

SARGA.CO – His name was taken from the iconic fortress in Bukittinggi. Towering in stature, powerful in stride, and carrying the bloodline of winners, he was Fort De Kock. The most legendary stallion in Indonesia’s horse-racing history—especially in West Sumatra—passed away at the age of 19 on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
Fort De Kock arrived in Indonesia in 2008, purchased by the Bukittinggi city government through then–Mayor Djufri for the remarkable price of Rp800 million (around USD 50,000 at the time).
Standing a proud 170 cm tall, the Australian-bred stallion possessed outstanding physical traits and genetics. He was immediately appointed as the city’s primary breeding sire, the only government-owned stallion dedicated to improving the bloodlines of local racehorses.
From his stable came a lineage of champions, including the famous Romantic Spartan, now an icon at racing events across West Sumatra and the national circuit.
Through his offspring, Fort De Kock helped put Bukittinggi firmly on Indonesia’s horse-racing map. According to prominent breeder and equine analyst Oskar Mentoih, the stallion’s genetic value could now reach Rp2.5 billion—not merely for his physique, but for the enduring legacy he left behind.
Two weeks before his death, Fort De Kock showed signs of persistent fever. Laboratory tests revealed elevated hemoglobin levels and swelling in his legs. Despite intensive care—including intravenous fluids—his condition steadily declined.
His passing prompted former mayor Djufri to visit the Bukittinggi Agricultural Office to pay his final respects. To him, Fort De Kock was more than a government asset; he was a remarkable figure who helped transform the region’s horse-racing scene.
Today, though his body is gone, Fort De Kock’s legacy keeps running in the veins of his progeny. Each time a West Sumatran racehorse thunders down the track, it is as if Fort De Kock gallops alongside them—not as a competitor, but as the very source of their strength and glory.
Fort De Kock may have left this world, but his bloodline continues to race on.
(Various Sources)
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