Aforethought was a race-winning Thoroughbred that went on to sire stakes winners of two breeds. His story is as much about speed as it is about mare power. It began with his legendary dam, Aspidistra.
Aspidistra was bred by the Kentucky division of the famous King Ranch. She was by Better Self and out of stakes winner Tilly Rose, by Bull Brier. As a yearling, she survived a barn fire and may have suffered lung damage. Despite this, Aspidistra was able to begin her racing career at age three. She made 14 starts and won two races. In 1957, a group of employees from the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Corporation, now known as 3M, purchased Aspidistra for $6,500 as a gift to their boss William L. McKnight. She became the foundation mare for his Tartan Farms near Ocala, Florida.
From 1960 to 1977, Aspidistra produced ten winners including Perplexing, A. Deck, Chinatowner, Captivate, Highbinder, Weyand, and Auraria. Her most successful offspring included the 1968 Horse of the Year Dr. Fager and the 1969 and 1970 Champion Sprinter Ta Wee. Aforethought was the result of pairing Aspidistra to Champion Sprinter Intentionally, which made him a full-brother to Ta Wee. He was foaled on April 17th, 1963 at Tartan Farms. He had a respectable racing career with 24 starts, five wins, and earnings of $40,645. He entered stud in 1969. While his speed and pedigree made him an attractive stallion prospect, Aforethought did not receive much attention initially.
His first foal crop was unremarkable, but his second crop included track record setter Foreign Intent (TB) and All American Futurity winner Timeto Thinkrich. Timeto Thinkrich was out of Chronometer, by Tiny Charger. He won multiple stakes races and earned the titles of Champion Two-Year-Old Colt in 1973, Champion Three-Year-Old Colt in 1974, and Champion Aged Stallion in 1975. In total, Timeto Thinkrich won 15 races and earned $612,859 on the track. He also set a new track record at Fresno for 400 yards in 20 seconds flat. Timeto Thinkrich sired Denim N Diamonds, Artesia, and My Startime among many others. He was also the damsire of Sign of Lanty, Artesias Specialchic, Royal Down Dash, and Docs Keepin Time, the horse that portrayed Black Beauty and the Black Stallion.
In the years after Timeto Thinkrich won the All American Futurity, more Quarter Horse breeders brought their mares to Aforethought. In 1975, he sired his second All American Futurity winner, Hot Idea. She won the race in 1977 on her way to earning the title of Champion Two-Year-Old Filly. In total, Hot Idea won seven races and earned $374,617 on the track. Aforethought would also sire stakes winners Nanczar (TB), Snooty Cutie, I Think I Can, El Condor (TB), Shes a Thought, Bargello, Tai Wee, Regal Thought, Forethought, Mighty Thought, Wild Thought, Thought I Could and Sassy Class.
In total, Aforethought sired 830 foals in 20 foal crops. His progeny included 279 race winners, 222 ROM earners, 16 stakes and blacktype stakes winners, 15 Superior Race Award earners and two Champions with earnings totaling $3,596,737.
Aforethought was also the damsire of many race and performance horses. Perhaps the most notable barrel horse out of an Aforethought mare was Thinkin of Cash. Thinkin of Cash was by Cash Not Credit and out of Inaminute. In 1992, Kim Thomas and Thinkin of Cash won the BFA Futurity World Championship. Aforethought was said to carry the large heart gene, and is still sought after in female lines by some breeders. He has many descendants impacting the racing and barrel racing industries today. They include Jess An Idea, Fit to Fly, No Brakes Now, Tres Fortunes, and NFR competitors Dash Ta Diamonds and Prime Diamond.
Aforethought was euthanized on October 31st, 1990 at the Baker Ranch near Fort Worth, Texas. He was 27 years old and suffering from complications due to a knee injury he sustained several years earlier.
The Western Thoroughbred 
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