred history.

re: Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

John T — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 02:42:32 GMT

People have asked what A.P Indy

means and some have responded.But for me it means''Always Prominent

Indy Races'' Which he was,a great joy to watch as a racehorse and went on to be a good sire.May he enjoy his retirement.

re: Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

Carol Christine — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 23:48:31 GMT

Lenny,

Great tribute to A.P. Indy! Wonderfully written! I remember before the Breeders Cup Classic and one of the T.V. commentators who was also a trainer said that it would be unlikely that 3 year olds including A. P. Indy would beat the older horses. And then as they turned for home he made his move, with his head low and gracefully and powerfully beat them all. I also would agree with Karen's comment that credit needs to given to his wonderful trainer, Neil Drysdale, who patiently and carefully managed his 3 year old campaign. Happy retirement to A. P. Indy. Thanks for all the joy and excitement!

re: Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

Tamara E — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 23:48:24 GMT

I am deeply saddened at the news of A. P. Indy's stallion career ending. I anxiously await his new two year olds each year. He has really turned in to a sire of sires. I will always cherish seeing him and his father.

re: Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

Rodney — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 21:13:05 GMT

He will be missed in the breeding shed just lke he is missed on the track. One of the most important sires of all time and one of the greatest racehorses of all time. May he live the rest of his days in the luxury and comfort deserving of a champion.

re: Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

LauraJ — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 19:57:43 GMT

@Ofelia, Lane's End does host tours by appointment, but not during breeding season (Feb-June). Here is the information:

www.lanesend.com/visitors.html

You will see the stallion facilities, although IIRC some of the stallions shuttle and may be gone during the August-October timeframe.

re: Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

joe c. — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 19:44:54 GMT

I saw Slew O' Gold, Swale and Vindication race, but sadly not A.P. Here's to a great, long retirement. And you're right Jon-Seattle Slew is an icon to many of us! And let's not forget A.P.'s half brother, Summer Squall, who showed in the Preakness how to get the job done! Well done Weekend Surprise.

re: Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

lenny — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 19:24:11 GMT

I believe his name came from an amusement park in Japan favored by his owner. A.P. was definitely a big boy during his second career, and was briefly ridden in his paddock in an attempt to keep his weight down, but that was soon abandoned as overly-risky. To see A.P. Indy and Slew in person is/was to immediately recognize you were in the presence of greatness. Perhaps after breeding season those who want to see him can contact Lane's End. They were very accommodating to me back in the '90s when I requested to visit as a fan.

re: Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

kaytee — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 18:36:36 GMT

enjoy your retirement, A.P Long live the king!

re: Great from the Get-Go - By Lenny Shulman

sidekickflats — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 18:05:19 GMT

Ofelia,

Lane's End does hold open houses on occasion. You could go to one of those and see Indy and the rest of the stallions. Not sure how often they do that. They had one around Breeder's Cup time. Bummer was that Quality Road hadn't arrived by then. You could call and ask the farm when the next might be.