Unraced as a
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...
, the
stallion Top Deck (1945–1965) went on to become a famous sire of
Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse, or Quarter Horse, is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name is derived from its ability to outrun other horse breeds in races of a quarter mile or less; some have been clocked at ...
s.
Life
Top Deck was foaled in 1945 and was injured as a young
foal, preventing a racing career.
[Close and Simmons ''Legends'' pp. 118–119] His sire was a grandson of
Man o' War
Man o' War (March 29, 1917 – November 1, 1947) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who is widely regarded as the greatest racehorse of all time. Several sports publications, including ''The Blood-Horse'', ''Sports Illustrated'', ESPN, and t ...
named Equestrian. His dam was a daughter of Chicaro, a horse known for speed at the short distances.
All Breed Pedigree Database Pedigree of Top Deck
'
Breeding record
He was the sire of
Go Man Go
Go Man Go (1953–1983) was an American Quarter Horse stallion and race horse. He was named World Champion Quarter Running Horse three times in a row, one of only two horses to achieve that distinction. Go Man Go was considered to be of difficu ...
, Rebel Cause, Top Ladybug, Mighty Deck, Decketta, War Machine and
Moon Deck.
[Pitzer ''Most Influential Quarter Horse Sires'' pp. 144–145] Two of his sons were inducted into the
American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame – Go Man Go and Moon Deck.
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.
Two of his offspring earned the AQHA Supreme Champion award – Astro Deck and War Machine.
[Mattson ''Real American Quarter Horse'' pp. 25, 83] Top Deck was 20 years old when he died in 1965.
Death and Honors
Top Deck died in 1965 in
Purcell, Oklahoma
Purcell is a city in and the county seat of McClain County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 6,651.
Founded in 1887, Purcell was a railroad town named after Edward B. Purcell, who was an official with th ...
.
Top Deck was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 1990.
[
]
Pedigree
Notes
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
*
*
*
External links
Top Deck at Quarter Horse Directory
Top Deck at Quarter Horse Legends
{{authority control
American Quarter Horse sires
1945 racehorse births
1965 racehorse deaths
AQHA Hall of Fame (horses)