Incredible Abe Passes
Trot Insider has learned that former World Champion racehorse and sire Incredible Abe was euthanized last week at the age of 20
.
Born on February 12 - the same day as his namesake Abraham Lincoln - Incredible Abe had an incredible story behind him. Raised by Morris Feldman in St. Lazare, Quebec, Incredible Abe cut his right front knee as a yearling and nearly bled to death had the gash not been noticed by one of Feldman's neighbours. Requiring numerous stitches, Feldman kept the Crowning Point yearling thinking he wouldn't get much for him. Before shipping the colt to Florida with trainer Normand Dessureault, Feldman received a call from the police that Incredible Abe had escaped his paddock and was running loose on the streets of St. Lazare.
Sending the colt to Florida didn't keep Incredible Abe out of trouble. One night the colt got himself tangled in a stall gate, flipped it upside down and needed 10 people to get him free. This incident re-injured that knee and prompted Feldman to not stake the horse to two of harness racing's more lucrative stakes for freshman trotters - the Peter Haughton and the Breeders Crown. Despite that, Incredible Abe healed incredibly well and posted 11 wins as a freshman in 15 tries, dominating the New York Sire Stakes circuit before moving on to Grand Circuit competition and winning the Matron at Pompano Park.
At three, Incredible Abe competed with an extremely deep division racing against the likes of Victory Dream, Mr Lavec, Bullville Victory and Wesgate Crown. While inconsistent over the early part of the season, Incredible Abe finished the year with a bang. His major wins included the $400,000 Breeders Crown (in track and stakes record time), Europe's three-year-old classic, the $370,000 Orsi Mangelli (also in track and stakes record time), the Bluegrass and a scintillating 1:55.4h world record performance at Delaware County Fairgrounds. Incredible Abe retired with $939,742 in earnings and a mark of 1:54.1.
As a stallion, Incredible Abe left his mark in Ontario and New York with the likes of the durable Monte Hall and OSS graduate and former world record holder Abbey Road C. His offspring earned more than $12 million with 68 taking a mark of 2:00 or better.
Feldman told Trot Insider that Incredible Abe was put down in New York, where he was standing and still actively breeding.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Incredible Abe.
Had the pleasure to work
Had the pleasure to work with Abe before he left Ontario's breeding industry. Very much a gentlemen of a stallion who always presented himself with class in and out of the breeding shed. Was a personal favourite to work with. Sorry to hear of his passing.
Jon Nash
My Condolence Mr Feldman, A
My Condolence Mr Feldman, A few years ago I too was blessed to have stood this Incredible Stallion at my stables here in Quebec. Incredible Abe was a Beautiful Big Horse, a gentile horse to work with, very smart and easy going, he was special! His yearlings are also Beautiful animals, With good temperaments!
Yes I too fell in love with him, It was very hard to see him leave our farm, but even harder to hear of his passing.
Incredible Abe will be missed, but never forgotten !