Bold Ruler (KY)

A son of Nasrullah out of the Discovery mare Miss Disco, Bold Ruler was bred and raced by Gladys Mills Phipps’ Wheatley Stable and foaled at historic Claiborne Farm in Kentucky. Trained by James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons, Bold Ruler was regularly ridden by. Eddie Arcaro.

Inducted

1973

Foaled

1954

Sire

Nasrullah

Dam

Miss Disco

Damsire

Discovery

Breeder

Wheatley Stable

Owner

Wheatley Stable

Trainer

James E. "Sunny Jim" Fitzsimmons

Career

1956-1958

Earnings

$764,204

Racing Record

33

Starts

Year	Starts	First	Second	Third	Earnings
Year	Sts	1	2	3	$
1956	10	7	1	0	$139050 $139,050
1957	16	11	2	2	$415160 $415,160
1958	7	5	1	0	$209994 $209,994

Biography

A son of Nasrullah out of the Discovery mare Miss Disco, Bold Ruler was bred and raced by Gladys Mills Phipps’ Wheatley Stable and foaled at historic Claiborne Farm in Kentucky. Trained by James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons, Bold Ruler was regularly ridden by. Eddie Arcaro.

Bold Ruler won the first five races of his career in 1956 and won the Belmont Futurity on the same day his stablemate, the great Nashua, won his farewell race in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. With his success as a 2-year-old and Nashua’s retirement, Bold Ruler was being hailed as Nashua’s successor, as both were sired by Nasrullah. Bold Ruler concluded his juvenile season with a record of 7-1-0 from 10 starts and earnings of $139,050.

As a 3-year-old, Bold Ruler began his campaign by setting a track record in the Flamingo Stakes. He then won the Wood Memorial, Preakness Stakes, Jerome Handicap, Vosburgh Handicap, Queens County Handicap, and Trenton Handicap. As a sophomore, Bold Ruler won four stakes in which he carried 130 pounds or more and set three track records. His best effort of the year is generally considered to be the Trenton Handicap, in which he defeated Hall of Famers Gallant Man and Round Table. Overall, Bold Ruler compiled a record of 11-2-2 from 16 starts and earnings of $415,160 as a 3-year-old.

Bold Ruler continued to excel as a 4-year-old in 1958, winning both the Suburban Handicap and the Monmouth Handicap with 134 pounds. Bold Ruler also won the Stymie, Carter, and Toboggan handicaps that year. He injured an ankle carrying 136 pounds in the Brooklyn Handicap and was retired to stud with an overall record of 23-4-2 from 33 starts and earnings of $764,204.

Standing at Claiborne, Bold Ruler sired Triple Crown winner Secretariat and the Hall of Fame filly Gamely. Other standouts sired by Bold Ruler included Bold Bidder, Lamb Chop, Bold Lad, Queen Empress, Successor, Queen of the Stage, Vitriolic, and Wajima. He was also the grandsire of Ruffian, Bold Forbes, Foolish Pleasure, Bold ’n Determined, and Spectacular Bid, as well as the great-grandsire of Seattle Slew.

Bold Ruler was the leading North American sire each year from 1963 through 1969. He died at Claiborne Farm in 1971 at the age of 17.