Bold Ruler
Encyclopedia
Bold Ruler was an American
Thoroughbred
Hall of Fame
racehorse.
Bred by the Wheatley Stable
of Gladys Mills Phipps
, Bold Ruler was foaled on April 6, 1954 at Claiborne Farm
in Paris, Kentucky
to Nasrullah and Miss Disco by Discovery. In an interesting coincidence, he and Round Table
were foaled on the same night at Claiborne, and both returned to stand at stud there after their racing careers. He was trained by Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons
, and was regularly ridden by Eddie Arcaro
.
As a three-year-old, Bold Ruler won the 1957 Flamingo Stakes
while breaking a track record, and then won the Wood Memorial Stakes
. In the U.S. Triple Crown races
, Bold Ruler went off as the heavy 6:5 favorite in the Kentucky Derby
, but faded down the homestretch after fighting Arcaro's restraint. He finished fourth behind longshot winner Iron Liege
and future Hall of Famers Gallant Man
(which was mistakenly pulled up at the 16th pole by jockey Bill Shoemaker) and Round Table
. In the Preakness Stakes
, Bold Ruler bounced back to win convincingly. In the Belmont Stakes
, Bold Ruler finished third after he was forced through exceptionally fast early fractions by Gallant Man
's rabbit. Gallant Man
set a new stakes record that day that remained until Bold Ruler's son Secretariat
broke it in 1973. He went on to win other important races, and his performances that year earned him the U.S. 3-Yr-Old Champion Male
, Champion Sprinter, and Horse of the Year
honors.
, where he sired 11 champions, including Hall of Famers Gamely
and Secretariat
. Bold Ruler is also the grandsire of Bold Forbes
, Foolish Pleasure
, Hall of Fame fillies Ruffian
and Bold 'n Determined
, as well as Spectacular Bid
. He is great-grandsire of Seattle Slew
. He was the Leading sire in North America
for seven straight years between 1963 and 1969. Bold Ruler was the sire of two good sons with the same name, one in America, Bold Lad
, who was the 1966 American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt and one in England, Bold Lad II
, who was bred and raced by Gladys Phipps' sister, Beatrice.
Bold Ruler's champions:
He was also the sire of a great colt by the name of Reviewer
and which Reviewer sired the great Queen Of The Fillies and Filly Of The Century Ruffian
out of Shenanigans
.
Bold Ruler died from cancer at Claiborne Farm
in July, 1971, and is interred there. In 1973, he was posthumously inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
. Bold Ruler was listed at No.19 in the Blood-Horse magazine ranking of the top 100 United States thoroughbred horse racing champions of the 20th century.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
racehorse.
Bred by the Wheatley Stable
Wheatley Stable
Wheatley Stable was the nom de course for the thoroughbred horse racing partnership formed by Gladys Mills Phipps and her brother, Ogden L. Mills. The horses were raised at Claiborne Farm near Paris, Kentucky.-History:...
of Gladys Mills Phipps
Gladys Mills Phipps
Gladys Livingston Mills Phipps was an United States socialite, sportsperson, and a thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder who began the Phipps family dynasty in American horse racing...
, Bold Ruler was foaled on April 6, 1954 at Claiborne Farm
Claiborne Farm
Claiborne Farm is a thoroughbred Horse breeding operation in near Paris, Kentucky. It was established in 1910, by Arthur B. Hancock, owner of Ellerslie Farm in Albemarle County, Virginia, and has been operated by members of his family ever since.-Owners:...
in Paris, Kentucky
Paris, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,183 people, 3,857 households, and 2,487 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,222 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 84.23% White, 12.71% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16%...
to Nasrullah and Miss Disco by Discovery. In an interesting coincidence, he and Round Table
Round Table (horse)
Round Table was an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse. He is considered the greatest turf horse in American racing history. He was foaled at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, on the night of April 6, 1954...
were foaled on the same night at Claiborne, and both returned to stand at stud there after their racing careers. He was trained by Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons
Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons
James Edward Fitzsimmons was a thoroughbred racehorse trainer.Born in Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn, New York, Fitzsimmons began his career in 1885 working at a racetrack as a stable boy. After nearly ten less-than-successful years as a thoroughbred jockey, he became too heavy for that job and took...
, and was regularly ridden by Eddie Arcaro
Eddie Arcaro
George Edward Arcaro , known professionally as Eddie Arcaro, was an American Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey who won more American classic races than any other jockey in history and is the only rider to have won the U.S. Triple Crown twice...
.
As a three-year-old, Bold Ruler won the 1957 Flamingo Stakes
Flamingo Stakes
The Flamingo Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually in March at the Hialeah Park Race Track in Hialeah, Florida. Run over a distance of nine furlongs, the inaugural race took place in 1926 at the Tampa, Florida racetrack...
while breaking a track record, and then won the Wood Memorial Stakes
Wood Memorial Stakes
The Wood Memorial Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Jamaica, New York. It is currently a Grade I race run over a distance of 9 furlongs on dirt....
. In the U.S. Triple Crown races
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
, Bold Ruler went off as the heavy 6:5 favorite in the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
, but faded down the homestretch after fighting Arcaro's restraint. He finished fourth behind longshot winner Iron Liege
Iron Liege
Iron Liege was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1957 Kentucky Derby. A son of Calumet Farm's leading sire Bull Lea, and out of the mare Iron Maiden, his damsire was the 1937 U.S...
and future Hall of Famers Gallant Man
Gallant Man
Gallant Man was a thoroughbred racehorse, named for a horse in a Don Ameche movie.- Career at Kentucky Derby:Gallant Man is remembered primarily for his upset loss in the 1957 Kentucky Derby...
(which was mistakenly pulled up at the 16th pole by jockey Bill Shoemaker) and Round Table
Round Table (horse)
Round Table was an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse. He is considered the greatest turf horse in American racing history. He was foaled at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, on the night of April 6, 1954...
. In the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
, Bold Ruler bounced back to win convincingly. In the Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
, Bold Ruler finished third after he was forced through exceptionally fast early fractions by Gallant Man
Gallant Man
Gallant Man was a thoroughbred racehorse, named for a horse in a Don Ameche movie.- Career at Kentucky Derby:Gallant Man is remembered primarily for his upset loss in the 1957 Kentucky Derby...
's rabbit. Gallant Man
Gallant Man
Gallant Man was a thoroughbred racehorse, named for a horse in a Don Ameche movie.- Career at Kentucky Derby:Gallant Man is remembered primarily for his upset loss in the 1957 Kentucky Derby...
set a new stakes record that day that remained until Bold Ruler's son Secretariat
Secretariat (horse)
Secretariat was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, that in 1973 became the first U.S. Triple Crown champion in 25 years, setting new race records in two of the three events in the Series—the Kentucky Derby , and the Belmont Stakes —records that still stand today.Secretariat was sired by Bold...
broke it in 1973. He went on to win other important races, and his performances that year earned him the U.S. 3-Yr-Old Champion Male
Eclipse Award for Outstanding 3-Year-Old Male Horse
The American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971....
, Champion Sprinter, and Horse of the Year
Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year
The American Award for Horse of the Year is the highest honor given in American thoroughbred horse racing. It has been awarded since 1887 to the horse, irrespective of age, whose performance during the racing year is deemed the most outstanding....
honors.
A Champion Sire
After a short campaign at age four, Bold Ruler retired to stud at Claiborne FarmClaiborne Farm
Claiborne Farm is a thoroughbred Horse breeding operation in near Paris, Kentucky. It was established in 1910, by Arthur B. Hancock, owner of Ellerslie Farm in Albemarle County, Virginia, and has been operated by members of his family ever since.-Owners:...
, where he sired 11 champions, including Hall of Famers Gamely
Gamely (horse)
Gamely was a Thoroughbred race horse bred and born at Claiborne Farm outside Paris, Kentucky. Gamely's dam was the stakes-winning mare Gambetta, and her sire was the great sire Bold Ruler. Gambetta's dam, Rough Shod II, also produced the splendid filly Moccasin, the fine colt Ridan, and Lt....
and Secretariat
Secretariat (horse)
Secretariat was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, that in 1973 became the first U.S. Triple Crown champion in 25 years, setting new race records in two of the three events in the Series—the Kentucky Derby , and the Belmont Stakes —records that still stand today.Secretariat was sired by Bold...
. Bold Ruler is also the grandsire of Bold Forbes
Bold Forbes
Bold Forbes was a champion thoroughbred racehorse, winner of the 1976 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.-Beginnings:...
, Foolish Pleasure
Foolish Pleasure
Foolish Pleasure is an American bay thoroughbred race horse who was born in Williston, Florida. He was one of the top three three-year-old colts of his time....
, Hall of Fame fillies Ruffian
Ruffian (horse)
Ruffian was an American champion thoroughbred racehorse. Ruffian is considered by many to be the greatest female racehorse in history. Ruffian is among the greatest U.S. racehorses of all time. Her story was told in 2007 film Ruffian.- Career :An almost coal black filly of 16 and a half hands,...
and Bold 'n Determined
Bold 'n Determined
Bold 'n Determined , was an American Thoroughbred race horse born and bred in Kentucky. Her dam was the unraced mare Pidi, by Determine. Determine won the 1954 Kentucky Derby. Her sire was Bold And Brave by the great Bold Ruler...
, as well as Spectacular Bid
Spectacular Bid
Spectacular Bid was an American Thoroughbred race horse. "The Bid" as he was known was one of the most dominant gallopers of his time...
. He is great-grandsire of Seattle Slew
Seattle Slew
Seattle Slew was an American Thoroughbred race horse who won the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing in 1977, the tenth of eleven horses to accomplish the feat. He remains the only horse to win the Triple Crown while undefeated. In the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S...
. He was the Leading sire in North America
Leading sire in North America
The list below shows the leading sire of Thoroughbred racehorses in North America for each year since 1830. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won by the sire's progeny during the year...
for seven straight years between 1963 and 1969. Bold Ruler was the sire of two good sons with the same name, one in America, Bold Lad
Bold Lad
Bold Lad was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred and raced by Gladys Phipps and her brother Ogden L. Mills under their Wheatley Stable banner. His sire was eight time Leading sire in North America, Bold Ruler and his dam was the racing mare Misty Morn,Trained by Bill Winfrey,...
, who was the 1966 American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt and one in England, Bold Lad II
Bold Lad II
Bold Lad II was a Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by American-born Beatrice Mills Forbes, 8th Countess of Granard, sister of Gladys Mills Phipps and Ogden L. Mills who owned his sire, Bold Ruler...
, who was bred and raced by Gladys Phipps' sister, Beatrice.
Bold Ruler's champions:
- Bold BidderBold BidderBold Bidder was an American Thoroughbred racehorse.-Background:Bred by the Wheatley Stable partnership of Gladys Mills Phipps and her brother, Ogden L. Mills, Bold Bidder was sired by their very great stallion Bold Ruler, an eight-time Leading sire in North America and U.S. Racing Hall of Fame...
(b. 1962) - American Co-champion Older Male Horse (1966) - Lamb ChopLamb Chop (horse)Lamb Chop was an American Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. Bred by Bull Hancock's renowned Claiborne Farm, she was sired by the great Bold Ruler, an eight-time Leading sire in North America and grandson of Nearco. Her dam, Sheepsfoot, was a daughter of the 1943 U.S...
(b. 1963) - American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly - Bold LadBold LadBold Lad was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred and raced by Gladys Phipps and her brother Ogden L. Mills under their Wheatley Stable banner. His sire was eight time Leading sire in North America, Bold Ruler and his dam was the racing mare Misty Morn,Trained by Bill Winfrey,...
(b. 1962) - American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt - Queen Empress (b. 1962) - American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly
- GamelyGamely (horse)Gamely was a Thoroughbred race horse bred and born at Claiborne Farm outside Paris, Kentucky. Gamely's dam was the stakes-winning mare Gambetta, and her sire was the great sire Bold Ruler. Gambetta's dam, Rough Shod II, also produced the splendid filly Moccasin, the fine colt Ridan, and Lt....
(b. 1964) - American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly, American Champion Older Female Horse (1968–69), Hall of FameNational Museum of Racing and Hall of FameThe National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
(1980) - Bold Lad IIBold Lad IIBold Lad II was a Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by American-born Beatrice Mills Forbes, 8th Countess of Granard, sister of Gladys Mills Phipps and Ogden L. Mills who owned his sire, Bold Ruler...
(b. 1964) - English Champion Two-Year-Old Colt (1966), Irish Champion Two-Year-Old Colt (1966) - SuccessorSuccessor (horse)Successor was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred and raced by Gladys Phipps and her brother Ogden L. Mills under their Wheatley Stable banner...
(b. 1964) - American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt - Queen of the Stage (b. 1965) - American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly
- Vitriolic (b. 1965) - American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt
- SecretariatSecretariat (horse)Secretariat was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, that in 1973 became the first U.S. Triple Crown champion in 25 years, setting new race records in two of the three events in the Series—the Kentucky Derby , and the Belmont Stakes —records that still stand today.Secretariat was sired by Bold...
(b. 1970) - 9th U.S. Triple Crown ChampionUnited States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred RacingIn the United States, the "Triple Crown" is usually the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a series of three Thoroughbred horse races for three-year-old horses run in May and early June of each year consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.While Daily Racing Form...
American Horse of the Year (1972–73), 1972 Champion 2 Year old Colt, 1973 Champion 3 year old colt, 1973 American Turf Horse of the Year, Hall of Fame - WajimaWajima (horse)Wajima was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred by Bull Hancock's renowned Claiborne Farm of Paris, Kentucky. He was out of the French mare Iskra, a daughter of Le Haar, the Leading sire in France in 1963. Wajima was a son of one of America's greatest sires, Bold Ruler...
(b. 1972) - American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse
He was also the sire of a great colt by the name of Reviewer
Reviewer (horse)
Reviewer was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known as the sire of the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame filly, Ruffian.Foaled in Kentucky, the dark bay colt was owned and bred by Ogden Phipps. A son of Bold Ruler, the very important Champion sire, his damsire Hasty Road won the 1954 Preakness...
and which Reviewer sired the great Queen Of The Fillies and Filly Of The Century Ruffian
Ruffian (horse)
Ruffian was an American champion thoroughbred racehorse. Ruffian is considered by many to be the greatest female racehorse in history. Ruffian is among the greatest U.S. racehorses of all time. Her story was told in 2007 film Ruffian.- Career :An almost coal black filly of 16 and a half hands,...
out of Shenanigans
Shenanigans (horse)
Shenanigans was an American thoroughbred mare born in Kentucky. She was sired by Native Dancer and out of the Locust Hill foundation mare Bold Irish. Owner Janney once recalled, "Shenanigans was meant to be a good mare, she had speed and she was second to Miss Spin in the Maryland Futurity, but she...
.
Bold Ruler died from cancer at Claiborne Farm
Claiborne Farm
Claiborne Farm is a thoroughbred Horse breeding operation in near Paris, Kentucky. It was established in 1910, by Arthur B. Hancock, owner of Ellerslie Farm in Albemarle County, Virginia, and has been operated by members of his family ever since.-Owners:...
in July, 1971, and is interred there. In 1973, he was posthumously inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
. Bold Ruler was listed at No.19 in the Blood-Horse magazine ranking of the top 100 United States thoroughbred horse racing champions of the 20th century.