My reflections of A.P. Indy bring me back to a very happy time in my life just after high school graduation. Although I wasn't privileged to see him grace the track in person as many other greats, I remember all the drama of his 1992 Derby morning scratch (precursor to "Dawn at the Downs" live show from Churchill Downs). His late scratch led to one of my favorite childhood horses from Oaklawn Park - Lil E. Tee - storming past Arazi on the far turn to give Pat Day his first and only Derby victory. I also recall A.P. Indy's ever-present low-head stride underneath Eddie D. roll in the Belmont Stakes and that dark, glistening coat split horses in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Gulfstream Park en route to deserved Champion Horse of the Year honors.
After his racing days ended (in which he just happened to cover his $2.9 million purchase price in purse earnings from 8 of 11 victories for owner Tomonori Tsurumaki + breeding deal), his name would appear with regularity in all the BloodHorse stud registries I've perused through the decades and Equibase breeding charts from weekly stakes races where his progeny showed up about 13% of the time (roughly same as contemporary top sire Storm Cat, who also died in his 30th year). Both A.P. and Storm Cat topped the leading sire list twice and also led the broodmare sire list. A.P. Indy was credited with 88 graded stakes winners (a few shy of Storm Cat) and 12 category champions. He was piloted with aplomb under the Hall of Fame Louisiana native Eddie Delahoussaye, who bested quality runners and future sires Pleasant Tap, Strike the Gold, Bertrando, Pine Bluff, Marquetry and Twilight Agenda during his two quality seasons gracing the oval.
A.P. Indy was larger than life in my world, and he backed up his lofty presence the one and only time I visited him at Lane's End Farm in the fall of 2015. Actually, I was there to view current stallions but the son of Secretariat's greatest offspring - Weekend Surprise - was being pulled out of his far right corner stall to have his hooves worked on (a frequent occurrence for Indy's bad feet). Catching his majestic, golden silhouette off to the right, I ditched the stud show to spend a few moments at a respectful distance from his handler/groom Asa Haley and the farrier that knew him all too well. Who had time to see Candy Ride, Mineshaft and Lemon Drop Kid when the Muhammad Ali of race horses was just yards away?!
A.P. was a consummate professional standing while being cared for, with his sunken back and heavy barrel seeming at ease. The one thing that struck me was how the white in his eye was ever vigilant -- flush with intelligence. Begrudgingly having to part his presence, it was reassuring seeing him trotting in his turn-out paddock as our group was dispersing. One of the greatest U.S. stallions of my generation was still very much enjoying his life in the Bluegrass at an advanced age with all the comforts of the only home at Lane's End that he'd known for nearly 25 years. Not every horse receives that luxury, but each horse certainly deserves it. Let the memory of A.P. Indy inspire us all to do what we can to assist retired horses, especially senior horses living out their final days. Run in peace, Champ! You may be gone, but your legacy will never be forgotten.
Eric Kordsmeier
@DerbyTalk
