A.P. Indy, the 1992 Horse of the Year often referred to as a "breed-shaping" sire, died Friday at Lane's End Farm. He was 31.
The son of Seattle Slew was pensioned from stud duties in 2011, 11 years after entering racing's Hall of Fame, while suffering from age-related testicular degeneration. A.P. Indy was otherwise well and lived out his days in Versailles, Ky.
"A.P. Indy passed away peacefully in his stall at the Lane’s End stallion complex, the barn he called home for 27 years," a statement from Lane's End reads. "Champion A.P. Indy’s list of accomplishments range far and wide as his legacy continues to be carried through the outstanding performances of his sons and daughters across the globe.
"He was the most important and popular member of the Lane’s End team and we are deeply sorry to all who loved him as much as we did."
William S. Farish and W. S. Kilroy bred A.P. Indy, who was foaled at Lane's End and sold as the highest-price yearling ($2.9 million) of his year. He went on to be campaigned in partnership, winning the Belmont Stakes and Breeders' Cup Classic in 1992 on his way to Horse of the Year and a 3-year-old championship.
A.P. Indy went on to be North America's leading sire in 2003 and 2006 with champions Mineshaft and Bernardini, along with sire Malibu Moon, among his progeny. Since then, he has finished as a top broodmare sire and continues to see descendants win at all levels of the sport.
“A.P. Indy will remain in the stall he has occupied for almost 20 years” Farish said upon the horse's retirement from stud duties. “I feel blessed to have been the co-breeder, along with my friend Bill Kilroy, of this great horse who was a champion on the track and is proving to be one of the most influential sires of our time. It is our fondest wish that he will live a long and happy retirement.”
