Small but tough and consistent, Tom Rolfe was one of the best American-bred sons of the great Ribot both on the track and in the stud. His major contributions to the breed were Hoist the Flag, an outstanding sire and broodmare sire; the important Argentine sire Salt Marsh; and File, whose champion son Forty Niner became a notable sire of sires.
Race record
32 starts, 16 wins, 5 seconds, 5 thirds, US$671,297
1964:
1965:
1966:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 122 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American 2-year-old males of 1964, 8 pounds below champion Bold Lad.
Highweighted at 129 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1965, 2 pounds more than his fellow Classic winners Hail to All (Belmont Stakes) and Lucky Debonair (Kentucky Derby).
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1966, 4 pounds below co-highweights Bold Bidder (the official champion) and Lucky Debonair.
As an individual
A 15.2 hand bay horse, Tom Rolfe was sometimes described as "pony built" but was tough and durable nonetheless. Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form described him as "a hard type, all bone, sinew and animation." He had an excellent shoulder and was short coupled with good flat bone but could be faulted for having long cannons and sickle hocks. His temperament was generally good, and he was resolute and eager on the race track with a good turn of foot.
As a stallion
The Jockey Club credits Tom Rolfe with 371 winners (55.5%) and 48 stakes winners (7.2%) from 665 named foals. Thoroughbred Times credits Tom Rolfe with 49 stakes winners (7.4%). As a sire, Tom Rolfe tended to pass on his own rather wiry build and usually transmitted stamina, and many of his better progeny preferred turf to dirt. Tom Rolfe is a Classic/Professional chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Allez Milord (USA), Basin (USA), Bowl Game (USA), French Colonial (USA), Hoist the Flag (USA), Rough Pearl (USA), Run the Gantlet (USA), Salt Marsh (USA), Tantalizing (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Buryyourbelief (USA), Classy Cathy (USA), Diminuendo (USA), Environment Friend (GB), Forty Niner (USA), Life’s Magic (USA), Ms. Elouise (USA), Niniski (USA), Silverbulletday (USA), The Tin Man (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Tom Rolfe was bred and owned by Raymond Guest, who raced the colt under the name "Powhattan." Tom Rolfe was trained by Frank Whiteley, Jr. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1967 at Claiborne Farm and stood there throughout his stud career. He died in 1989 and is buried at Claiborne.
Pedigree notes
Tom Rolfe is inbred 4x5 to 1923 Derby Stakes winner Papyrus, 5x4 to 1927 English leading sire Buchan and 5x5 to two-time English leading sire Phalaris. Produced from 1965 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Pocahontas, he is a half brother to the good stakes winner and sire Chieftain (by Bold Ruler) and to 1968 Blandford Stakes winner Wenona (by Larkspur), dam of Irish stakes winner Opachisco (by In Reality), second dam of 1983 Norwegian champion 3-year-old male What Nonsense and third dam of 1997 Puerto Rican Horse of the Year Lightning Al, 2004 Peruvian champion 2-year-old filly La Foquita, New Zealand Group 2 winner Sculptor, and Australian Group 3 winner Slightly Sweet.
Tom Rolfe is also a half brother to Group 3-placed English stakes winner Ahdeek (by Reindeer) and to 1974 Prix Vanteaux (FR-G3) winner Lady Rebecca (by Sir Ivor), dam of Italian Group 3 winner and important European sire Alzao (by Lyphard) and third dam of 1997 Santa Monica Handicap (USA-G1) winner Toga Toga Toga, 2007 VRC Oaks (AUS-G1) winner Arapaho Miss, Canadian Grade 2 winner Minakshi, and New Zealand Group 2 winner Real Success. In addition, Tom Rolfe is a half brother to stakes producers Celia (by Swaps), Wampum (by Warfare), and Santa Paula II (by Santa Claus).
Winner of the 1957 Schuylerville Stakes, Pocahontas is the only stakes winner from three foals out of 1951 Coaching Club American Oaks winner How. Sired by Princequillo from the Sickle mare The Squaw II, How is a full sister to 1954 Coaching Club American Oaks winner Cherokee Rose, second dam of 1971 American Horse of the Year Ack Ack and 1974 Futurity Stakes (USA-G1) winner Just the Time, and to 1957 Spinaway Stakes winner Sequoia, dam of 1973 Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1) winner Sham (by Pretense).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: January 14, 2022
Race record
32 starts, 16 wins, 5 seconds, 5 thirds, US$671,297
1964:
- Won Cowdin Stakes (USA, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Futurity Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Christiana Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Delaware)
1965:
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Chicagoan Stakes (USA, 9FD, Arlington Park)
- Won American Derby (USA, 10FD, Arlington Park; new track record 2:00-3/5)
- Won Arlington Classic (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Citation Handicap (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Chesapeake Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Laurel)
- 2nd Belmont Stakes (USA, 12FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd Bay Shore Stakes (USA, 7FD, Aqueduct)
1966:
- Won Aqueduct Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Salvator Mile Handicap (USA, 8FD, Monmouth)
- 2nd Washington Park Handicap (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Michigan Mile and One-Eighth Handicap (USA, 9FD, Detroit)
- Also equaled the track record of 1:21 for 7 furlongs on dirt at Arlington Park in an exhibition race
Honors
- American champion 3-year-old male (1965)
- Finished second to champion older male Roman Brother for American Horse of the Year honors by one vote in polling conducted by the Daily Racing Form and Morning Telegraph
Assessments
Rated at 122 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American 2-year-old males of 1964, 8 pounds below champion Bold Lad.
Highweighted at 129 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1965, 2 pounds more than his fellow Classic winners Hail to All (Belmont Stakes) and Lucky Debonair (Kentucky Derby).
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1966, 4 pounds below co-highweights Bold Bidder (the official champion) and Lucky Debonair.
As an individual
A 15.2 hand bay horse, Tom Rolfe was sometimes described as "pony built" but was tough and durable nonetheless. Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form described him as "a hard type, all bone, sinew and animation." He had an excellent shoulder and was short coupled with good flat bone but could be faulted for having long cannons and sickle hocks. His temperament was generally good, and he was resolute and eager on the race track with a good turn of foot.
As a stallion
The Jockey Club credits Tom Rolfe with 371 winners (55.5%) and 48 stakes winners (7.2%) from 665 named foals. Thoroughbred Times credits Tom Rolfe with 49 stakes winners (7.4%). As a sire, Tom Rolfe tended to pass on his own rather wiry build and usually transmitted stamina, and many of his better progeny preferred turf to dirt. Tom Rolfe is a Classic/Professional chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- 3rd on the American general sire list in 1974; 5th in 1979; 9th in 1972.
- 3rd on the American broodmare sire list in 1988; 4th in 1987.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 3rd on the American general sire list in 1974; 5th in 1979; 9th in 1972.
- 3rd on the American broodmare sire list in 1988; 6th in 1987.
Notable progeny
Allez Milord (USA), Basin (USA), Bowl Game (USA), French Colonial (USA), Hoist the Flag (USA), Rough Pearl (USA), Run the Gantlet (USA), Salt Marsh (USA), Tantalizing (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Buryyourbelief (USA), Classy Cathy (USA), Diminuendo (USA), Environment Friend (GB), Forty Niner (USA), Life’s Magic (USA), Ms. Elouise (USA), Niniski (USA), Silverbulletday (USA), The Tin Man (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Tom Rolfe was bred and owned by Raymond Guest, who raced the colt under the name "Powhattan." Tom Rolfe was trained by Frank Whiteley, Jr. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1967 at Claiborne Farm and stood there throughout his stud career. He died in 1989 and is buried at Claiborne.
Pedigree notes
Tom Rolfe is inbred 4x5 to 1923 Derby Stakes winner Papyrus, 5x4 to 1927 English leading sire Buchan and 5x5 to two-time English leading sire Phalaris. Produced from 1965 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Pocahontas, he is a half brother to the good stakes winner and sire Chieftain (by Bold Ruler) and to 1968 Blandford Stakes winner Wenona (by Larkspur), dam of Irish stakes winner Opachisco (by In Reality), second dam of 1983 Norwegian champion 3-year-old male What Nonsense and third dam of 1997 Puerto Rican Horse of the Year Lightning Al, 2004 Peruvian champion 2-year-old filly La Foquita, New Zealand Group 2 winner Sculptor, and Australian Group 3 winner Slightly Sweet.
Tom Rolfe is also a half brother to Group 3-placed English stakes winner Ahdeek (by Reindeer) and to 1974 Prix Vanteaux (FR-G3) winner Lady Rebecca (by Sir Ivor), dam of Italian Group 3 winner and important European sire Alzao (by Lyphard) and third dam of 1997 Santa Monica Handicap (USA-G1) winner Toga Toga Toga, 2007 VRC Oaks (AUS-G1) winner Arapaho Miss, Canadian Grade 2 winner Minakshi, and New Zealand Group 2 winner Real Success. In addition, Tom Rolfe is a half brother to stakes producers Celia (by Swaps), Wampum (by Warfare), and Santa Paula II (by Santa Claus).
Winner of the 1957 Schuylerville Stakes, Pocahontas is the only stakes winner from three foals out of 1951 Coaching Club American Oaks winner How. Sired by Princequillo from the Sickle mare The Squaw II, How is a full sister to 1954 Coaching Club American Oaks winner Cherokee Rose, second dam of 1971 American Horse of the Year Ack Ack and 1974 Futurity Stakes (USA-G1) winner Just the Time, and to 1957 Spinaway Stakes winner Sequoia, dam of 1973 Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1) winner Sham (by Pretense).
Fun facts
- In history, Tom Rolfe was the son of Pocahontas, whose father Powhatan was the chief of the most powerful confederation of Native American peoples living near the Jamestown settlement in Virginia.
- Tom Rolfe won the Preakness Stakes over Dapper Dan in spite of losing a shoe during the race, giving his sire Ribot a one-two finish in the race as Dapper Dan was also sired by the great Italian racer.
- Tom Rolfe was shipped to France in the fall of 1965 to contest the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, a race his sire had won twice. In a field that featured the great Sea-Bird, Tom Rolfe finished a respectable sixth.
- At Arlington Park in 1966, Tom Rolfe equaled the track record of 1:21 for 7 furlongs on dirt. The previous record holder? His half brother Chieftain, who had set the record in 1965.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: January 14, 2022