One of Eight Thirty's best sons, Bolero was a very quick horse who did not stay as well as his sire but probably possessed more natural speed. He was a good stallion and got a useful sire son in Our Michael but made his primary mark through his daughters, particularly the noted matron Shy Dancer and Bolero Rose, dam of the important matron Crimson Saint.
Race record
39 starts, 16 wins, 6 seconds, 4 thirds, US$156,450
1949:
1950:
1951:
As an individual
A handsome chestnut horse, Bolero had an excellent shoulder, strong hindquarters and a long, sloping croup. He was slightly upright in his pasterns.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Bolero sired 353 winners (66.1%) and 34 stakes winners (6.4%) from 534 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Capelet (USA), Shy Dancer (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Crimson Saint (USA), Lady Dulcinea (USA), Petite Rouge (USA), Proud Birdie (USA), Traffic (USA), Zug (FR)
Connections
Bolero was bred by P. A. B. Widener II's Elmendorf Farm. He owned by Abe Hirschberg. He was trained by Frank E. Childs. He stood at The Stallion Station near Lexington, Kentucky, where he died in 1975.
Pedigree notes
Bolero is inbred 4x6x4 to 1903 English Triple Crown winner Rock Sand and 4x4 to 1913 English champion 2-year-old male The Tetrarch. He is a half brother to 1955 Atlantic City Turf Handicap winner County Clare (by Shannon II) and to 1958 Sapling Stakes winner Watch Your Step (by Citation). He is also a half brother to Linden Lane (by Roman), dam of 1965 Sanford Stakes winner Flame Tree (by Count Flame); to Wise Intentions (by Intent), dam of juvenile stakes winner Foreign Invader (by Decathlon); and to In Step (by Heliopolis), third dam of 1987 Derby Mexicano (MEX-G1) winner In Bold.
Stepwisely, the dam of Bolero, is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Crout au Pot (by Pot au Feu) and to Quickly, dam of 1943 American Triple Crown winner Count Fleet (by Reigh Count) and of the important Quarter Horse sire Depth Charge. Another half sister to Stepwisely, Poesy (by Chance Shot), produced stakes winner I Appeal (by Sir Pennant).
Stepwisely and her siblings are out of Stephanie (by Stefan the Great), a full sister to the good steeplechaser Indigo. The next dam in Bolero's tail-female line is 1916 Alabama Stakes winner Malachite (by Rock Sand). A daughter of the Hanover mare Miss Hanover, Malachite is a half sister to 1911 American champion 2-year-old male and 1912 Kentucky Derby winner Worth (by Knight of the Thistle) and to 1917 King Edward Gold Cup winner Hanovia (by Fair Play).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the collection of Quarter Horse Record (Susan Larkin); used by permission.
Last updated: August 31, 2022
Race record
39 starts, 16 wins, 6 seconds, 4 thirds, US$156,450
1949:
- Won Del Mar Derby (USA, 8.5FD, Del Mar)
- Won San Jose Handicap (USA, 6FD, Bay Meadows)
- Won A. B. Spreckels Handicap (USA, 6FD, Bay Meadows; new track record 1:09-3/5)
- Won Veterans' Rehabilitation Handicap (USA, 6FD, Bay Meadows; equaled track record 1:09-3/5)
- 2nd Yerba Buena Stakes (USA, 6FD, Tanforan)
- Also equaled the track record of 1:36 for 8FD at Del Mar
1950:
- Won Preview Handicap (USA, 6FD, Hollywood)
- Won Pacific Handicap (USA, 6FD, Golden Gate; new world record 1:08-1/5)
- 2nd Golden Gate Mile Handicap (USA, 8FD, Golden Gate)
- 2nd Peninsula Handicap (USA, 6FD, Tanforan)
- Also set a new track record of 1:10-4/5 for 6FD at Tanforan
1951:
- Won San Carlos Handicap (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita; new world record 1:21)
As an individual
A handsome chestnut horse, Bolero had an excellent shoulder, strong hindquarters and a long, sloping croup. He was slightly upright in his pasterns.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Bolero sired 353 winners (66.1%) and 34 stakes winners (6.4%) from 534 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 9th on the American broodmare sire list in 1974; 10th in 1973.
Notable progeny
Capelet (USA), Shy Dancer (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Crimson Saint (USA), Lady Dulcinea (USA), Petite Rouge (USA), Proud Birdie (USA), Traffic (USA), Zug (FR)
Connections
Bolero was bred by P. A. B. Widener II's Elmendorf Farm. He owned by Abe Hirschberg. He was trained by Frank E. Childs. He stood at The Stallion Station near Lexington, Kentucky, where he died in 1975.
Pedigree notes
Bolero is inbred 4x6x4 to 1903 English Triple Crown winner Rock Sand and 4x4 to 1913 English champion 2-year-old male The Tetrarch. He is a half brother to 1955 Atlantic City Turf Handicap winner County Clare (by Shannon II) and to 1958 Sapling Stakes winner Watch Your Step (by Citation). He is also a half brother to Linden Lane (by Roman), dam of 1965 Sanford Stakes winner Flame Tree (by Count Flame); to Wise Intentions (by Intent), dam of juvenile stakes winner Foreign Invader (by Decathlon); and to In Step (by Heliopolis), third dam of 1987 Derby Mexicano (MEX-G1) winner In Bold.
Stepwisely, the dam of Bolero, is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Crout au Pot (by Pot au Feu) and to Quickly, dam of 1943 American Triple Crown winner Count Fleet (by Reigh Count) and of the important Quarter Horse sire Depth Charge. Another half sister to Stepwisely, Poesy (by Chance Shot), produced stakes winner I Appeal (by Sir Pennant).
Stepwisely and her siblings are out of Stephanie (by Stefan the Great), a full sister to the good steeplechaser Indigo. The next dam in Bolero's tail-female line is 1916 Alabama Stakes winner Malachite (by Rock Sand). A daughter of the Hanover mare Miss Hanover, Malachite is a half sister to 1911 American champion 2-year-old male and 1912 Kentucky Derby winner Worth (by Knight of the Thistle) and to 1917 King Edward Gold Cup winner Hanovia (by Fair Play).
Fun facts
- In music, “bolero” refers to a genre of slow-tempo Latin music in 3/4 time. The term also refers to a dance performed to such music. The bolero genre of music and dance is strongly associated with Spain and Cuba, though ballroom bolero dancing in the Cuban style is usually called “rhumba.”
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the collection of Quarter Horse Record (Susan Larkin); used by permission.
Last updated: August 31, 2022