Stallions who have sired more than 100 stakes winners are; Mr. Prospector, with 165 (to date) leads all sires. Nijinsky II, Northern Dancer, Danzig, Sadler's Wells, Riverman, Lyphard, Nureyev and Vice Regent. Only Riverman, who is from the Nasrullah blood line and Mr.Prospector, from the Raise A Native blood line, do not come from the blood line of Northern Dancer.
July 31, 1999 Riverman was euthanized because of complications coming from colic, he was 30 years old and had retired from stud duty in 1996. A top sire and broodmare sire, some of Riverman's best racers were Arc de Triomphe winners; Detroit and Gold River, classic winner Irish River, multiple Group I winner Bahri and probably the best known runner was Triptych. When Triptych retired (1988) she was Europe's highest money earner; $2,706,175 , she was a champion in England, France and Ireland.
Riverman's sire, Never Bend, was one of the finest son's of Nasrullah. Never Bend also sired Mill Reef who is also a well noted sire and broodmare sire. Riverman was the top broodmare sire in France in 1994 and 1996, and has ranked high in North America as well. A daughter of his, Korveya, produced Hector Protector and Shanghai, both of whom won the Poule d' Essaider Poulins. Spinning World is another of his daughters off-spring who was a champion in France and Ireland, and also won the 1997 Breeders Cup Mile (Grade I, on the turf). Erhaab (Epsom Derby) and Carnegie (Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe) were also from his daughters.
In 1980, stallion Raise A Native sired a son from a mare named Gold Digger, that foal became the all-time leader by number of stakes won by the progeny of any one horse. Mr. Prospector took the title away from Nijinsky II and leads by ten with 165 (to date, there will undoubtedly be many more to come). Mr. Prospector twice led the top sire list and top broodmare sire list with his progeny earnings exceeding $80 million.
Unraced as a two year old, it was the age of three years old Mr. Prospector set the track record at Gulfstream Park for 6.0 furlongs; 1:07 4/5 , that record still holds today. Maligned by smaller injuries his racing carreer only lasted fourteen races. Seven wins from fourteen starts.
The list of stallions that have gone on to make a name for themselves as sires is a lenghty one. Since 1990 there have been five Belmont Stakes winners that trace back to Mr. Prospector through five different sons,- Hansel, Thunder Gulch, Editor's Note, Victory Gallop, and this year, The Lemon Drop Kid.
Mr. Prospector was euthanized in his cell as Claiborne at 1:25 p.m. on June 1,(1999) because of acute peritonitis. He was 29 years old. He had shown signs of colic earlier that morning.......His condition worsened. He was buried in his entirety at the farm between Secretariat and Nijinsky II.
