Registration:  ApHC #134886
Foaled:  May 17, 1969
Died:  October 23, 1999

George and Iola Hatley of Moscow, Idaho, bred and raised Apache Double. George expected something good to come of the mating of his Appaloosa mare Run Around, a double-bred daughter of Apache #F-730, to Washington State University's Thoroughbred stallion Double Reigh in 1968. But the Hatleys probably did not imagine that the resulting foal would have such an impact on the racing world, setting track records that would still be standing at the turn of the millennium. Among so many good things that George Hatley did for our horses, it is certain that the creation of this Appaloosa icon deserves placement near the top of the list.

During his three years on the track, Apache Double established a record of 18 wins and placed 3 times out of 21 starts (21-18-3-0), with earnings of more than $16,000, under the training of Joe King, of Idaho. It was Joe King who had manhandled the racing world a few years earlier with another "Apache" stallion, Apache King S.

In 1974, Iola Hatley sold Apache Double. Once again, he set another record, that of being the first Appaloosa to sell for $100,000.

Owner Bob Stoeven wrote an open letter to Appaloosa Breeders in 1982, where he talked about some of the mares he bred to Apache. Mares such as:

Waist Line (or Waistline): A $300 mare, she was unraced, but a well bred mare by Solar Slipper and out of Royal Fairy II by Royal Charger. She was the dam of 10 Thoroughbred foals, including Rewarding Figure ($25,331 won), Tout Line ($22,655), Royal Tout ($6,984), Johnny's Line ($2,276), and Attrition ($4,039). Bred to Apache Double, she produced Double R Pleasure who won $107,346.22 and was a national champion Appaloosa race mare.

Early Ride: Unraced and the dam of three TB foals, Bob said he paid $600 for her. Early Ride was the dam of Double Clutch who was a stakes winner, a world record holder and won at least $103,000. Early Ride was by Victory Morn by Nasrullah and out of Lady K Diva by Khaled. Good breeding shows.

Sudden: TB dam of Double Sudden, national champion race horse and winner of $36.258. Bob paid $742 for her.

Bob Stoeven might have been telling folks that you don't need to pay $10,000 and up for broodmares if you have the right stallion matched with certain mares, no matter their cost. They did their part to write a few pages of Appaloosa racing history.

Apache Double was a bronze medallion race winner. He set 14 world or track records, three of which he still holds, such as the record for the Portland Meadows Sweepstakes on April 25, 1973, when he ran 5 furlongs in 1:00.40, which although tied, has not been beaten. At the 1975 National Show, he was Reserve National Halter Champion stallion, placing second out of 54. He won the prestigious California Derby and 7 other stakes races.

Apache Double is the first and only Appaloosa to go over the $2 million mark in winnings of his get. He is the all time leading sire of racing appaloosas. Siring 422 Appaloosas, he has produced at least 209 starters. 134 race winners, 25 stakes winners, 44 stakes placed. His offspring have earned 62 racing registers of merit, 26 bronze racing medallions, nine championships, two supreme championships and three regional championships . Passing on his versatility, Apache Double get earned 162.5 performance points, 37.5 halter points, seven registers of merit, 28 bronze medallions, one silver medallion, one versatility championship and four superior achievement certificates. Apache Double is also a Production Plaque Winner.

Some of his get:

The great Appaloosa stallion Apache Double died on October 23, 1999, at the age of 30. Ken and Barbara Arnold of Stockton, California, owned the stallion at the time of his death.

Apache Double was inducted into the ApHC Racing Hall of Fame for the year 2001.

{Thanks to Sharon Moxley for help with information in this article. Some additional information came from an article in the Appaloosa Journal, February 2000, Vol 54, No. 12, page 62, and from an article at ApHC's web site announcing the 2001 ApHC Racing Hall of Fame inductees.}

Joe Daniels
February 2000
December 2001

Copyright © 2000-2001 All rights reserved.