by Sarah Mace
American Standard, a 32-year-old stallion by In Reality out of Too Bald, died on July 21, 2012 due to the infirmities of old age at Dutchess Views Farm in Pine Plains, where he stood at stud from 1999 until he was pensioned after the 2004 breeding season.
Michael Lischin, co-owner of Dutchess Views, said, “I do not remember American Standard having one sick day in his 32 years of life. He was a smart, happy, character of a horse that always looked and acted years younger than he was. We are glad he was healthy and active right up until the day he died. We are thankful to have had the opportunity to stand him as a stallion and then to care for him during his many years as a pensioner”.
A $1 million yearling purchase at Keeneland in 1980, American Standard was out of Too Bald, a stakes-winning daughter of Bald Eagle, who produced graded black type winners Exceller, Capote and Vaguely Hidden and was named Broodmare of the Year in 1986.
At stud American Standard was one of the last active sons of In Reality. He produced over 50 percent 2-year-old winners from starters, and sired, among others, Georgia-bred Bluesthestandard, a multiple graded stakes winner and runner up in the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Sprint ($1,041,618), American Royale, a multiple graded stakes winner, and El Teenico N., a 3-year-old champion in the Dominican Republic.
American Standard has been buried on Dutchess Views Farm, under a tree by the paddock where he went out every day for the past 15 years.
To all at dutchesview farm..I was so saddened to here about American Standards death. He what giuite a sire and I was luckey to own one of his beautiful progeny Great South Bay. He will be truly missed. Yours truly Ellen Brayshaw