Mineshaft (foaled May 17, 1999, inKentucky) is a multi-millionaireAmericanthoroughbredracehorse and successfulstallion. He was sired by 1992U.S. Horse of the Year andU.S. Racing Hall of Fame inducteeA.P. Indy, who in turn was a son of 1977U.S. Triple Crown winnerSeattle Slew. His dam, Prospectors Delite, is by leading North American sireMr. Prospector. Bred and owned by the partnership ofWilliam S. Farish III, W. Temple Webber, Jr. and James Elkins, Mineshaft is a product ofLane's End Farm. He finished racing with a record of 10–3–1 in 18 starts and career earnings of $2,283,402.^[1]

Trained by Classic-winning trainerJohn Gosden, Mineshaft began his career racing on turf in Great Britain. Unraced at two, he won a mile maiden atNewmarket on his second start as a three-year-old. He failed to win another race in Great Britain but placed third in the Group ThreePrix Daphnis in France. His record in Britain was 3-1-1 in seven starts, with annual earnings of $73,716.

Following his seven runs in Great Britain, Mineshaft was transferred to the United States as a three-year-old and moved to the barn of Neil J. Howard. In his North American debut, he won an allowance race by 31⁄2 lengths at a mile and 70 yards atFair Grounds Race Course in 1:38.97. He finished 2002 with another allowance score at a mile atChurchill Downs in 1:36.2.

With his late success, Mineshaft remained in the U.S. at age four. He started the year atFair Grounds Race Course in the winter and won the $75,000 Diplomat Way Handicap at8+1⁄2 furlongs in 1:43.8. Mineshaft followed that up with a runner-up finish in the $125,000 Grade III Whirlaway Handicap, losing to Balto Star. He then won the $500,000 Grade IINew Orleans Handicap at nine furlongs in 1:48.9, by 31⁄2 lengths before shipping to Kentucky to win the $100,000 Grade IIIBen Ali Stakes atKeeneland by nine lengths in a time of 1:48.52.^[2]

Then Mineshaft ran in the $600,000 Grade IPimlico Special Handicap at "Old Hilltop" inBaltimore, Maryland. A field of nine faced 6-5 favorite Mineshaft and Triple Crown veteran Balto Star, who was sent off at 4–1. When the gate opened, Balto Star was sent to the front and led the field through the first half mile, setting fractions of 23.1 and 46.7 over the sloppy track. The 7–2 second choice, Western Pride, stalked him in second and inherited the lead when Balto Star dropped out of contention, going 3/4 miles in 1:11. Turning for home, Mineshaft, who had stalked the pace saving ground early, was eased out three wide on the far turn and passed Western Pride after a mile in 1:36 to win going away by 33⁄4 lengths in a final time of 1:56.16. It was a head back to 42–1 longshot Judge's Case in third.

Among his victories later that year, Mineshaft won three straight Grade I races atBelmont Park in New York. He started by winning the $500,000Grade ISuburban Handicap by 21⁄4 lengths, beatingVolponi, Dollar Bill, andEvening Attire. His next victory came in the $500,000Woodward Stakes by 41⁄2 lengths over Hold That Tiger and Puzzlement. Then he won the $1 millionJockey Club Gold Cup, again beatingEvening Attire, this time by 41⁄2 lengths, and ensuring hisUnited States Horse of the Year honors. He finished the year with a record of 7–2–0 in nine starts and earnings of $2,209,686.^[3]

Mineshaft was retired from racing in October 2003 due to an injury in his right front ankle sustained after the Jockey Club Gold Cup. He stood atLane's End Farm for his entire stud career, initially for a fee of $100,000.^[4] He stood for $10,000 in 2025.^[5]

Mineshaft was retired from stud duty following the 2025 breeding season.^[4]

c =colt, f =filly, g =gelding

• Pedigree & Partial Stats
• TB Times Stallion Directory Mineshaft

• 1999 racehorse births
• American Grade 1 Stakes winners
• American Thoroughbred Horse of the Year
• Eclipse Award winners
• Racehorses bred in Kentucky
• Racehorses trained in the United States
• Thoroughbred family 1-x

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata