1960. SI 100. AQHA Hall of Fame Inductee, 1999.
Top Moon was bred like the great Jet Deck: Both were 1960 sons of Moon Deck and out of Barred daughters. That must have been a potent combination. Both grew up bucking and racing in the same pasture. They met up again in 1962, in the Juvenile Championship Prep trials, a long time since they had played as colts together. Jet Deck led Top Moon, but Top Moon was breathing heavily on the Jet Deck's neck. Top Moon gained, but when the finish line flashed by, it was Moon Deck who went to the winner's circle. Moon Deck produced two (2) All-American Futurity winners: Bugs Alive In 75, and Moon Lark. There was almost a third, when Lady Bug's Moon finished second to Three Oh's in 1968.
With a speed index of 100, Top Moon did all right for himself. He won at distances of 350 to 440 yards, and equaled a track record at 400 yards. He earned $40,637 before retiring as a breeding stallion. This horse produced over 1,800 foals from twenty (20) breeding seasons, a number that ranks him as one of the top AQHA producing stallions. He had over 800 race ROM earners, 19 Performance ROM earners, and four (4) race world champions.
Statistics show that Top Moon influenced barrel racing most through his sons Lady Bug's Moon and Bugs Alive In 75. Other major contributers include Bugged Moon, full brother to Bugs Alive, Moon Lark, and Joe Tee.
