BOLD FORBES
He's was a true racing champion and at 27 was the oldest living
Kentucky derby winner.
Born in 1973 Bold Forbes is the grandson of the great Bold Ruler.
As a yearling the dark bay stallion was sold to banker Estaban Tizol
from Puerto Rico for the tidy sum of $15,200. He didn't show well
in training and didn't seem to like the morning workouts. What wasn't
recognized was his competitive nature and heart of a champion. When
he'd see other horses on that racetrack, he changed. All the stable
hands and workers in his barn didn't bet a dime on Bold Forbes in
his first race. The young stallion wouldn't demonstrate his true
abilities until this time.
In his first start as a two-year-old, Bold Forbes won 35 to 1 odds
by 17 lengths. His winning streak continued in his next four races
where he won them all by a combined 51 lengths, and was named champion
2 year old in Puerto Rico.
In the summer of his two-year season Bold Forbes was sent off to
New York. Bold Forbes would again take command of his competition
winning the Tremont Stakes and the Saratoga Special, before an injury
would cause him to take the rest of his two-year-old season off
to recoup.
As a three-year-old, Bold Forbes was ready for an attempt at the
Triple Crown. On that May weekend in 1976, Bold Forbes took the
lead right out of the gate and never gave it up. He led wire to
wire and become one of only 10 horses to do so in Derby history.
The Preakness would be a disappointment for the sturdy little 15.1
bay and his fans. He actually began the race running the fastest
first ½ mile in Preakness history. But while in the lead,
he injured his left hind heel and lost over ¼ of his foot
during the race. He ended the race in a speed dual with Honest Pleasure,
Bold Forbes would have to be content with a third place.
By the time the Belmont rolled around, Bold Forbes was healed and
ready. They fitted him with a special shoe, a ¾ shoe, as
that's all he had left of his one hind foot. He was now know as
the speed horse and liked to start hard and fast. Others thought
he would tire out by the end…wrong. Once again he took the
lead out of the gate and would push to the wire winning the 1976
Belmont Stakes by a neck. At the end of the race Bold Forbes did
drop to his knees in exhaustion. It was said that he won with his
heart alone.
Bold Forbes was retired after his next race but not before he was
voted three-year old of the year. Syndicated for $5.2 million dollars,
Bold Forbes sired 304 winners out of 430 foals. This Includes Barb's
Bold, who sold as a yearling for $1.45 million. He sired 30 stakes
winners and his offspring have earned over $18 million dollars.
His career stats are impressive with 18 starts and 13 wins and
he never did worse than placing third.
Bold Forbes past away on August 9th of 2000 after complications
with gastro interitis. He was 27 years old.
Bold Forbes was an undisputed racing legend.
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