Memorial for Deep Impact: Japan’s Star Stallion

This summer saw the untimely death of Japanese race horse Deep Impact, an event that sent shockwaves through the racing industry and received wide media coverage. His racing and breeding achievements are well-known (see below), but what of his performance as a sire whose occupation was mating? I caught a glimpse of the previously unreported inside story based on the testimony of staff closely associated with the facility where Deep Impact stood at stud, Shadai Stallion Station, in Abira, Hokkaidō.

Deep Impact was a horse very skilled at mating, according to the staff involved with this important task of his later career. In many cases, mating is a challenge for small-framed sires like he was, so there were some concerns when he first arrived at Shadai. The majority of broodmares he partnered with were taller than him, and typically with well-fleshed hindquarters, which required difficult angle-adjustment in order to align the genitals of the couple. In such situations, farm workers usually stack up some tatami mats for the stallion to stand on to adjust the height, but this can cause some stallions to have trouble focusing on the task at hand, as well as leading to accidents in some cases when the sire loses his balance.

The staff report having had no problems with Deep Impact, though. Specifically, he had good hip flexibility for mounting. For this reason, no matter how tall his partner, he was able to accommodate her smoothly. Actually, notes one farm worker, extending the hips in this way is extremely challenging for horses. To begin with, they need to have good flexibility. In order to extend at the hips, it is essential for all parts from the hock joint (the largest joint of the hind legs) to the tip of the hoof to be supple and to work in unison.

In addition, says the staff member, it is crucial that the horse have an exceptional sense of balance. Even humans find it difficult to balance on tip-toes for any length of time—and moreover, engaging in strenuous physical activity in such an unstable posture usually results in wobbly legs. Recently, “core training” has enjoyed a boom in the fitness world, and one secret to Deep Impact’s success was probably his firm core. Consequently, he never showed signs of tiredness.

In terms of technique, state the farm staff, he was probably the most adept sire they had seen since Northern Taste (1971–2004). The stud staff were also quite impressed in how such circumstances revealed the quality of his reflexes.

One remarkable aspect about Deep Impact, they explain, was that he was always extremely relaxed when he entered the mating area, but when the time came, he could instantly rise to the occasion just like a switch had been flicked. He was quite a playboy, they say, wasting neither energy nor time. He performed his business smoothly, and when he was done, he would exit as though nothing had happened. In this regard, he acted like a true professional.

Breeding is always accompanied by risks, but staff reminiscing about Deep Impact said they did not recall ever having any trouble. In this regard, he was also an outstanding achiever.

(Originally published in Japanese. Banner photo: After retiring from Chūō Keiba, Deep Impact stood as a sire at the Shadai Stallion Station in Abira, Hokkaidō. This photo, taken on February 14, 2007, was his first public appearance in two months. © Jiji.)