The Bahamas Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in January at Hialeah Park Race Track in Hialeah, Florida . A seven furlong race on dirt, it was the first important test of the calendar year for newly turned three-year-olds. The race was used by prospective U.S. Triple Crown contenders as a stepping stone to the Everglades and Flamingo Stakes at the Hialeah track. Reflected Glory (1967) and Pistols and Roses (1992), swept all three events.
40-512: Inaugurated in 1934 as the Bahamas Handicap, it was run in two divisions in 1952, 1953, and 1969. By the mid-1980s, the racing dates available to Hialeah Park track forced a rescheduling of the race and as such it would rarely be contested by Triple Crown hopefuls. Hialeah Park closed permanently after the 2001 racing season. The 1937 winner, No Sir, was owned and trained by twenty-three-year-old Mary Hirsch who on April 2, 1935 became
80-480: A 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 length win. Gallant Man gained his revenge in the Metropolitan Handicap on June 14, closing from well back to overtake the front-running Bold Ruler in deep stretch. Arcaro attributed the loss to the high weight of 135 pounds combined with a strong headwind, which took its toll in the final furlong of the one-mile race. For Bold Ruler's next start, Fitzsimmons was faced with
120-477: A brisk early pace. With three furlongs remaining, Bold Ruler moved up to battle for the lead while Gallant Man and Dedicate started to close ground. The four horses were tightly bunched at the eight pole before Dedicate took command to win by 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 lengths over Gallant Man, with Bold Ruler finishing third. In the Vosburgh Handicap on October 9, Bold Ruler was assigned the top weight in
160-502: A field of eight, six of which were older horses. He battled for the early lead with Nearctic , then started to draw away to win by nine lengths. Over a muddy track and despite being eased by Arcaro down the stretch, he set a track record of 1:21 2 ⁄ 5 for seven furlongs. On October 19, Bold Ruler carried 133 pounds in the Queens County Handicap , giving away from 19 to 23 pounds to his competitors. He went to
200-473: A front running five-length victory while setting a new track record. On July 4, Bold Ruler stretched out to a distance of 10 furlongs in the Suburban Handicap while carrying 134 pounds – at least 18 pounds more than any of his rivals. He vied for the lead with Clem and Beau Diable for the first half mile, then cut over to the rail and opened a three length lead as they rounded the final turn. Down
240-447: A length over Clem, who was carrying only 117 pounds. In the 7-furlong Carter Handicap on May 30, Bold Ruler faced his old rival Gallant Man, who was making his seasonal debut. Bold Ruler was assigned 135 pounds compared to 128 pounds for Gallant Man. Bold Ruler once again rated close behind the early pace, while Gallant Man was far back. Gallant Man made a strong late run to finish third, but never threatened Bold Ruler, who drew off for
280-726: A record of ten wins from 15 starts in 1957, Bold Ruler was still considered only the third best three-year-old in the country. Gallant Man had won eight races, including wins over Bold Ruler in the Belmont and Woodward, while Round Table had accumulated 14 wins over dirt and turf surfaces, mainly in California. The battle for Horse of the Year honors would be decided in the Trenton Handicap at 1 + 1 ⁄ 4 miles on November 9, in what North American racing historians rank among
320-533: A return to racing later in the year might have been possible, Fitzsimmons felt Bold Ruler was too valuable to risk. He ended his career with 23 wins, including 17 stakes wins, from 33 starts, with earnings of $ 764,204. Despite having made only two starts during the year at distances under a mile, Bold Ruler was still named the American Champion Sprint Horse of 1958. Bold Ruler retired to stud at Claiborne Farm in 1959, where he became
360-589: A sore mouth, dating back to an incident as a yearling when he nearly tore his tongue in two after catching it on something in his stall. After the Derby, Fitzsimmons decided to use a strip of cloth to tie down the colt's tongue, relieving the pressure caused by the bit. In the Preakness Stakes on May 18, Bold Ruler responded with a front-running victory, with Iron Liege two lengths back in second. Arcaro had let Bold Ruler run at his own pace and later attributed
400-454: Is considered to be one of the best of the twentieth century, containing three Hall of Fame horses: Bold Ruler, Gallant Man and Round Table , not to mention early standout Gen. Duke and Kentucky Derby winner Iron Liege . Bold Ruler stood out because of his raw speed, combined with courage that allowed him to overcome infirmities ranging from a tender mouth to chronic arthritis and soreness. At age two, Bold Ruler won seven starts, including
440-522: The 1957 Kentucky Derby , held on May 4, was the Calumet Farm entry of Gen. Duke, who had defeated Bold Ruler in the Florida Derby, and the more lightly regarded Iron Liege . However, Gen. Duke was scratched after he went lame shortly before the race, so Bold Ruler went off as the 6-5 favorite. He fought against Arcaro's restraint and was carried wide around the first turn while battling for
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#1732801193739480-721: The Bahamas Stakes on January 30, 1957 while equaling the track record. He then finished second in the Everglade Stakes before taking the Flamingo Stakes while breaking the track record. On March 30, he finished second in the Florida Derby to Gen. Duke, who tied the then-world record of 1:46 4 ⁄ 5 for 9 furlongs. Bold Ruler was then shipped north to Aqueduct Racetrack in New York for
520-459: The Horse of the Year poll organised by the publishers of Daily Racing Form , he received 16 votes to beat Gallant Man (9 votes) and older horse Dedicate (4 votes). Dedicate was controversially selected over Bold Ruler in the rival Thoroughbred Racing Association award, but Bold Ruler's win in a third poll conducted by Turf and Sport Digest magazine made him the "consensus" choice as Horse of
560-482: The Wood Memorial Stakes , where he went off as the 1-2 favorite in a field of seven. He opened up an early four-length lead, but Gallant Man gradually closed ground and surged to the front at the top of the stretch. Bold Ruler then fought back and nosed out Gallant Man in the final strides while setting a new track record of 1:48 4 ⁄ 5 for 1 + 1 ⁄ 8 miles. The original favorite for
600-748: The Youthful and Juvenile and the Futurity Stakes . However, he injured his back in the Youthful Stakes when he slammed into the starting gate, then developed a hock problem. He did not race in the Garden State Stakes , then one of the most prestigious races for two-year-olds, and lost the title for champion 2-year-old to the winner of that race, Barbizon. Bold Ruler began his three-year-old campaign in Florida by winning
640-576: The leading sire in North America from 1963 to 1969 and again in 1973. His eight titles were the highest for a North American sire in the twentieth century. Although several of his runners won at 10 furlongs or more, Bold Ruler was best known as a sire of precocious 2-year-olds, leading the juvenile sire list a then-record six times. From 366 named foals, he sired 240 winners (65.6%) and 82 stakes winners (22.4%), including Hall of Famers Gamely and Secretariat . He sired 11 champions: Bold Ruler
680-488: The 16th male-line descendant of Bold Ruler to capture an American classic. A.P. Indy is also the grandsire of leading sire Tapit , who sired three winners of the Belmont Stakes in the four years between 2014 and 2017. Bold Ruler was the first horse to undergo radiation therapy when he was diagnosed with sinus cancer in 1971. At age 17, he died at Claiborne Farm on July 12, 1971, and is interred there. In 1973, he
720-782: The Year. At age four, Bold Ruler carried from 133 to 136 pounds in his seven starts, was the odds-on favorite in all seven, and won five. He won at distances from six furlongs in the Toboggan Handicap to 1 + 1 ⁄ 4 miles in the Suburban and Monmouth Handicaps. Bold Ruler started the year in Florida, first targeting a seven-furlong sprint in January for his debut, then the Widener Handicap in February. However, in both cases he became injured shortly before
760-406: The apparent ease of the win, Fitzsimmons called it a "real hard race" and said that he might bypass the upcoming Brooklyn Handicap . But he ultimately decided to enter the colt in the race despite being assigned 136 pounds. Bold Ruler settled in third place but was heavily bumped by Sharpsburg on the final turn and faded to seventh. Sharpsburg went on to finish second but was disqualified to last for
800-585: The choice of being assigned 138 pounds in the Roseben Handicap, run at Bold Ruler's favorite distance of seven furlongs, or 133 pounds in the Stymie Handicap , over nine furlongs. Fitzsimmon chose the longer race with a lower weight, explaining, "I don't mind horses getting beaten. The only way you can avoid that is to keep them in the barn. But I've got to keep this horse sound and I don't think weight helps me do that." Bold Ruler responded with
840-524: The early lead and opened up a six length lead before being eased in the stretch. The final margin of victory was 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 lengths. He followed up with a dominating win in the Benjamin Franklin Handicap on November 2, winning by 12 lengths despite carrying 136 pounds. Jockey Bill Hartack , riding the third place finisher, commented after the race, "I don't know how good Bold Ruler is. I never got close enough to see." With
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#1732801193739880-567: The first female to receive a trainers license. The great Bold Ruler equalled the track record in his 1957 win. His mark was matched by Sir Gaylord in 1962 and then broken by New Prospect in 1972. Four horses who were beaten in the Bahamas Stakes went on to win the Kentucky Derby : Bold Ruler Claiborne Farm American Classic Race wins: Preakness Stakes (1957) Bold Ruler (April 6, 1954 – July 12, 1971)
920-513: The greatest meetings ever of three horses in one race. Round Table and Gallant Man were both assigned 124 pounds while Bold Ruler carried 122 pounds. Bold Ruler went to the early lead, opening an advantage of seven or eight lengths going into the far turn. Gallant Man closed the lead to four lengths at the top of the stretch and looked like he might mount a challenge. Arcaro then looked back and waved his whip at Bold Ruler, who responded to hold off Gallant Man by 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 lengths. Round Table
960-501: The interference. Arcaro felt that the bump did not cost Bold Ruler a chance to win, saying "he just wasn't operating right at any point in the race." Just three weeks later, Fitzsimmons announced that Bold Ruler was being retired because of an ankle injury. "He may have injured the ankle in the Brooklyn, or in training," he said. "I know that something happened to him, but I don't know when it happened or exactly what he's got." Although
1000-414: The lead with Federal Hill. He remained in contention until the far turn but faded down the homestretch to finish fourth behind Iron Liege. The race became notorious when Gallant Man , who looked certain to win the race, had his stride briefly checked at the 16th pole by jockey Bill Shoemaker , who had misjudged the position of the finish line. Fitzsimmons later revealed that Bold Ruler was suffering from
1040-711: The loss in the Derby to his attempt to restrain the colt. Gallant Man had bypassed the Preakness, instead winning the Peter Pan Stakes on June 1. The two colts met again in the Belmont Stakes on June 15, with Bold Ruler going off as the 17-20 favorite, while Gallant Man and his stablemate Bold Nero went off at odds of 19-20. Bold Ruler went to the early lead but was closely challenged by Bold Nero. The two set fast early fractions before first Bold Nero then Bold Ruler faltered. Bold Ruler hung on for third but
1080-466: The most of any sire in the twentieth century. Bold Ruler is now best known as the sire of the 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat , and was also the great-grandsire of 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew . He was an outstanding sire of sires, whose modern descendants include many classic winners such as California Chrome . Bred by the Wheatley Stable of Gladys Mills Phipps , Bold Ruler
1120-418: The race and was given time off to recover. He was then scheduled to debut at Jamaica Racetrack in late March but suffered another setback. As it turned out, he did not make his first start of the year until May 17 in the Toboggan Handicap , a six-furlong sprint at Belmont Park. Carrying top weight of 133 pounds, he settled into third place in the early running then sprinted clear down the stretch to win by half
1160-622: The racetrack in the Times Square Handicap on September 9, in which he carried top weight of 128 pounds. Going off as the 17-20 favorite, he won in front-running fashion by 5 + 1 ⁄ 2 lengths. He followed this up with a six length victory in the Jerome Handicap on September 14 while carrying 130 pounds. In the Jerome, Arcaro was able to get the colt to settle behind a fast early pace, then took command turning into
1200-474: The stretch, Clem started to close ground and actually got a head in front before Bold Ruler rallied in the final strides to win by a nose. Bold Ruler made his next start on July 18 in the Monmouth Handicap , also at a distance of 10 furlongs while carrying 134 pounds. He went straight to the lead and set an even tempo, then "coasted home" to win by three-quarters of a length over Sharpsburg. Despite
1240-487: The stretch. "He's a different colt," said Arcaro. "He's lost all those goofy habits and takes off just when you want him." On September 28, Bold Ruler entered the Woodward Stakes over a distance of 1 + 1 ⁄ 4 miles. His three rivals included Gallant Man, who was on a six-race winning streak, and Dedicate, a top-class older horse. Bold Ruler broke well but soon settled into second behind Reneged, who set
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1280-427: Was also the dominant American sire of sires in the 1970s. His sire line includes: His sire line almost died out in the 1980s but was revived by Seattle Slew's son A.P. Indy (who was also a grandson of Secretariat on his dam's side). Much like Bold Ruler, A.P. Indy was a Horse of the Year, a leading sire and would go on to become an important sire of sires. In 2014, A.P. Indy's great-grandson California Chrome became
1320-450: Was an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse who was the 1957 Horse of the Year . This following a three-year-old campaign that included wins in the Preakness Stakes and Trenton Handicap , in which he defeated fellow Hall of Fame inductees Round Table and Gallant Man . Bold Ruler was named American Champion Sprinter at age four, and upon retirement became the leading sire in North America eight times between 1963 and 1973,
1360-538: Was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid November at the now defunct Garden State Park Racetrack in Cherry Hill, New Jersey . A futurity event for two-year-olds, it is sometimes referred to as the Garden State Futurity . By 1956, the total purse offered was more than $ 300,000 (including all nomination and starting fees), making it the richest horse race in the world. The race
1400-637: Was contested on dirt until 1994 when it was changed to a race on turf . It was raced at various distances: In 1955, the racetrack created a counterpart for fillies called the Gardenia Stakes . The Garden State Stakes was placed on hiatus in 1973 and after a fire destroyed the racetrack on April 14, 1977 it would not be run again until a new track was built by International Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. through its wholly owned subsidiary, Garden State Race Track, Inc. headed by Robert E. Brennan that opened on April 1, 1985. The March 18, 2000 issue of
1440-400: Was far back in third. "I didn't think they would let me get so far in front," said Arcaro of his racing tactics. "I thought they'd be on me from the half-mile pole on, but they weren't. I stayed out from the rail, out towards the middle of the track, because the going was better there." His performances that year earned Bold Ruler the title of American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse . In
1480-474: Was foaled on April 6, 1954, at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky . His sire was Nasrullah , who has the distinction of being a champion sire in both Europe and North America . Bold Ruler's dam was the stakes-winning sprinter Miss Disco, by Discovery . By coincidence, he and rival Round Table were foaled on the same night at Claiborne, and both returned to stand at stud there after their racing careers. He
1520-528: 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 . The Bold Ruler Handicap at Aqueduct is named in his honor. Legend – ₩ = Triple Crown Winners, ♥ = Filly Garden State Stakes The Garden State Stakes
1560-411: Was so tired after the race that he didn't want to return to the unsaddling enclosure. Gallant Man won convincingly and set an American record for 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles of 2:26 3 ⁄ 5 . This remained the stakes record until 1973 when Bold Ruler's son Secretariat broke it. Bold Ruler was given a long layoff to recover from the race and a variety of physical issues. He finally returned to
1600-488: Was trained by Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons , and was regularly ridden by Eddie Arcaro . Bold Ruler was a big, leggy horse, standing 16.1 hands (65 inches, 165 cm) with a great shoulder, powerful hindquarter, and a distinctive long, sloping hip going down to a straight hind leg. This conformation can still be found, especially in horses descended through the Seattle Slew line. The American foal crop of 1954
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