Horse of the Year Mineshaft (A.P. Indy) has been retired from stud duty at the age of 26, and will be pensioned at Lane's End, the farm announced Monday morning.
In excellent health as he transitions to the newest stage of his life, Mineshaft wraps a breeding career which saw him garner acclaim as one of the leading sons of the great A.P. Indy, including being named a top five general sire in 2024 and a top 20 lifetime active sire.
Bred and campaigned by Bill Farish, James Elkins Jr., and W. Temple Webber Jr., he began his racing career in England as a juvenile in the shed row of John Gosden, but was returned to the U.S. after showing a strong affinity for the dirt.
Moved to Neil Howard, Mineshaft would go on to win four races at the highest level as a four-year-old, namely the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, GI Pimlico Special, GI Suburban Handicap, and GI Woodward Stakes. Off of that season, he was named the Horse of the Year and champion older male and was retired to a stud career which spanned over two decades.
From 20 crops to his credit, Mineshaft's progeny have earned over $101-million in purses with some of his top horses including G1 Saudi Cup hero Senor Buscador–who accounts for over $12-million of that tally–who now stands at the same farm and will carry his sire's banner. His eight Grade I winners include the late Effinex; MGISW It's Tricky, dam of MGSW & GISP Enticed (Medaglia d'Oro); True Timber; Dialed In, himself among leading sires; Discreetly Mine, who stands in Uruguay; Weep No More, a producer of winners in Japan; and Bond Holder.
“Mineshaft is a tremendous horse in all aspects–a champion racehorse and a top sire,” said Lane's End president, Bill Farish. “We are so pleased that he is retiring from stud in wonderful health and will enjoy a long retirement at his birthplace.”
“Mineshaft means so much to our family and to the farm. When he arrived home at Lane's End following his retirement from racing, literally everyone on the farm gathered at the stallion barn to celebrate his accomplishments and to welcome him home. He is a very special horse.”
Mineshaft is the son of 2003 Broodmare of the Year Prospector's Delite (Mr. Prospector), who was a multiple Grade I winner in her time as a racehorse and only gilded her page during her second career as a broodmare. The GI Kentucky Oaks-placed mare was responsible not just for Mineshaft, but his multiple Grade I winning full-sister Tomisue's Delight, who in turn went on to produce GISW Mr. Sidney (Storm Cat). His full-brother MSW & GSP Rock Slide went on to a stallion career as did his half-brother Monashee Mountain (Danzig).
This is the extended female family of 'TDN Rising Star' MGSW Be Your Best (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}); MGSW & GISP Revolutionary (War Pass); MSW Rated by Merit (Battalion Runner); and GISW Dickinson (Medaglia d'Oro).
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