Jim Bolger (racehorse trainer)
Encyclopedia
James S. "Jim" Bolger is an Thoroughbred
racehorse
trainer
and breeder
based in Coolcullen in County Kilkenny
. For many years now he has been recognised as one of the racing greats in Ireland. Aidan O'Brien
, Tony McCoy
and Paul Carberry
were all apprenticed to him before going on to even greater things.
During the 2006 flat season he trained Teofilo to go unbeaten at the age of two. This five race unbeaten streak included victories in the Group 1 National Stakes
and Dewhurst Stakes
. Talk of an English Triple Crown
bid was imminent but Teofilo suffered a career ending injury in the lead up to the 2,000 Guineas and never saw a racecourse again. Bolger was criticized for his handling of this situation.
2007 saw another Bolger-bred star emerge in the shape of New Approach
. He followed exactly the same path as Teofilo during his two year old career and again was unbeaten. In 2008 Bolger informed the public that New Approach would go to Newmarket for the Guineas followed by a trip to the Curragh
for the Irish 2,000 Guineas and then on for a tilt at the Irish Derby. New Approach could only finish second in both Guineas, however, behind the Ballydoyle trained Henrythenavigator
. It then emerged that at the latest Epsom Derby
forfeit stage New Approach's name had been left in by mistake. However, a week later Bolger revealed that his horse would go to Epsom after all, which led to much criticism from punters and bookmakers alike. His decision, however, to run New Approach proved to be the right one when the colt won the Derby by a half length beating the Sir Michael Stoute
trained Tartan Bearer.
Ireland
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France
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Great Britain
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Hong Kong
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Italy
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...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
and breeder
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
based in Coolcullen in County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
. For many years now he has been recognised as one of the racing greats in Ireland. Aidan O'Brien
Aidan O'Brien
Aidan Patrick O'Brien is an Irish horse racing trainer. Since 1996, he has been the private trainer at Ballydoyle Stables near Cashel in County Tipperary for John Magnier and his Coolmore Stud associates....
, Tony McCoy
Tony McCoy
Anthony Peter McCoy OBE , commonly known as A. P. McCoy or Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish horse racing jockey....
and Paul Carberry
Paul Carberry
Paul Carberry is an Irish National Hunt jockey.- Background :He was born on 9 February 1974. He hails from a racing family. He is the son of jockey Tommy Carberry, who was a famous National Hunt jockey in the 1960s and 1970s. His uncle is Arthur Moore, one of Ireland's leading National Hunt trainers...
were all apprenticed to him before going on to even greater things.
During the 2006 flat season he trained Teofilo to go unbeaten at the age of two. This five race unbeaten streak included victories in the Group 1 National Stakes
National Stakes
The National Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September....
and Dewhurst Stakes
Dewhurst Stakes
The Dewhurst Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.The event was established in 1875, and it...
. Talk of an English Triple Crown
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...
bid was imminent but Teofilo suffered a career ending injury in the lead up to the 2,000 Guineas and never saw a racecourse again. Bolger was criticized for his handling of this situation.
2007 saw another Bolger-bred star emerge in the shape of New Approach
New Approach
New Approach is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and active stallion. He won the 2008 Epsom Derby, and was rated the best racehorse in the world in the 2008 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings....
. He followed exactly the same path as Teofilo during his two year old career and again was unbeaten. In 2008 Bolger informed the public that New Approach would go to Newmarket for the Guineas followed by a trip to the Curragh
Curragh Racecourse
The Curragh Racecourse, usually abbreviated to The Curragh, is Ireland's most important Thoroughbred race track. It is situated on the Curragh plain near Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland.- History :...
for the Irish 2,000 Guineas and then on for a tilt at the Irish Derby. New Approach could only finish second in both Guineas, however, behind the Ballydoyle trained Henrythenavigator
Henrythenavigator
Henrythenavigator is an American-bred and Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He won the 2,000 Guineas, the Irish 2,000 Guineas, the St...
. It then emerged that at the latest Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
forfeit stage New Approach's name had been left in by mistake. However, a week later Bolger revealed that his horse would go to Epsom after all, which led to much criticism from punters and bookmakers alike. His decision, however, to run New Approach proved to be the right one when the colt won the Derby by a half length beating the Sir Michael Stoute
Michael Stoute
Sir Michael Ronald Stoute is a Barbadian British thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Stoute, whose father was the Chief of police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assistant to trainer Pat Rohan and began training horses on his own in 1972...
trained Tartan Bearer.
Major training wins
IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
- Irish 1,000 Guineas - (1) - Finsceal BeoFinsceal BeoFinsceal Beo is a European champion thoroughbred racehorse.She is one of only two horses ever to win both the Irish 1,000 Guineas and the English 1,000 Guineas...
(2007) - Irish Champion StakesIrish Champion StakesThe Irish Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.-History:The event was established in 1976, and...
- (2) - Park Express (1986), New ApproachNew ApproachNew Approach is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and active stallion. He won the 2008 Epsom Derby, and was rated the best racehorse in the world in the 2008 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings....
(2008) - Irish Derby - (1) - St JoviteSt JoviteSt Jovite is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred and raced by American Virginia Kraft Payson, he was sired by Pleasant Colony, winner of the 1981 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. He was out of Ms...
(1992) - Irish OaksIrish OaksThe Irish Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
- (2) - Give Thanks (1983), Margarula (2002) - Matron StakesMatron Stakes (Ireland)The Matron Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September....
- (3) - Upward Trend (1989), Dazzling Park (1999), Lush Lashes (2008) - Moyglare Stud StakesMoyglare Stud StakesThe Moyglare Stud Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late August or early September.The event is named after its long-term sponsor,...
- (3) - Park Appeal (1984), Priory Belle (1995), Saoirse Abu (2007) - National StakesNational StakesThe National Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September....
- (2) - Teofilo (2006), New Approach (2007) - Phoenix StakesPhoenix StakesThe Phoenix Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July or August.-History:...
- (3) - Eva Luna (1994), Mantovani (1996), Saoirse Abu (2007) - Pretty Polly Stakes - (4) - Flame of Tara (1983), Noora Abu (1989), Alexander GoldrunAlexander GoldrunAlexander Goldrun is a retired Thoroughbred filly racehorse. Bred by Dermot Cantillon, she was raced by Mrs. Noel O'Callaghan for whom she compiled a race record of 10 wins, seven seconds, and six thirds in thirty-one starts...
(2005, 2006) - Tattersalls Gold CupTattersalls Gold CupThe Tattersalls Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 110 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
- (2) - Erins IsleErins Isle (horse)Erins Isle was an Thoroughbred racehorse who competed successfully in Ireland and the United States. While racing in Ireland in 1981 for trainer Jim Bolger, Erins Isle was originally owned by Hugh Mc Caffrey and sold to a syndicate headed by Brian Sweeney of Dublin. In 1982, Erins Isle was sent to...
(1981), Perfect Imposter (1994)
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FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
- Prix de l'Abbaye de LongchampPrix de l'Abbaye de LongchampThe Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged two years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October.-History:The Prix de l'Abbaye was one of two major...
- (1) - Polonia (1987) - Prix Marcel BoussacPrix Marcel BoussacThe Prix Marcel Boussac is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,600 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October....
- (1) - Finsceal Beo (2006) - Prix de l'OpéraPrix de l'OpéraThe Prix de l'Opéra is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October.The event was established in 1974, and it was...
- (1) - Alexander Goldrun (2004)
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Great BritainGreat Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
- 1,000 Guineas - (1) - Finsceal Beo (2007)
- Champion StakesChampion StakesThe Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October...
- (1) - New Approach (2008) - Cheveley Park StakesCheveley Park StakesThe Cheveley Park Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.The event was...
- (1) - Park Appeal (1984) - Coronation StakesCoronation StakesThe Coronation Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.-History:...
- (2) - Flame of Tara (1983), Lush Lashes (2008) - DerbyEpsom DerbyThe Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
- (1) - New Approach (2008) - Dewhurst StakesDewhurst StakesThe Dewhurst Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.The event was established in 1875, and it...
- (4) - Teofilo (2006), New Approach (2007), Intense Focus (2008), Parish Hall (2011) - King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes - (1) - St Jovite (1992)
- Nassau StakesNassau StakesThe Nassau Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile, 1 furlong and 192 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.-History:The title of...
- (2) - Park Express (1986), Alexander Goldrun (2005) - OaksEpsom OaksThe Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early June....
- (1) - Jet Ski Lady (1991) - Yorkshire OaksYorkshire OaksThe Yorkshire Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
- (2) - Condessa (1981), Lush Lashes (2008)
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Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
- Hong Kong CupHong Kong CupThe Hong Kong Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Hong Kong which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 2000 metres at Sha Tin, and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid December....
- (1) - Alexander Goldrun (2004)
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ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
- Oaks d'ItaliaOaks d'ItaliaThe Oaks d'Italia is a Group 2 flat horse race in Italy open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Milan over a distance of 2,200 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May or June....
- (1) - Ivyanna (1992)