Unraced as a Thoroughbred, the stallion Top Deck (1945–1965) went on to become a famous sire of Quarter Horses.

Life

Top Deck was foaled in 1945 and was injured as a young foal, preventing a racing career.[1] His sire was a grandson of Man o' War named Equestrian. His dam was a daughter of Chicaro, a horse known for speed at the short distances.[2]

Breeding record

He was the sire of Go Man Go, Rebel Cause, Top Ladybug, Mighty Deck, Decketta, War Machine and Moon Deck.[3] Two of his sons were inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame – Go Man Go and Moon Deck.[4] He sired 440 Quarter Horse foals, with four AQHA Champions, 219 Race Registers of Merit, twelve Performance Registers of Merit and twenty-one Superior Race Horse awards.[1] Two of his offspring earned the AQHA Supreme Champion award – Astro Deck and War Machine.[5] Top Deck was 20 years old when he died in 1965.[4]

Death and Honors

Top Deck died in 1965 in Purcell, Oklahoma.[1]

Top Deck was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 1990.[4]

Pedigree

Peter Pan I
Pennant
*Royal Rose
Equipoise
Broomstick
Swinging
*Balancoire II
Equestrian
Fair Play
Man o' War
Mahubah
Frilette
Broomstick
*Frillery
Petticoat
Top Deck
=Spearmint
*Chicle
=Lady Hamburg II
Chicaro
Peter Pan I
Wendy
Remembrance
River Boat
*Teddy
*Sir Gallahad 3rd
=Plucky Liege
Last Boat
Man o' War
Taps
Shady

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Close and Simmons Legends pp. 118–119
  2. ^ All Breed Pedigree Database Pedigree of Top Deck
  3. ^ Pitzer Most Influential Quarter Horse Sires pp. 144–145
  4. ^ a b c American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). "Top Deck". AQHA Hall of Fame. American Quarter Horse Association. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  5. ^ Mattson Real American Quarter Horse pp. 25, 83

References

  • All Breed Pedigree Database Pedigree of Top Deck accessed on June 22, 2007
  • American Quarter Horse Foundation – Top Deck accessed on September 2, 2017
  • AQHA Hall of Fame accessed on September 2, 2017
  • Close, Pat; Simmons, Diane, eds. (1993). Legends: Outstanding Quarter Horse Stallions and Mares. Colorado Springs, CO: Western Horseman. ISBN 0-911647-26-0.
  • Mattson, Paul (1991). The Real American Quarter Horse: Versatile Athletes who proved Supreme. Wamego, KS: Premier Publishing. ISBN 1-879984-77-6.
  • Pitzer, Andrea Laycock (1987). The Most Influential Quarter Horse Sires. Tacoma, WA: Premier Pedigrees.

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