Bold Bidder (USA)
March 22, 1962 – 1982
Bold Ruler (USA) x High Bid (USA), by To Market (USA)
Family 3-n
March 22, 1962 – 1982
Bold Ruler (USA) x High Bid (USA), by To Market (USA)
Family 3-n
Those convinced in pre-Secretariat days that Bold Ruler could sire only precocious juveniles apparently paid no attention to Bold Bidder, who stayed 10 furlongs well and was a champion at 4. He was also one of the better sires among Bold Ruler's sons and, like his sire, got a son even better than himself—in his case, the great Spectacular Bid.
Race record
33 starts, 13 wins, 2 seconds, 5 thirds, US$478,021
1965:
1966:
Honors
American champion older male (1966)
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1965, 8 pounds below champion Tom Rolfe.
Co-highweighted with Lucky Debonair at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1966, one pound above Native Diver.
As an individual
A cherry bay, Bold Bidder was a well-balanced horse of good size and substance, standing 16.2 hands. He had a good shoulder, a short back and a long pelvis. His cannons were short and his hindquarters were broad and muscular, bur his pasterns had a bit too much slope, his ankles were not the best and his feet were rather small. His hocks were rather narrow as viewed from the side but never gave him trouble. He was a high-strung animal who was inclined to sulk as a youngster but became more professional as he matured. He did not race as a 2-year-old and did not care to have his races too close together as an older runner. He was unplaced in his one try on turf.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Bold Bidder sired 286 winners (55.5%) and 53 stakes winners (10.3%) from 515 named foals. Bold Bidder is an Intermediate/Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Times:
Notable progeny
Cannonade (USA), Cool (USA), Highest Trump (USA), Liloy (FR), Mount Hagen (USA), Parioli (USA), Rash Move (CAN), Spectacular Bid (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Adept (USA), Beautiful Melody (USA), Dinard (USA), Eliza (USA), Landaluce (USA), Tap Shoes (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Bold Bidder was bred and owned by Wheatley Stable and was initially trained by Bill Winfrey. He was sold to Paul Falkenstein partway through his 3-year-old season and moved to the barn of Randy Sechrest at that time. Prior to the beginning of the colt's 4-year-old season, John R. Gaines took out a five-year lease on him with an option to buy, which he exercised after the colt won the 1966 Charles S. Strub Stakes in track record time. John Hanes and John Olin became partners in Bold Bidder's ownership shortly afterward, and the colt was moved to Woody Stephens' barn midway through his 4-year-old season. Bold Bidder stood at Gainesway Farm, where he died in 1982.
Pedigree notes
Bold Bidder is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to Sales Ring, second dam of 1993 Swiss champion steeplechaser Ramification, and to Deepdene, second dam of multiple Japanese Group 1 winner Gallop Dyna. He is a half brother to Top Bid (by Olympia), who was a stakes winner on the flat before becoming the American champion steeplechaser of 1970. He is also a half brother to stakes-placed Winning Trick (by Damascus), dam of Grade 3 winner Play for Love (by Jacinto), second dam of Argentine Group 2 winner Dona Streaper and third dam of Grade 3 winner Etbauer and Australian Group 3 winner Daytona Grey.
Bold Bidder is out of 1959 Alabama Stakes winner High Bid, a half sister to 1959 Pimlico Futurity winner Progressing (by Bimelech) and to 1968 Sorority Stakes winner Big Advance (by Bold Ruler), third dam of 1994 Argentine champion older male and stayer Double Paid and 1997 Gran Premio Copa de Oro (ARG-G1) winner Diddler. High Bid is also a half sister to Intrepid Lady (by Bold Ruler), dam of 1996 Energizer Oaks (ENG-G1) winner Intrepidity (by Sadler's Wells), Irish Group 2 winner Calandra (by Sir Ivor), multiple Irish Group 3 winner Acushla (by Storm Bird), and stakes winners River Prince (by Forli) and Squadron Leader (by Storm Bird). In addition, High Bid is a half sister to Step On (by Nasrullah), third dam of multiple Argentine Group 1 winner Blue Baby Blue, and to Some Progress (by Bold Ruler), third dam of Grade 3 winner No Comprende and Australian Group 3 winner Party Boy.
High Bid and her siblings were produced from the Princequillo mare Stepping Stone (out of Stepping Across, by Balladier), whose half sister Long Stretch (by Menow) is the second dam of English Group 3 winner Miss Slip. Stepping Stone is also a half sister to Step Over (by Ambiorix), dam of multiple stakes winner On Your Toes and second dam of Grade 2 winner Assault Landing and Grade 3 winners St. Brendan, Finder's Choice, and Finder's Reward.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: January 29, 2024
Race record
33 starts, 13 wins, 2 seconds, 5 thirds, US$478,021
1965:
- Won Jerome Handicap (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Hawthorne Diamond Jubilee Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Hawthorne)
- Won Benjamin Franklin Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
- 3rd Roamer Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Aqueduct)
1966:
- Won Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (USA, 10FD, Hawthorne)
- Won Monmouth Handicap (USA, 10FD, Monmouth)
- Won Charles S. Strub Stakes (USA, 10FD, Santa Anita; new track record 1:59-3/5)
- Won Washington Park Handicap (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Charles W. Bidwill Memorial Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hawthorne)
- 3rd Equipoise Mile Handicap (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- 3rd San Fernando Stakes (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd San Antonio Stakes (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
Honors
American champion older male (1966)
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1965, 8 pounds below champion Tom Rolfe.
Co-highweighted with Lucky Debonair at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1966, one pound above Native Diver.
As an individual
A cherry bay, Bold Bidder was a well-balanced horse of good size and substance, standing 16.2 hands. He had a good shoulder, a short back and a long pelvis. His cannons were short and his hindquarters were broad and muscular, bur his pasterns had a bit too much slope, his ankles were not the best and his feet were rather small. His hocks were rather narrow as viewed from the side but never gave him trouble. He was a high-strung animal who was inclined to sulk as a youngster but became more professional as he matured. He did not race as a 2-year-old and did not care to have his races too close together as an older runner. He was unplaced in his one try on turf.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Bold Bidder sired 286 winners (55.5%) and 53 stakes winners (10.3%) from 515 named foals. Bold Bidder is an Intermediate/Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 2nd on the American general sire list in 1974 and 1979; 6th in 1980.
Per Thoroughbred Times:
- 2nd on the American general sire list in 1979; 6th in 1980.
Notable progeny
Cannonade (USA), Cool (USA), Highest Trump (USA), Liloy (FR), Mount Hagen (USA), Parioli (USA), Rash Move (CAN), Spectacular Bid (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Adept (USA), Beautiful Melody (USA), Dinard (USA), Eliza (USA), Landaluce (USA), Tap Shoes (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Bold Bidder was bred and owned by Wheatley Stable and was initially trained by Bill Winfrey. He was sold to Paul Falkenstein partway through his 3-year-old season and moved to the barn of Randy Sechrest at that time. Prior to the beginning of the colt's 4-year-old season, John R. Gaines took out a five-year lease on him with an option to buy, which he exercised after the colt won the 1966 Charles S. Strub Stakes in track record time. John Hanes and John Olin became partners in Bold Bidder's ownership shortly afterward, and the colt was moved to Woody Stephens' barn midway through his 4-year-old season. Bold Bidder stood at Gainesway Farm, where he died in 1982.
Pedigree notes
Bold Bidder is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to Sales Ring, second dam of 1993 Swiss champion steeplechaser Ramification, and to Deepdene, second dam of multiple Japanese Group 1 winner Gallop Dyna. He is a half brother to Top Bid (by Olympia), who was a stakes winner on the flat before becoming the American champion steeplechaser of 1970. He is also a half brother to stakes-placed Winning Trick (by Damascus), dam of Grade 3 winner Play for Love (by Jacinto), second dam of Argentine Group 2 winner Dona Streaper and third dam of Grade 3 winner Etbauer and Australian Group 3 winner Daytona Grey.
Bold Bidder is out of 1959 Alabama Stakes winner High Bid, a half sister to 1959 Pimlico Futurity winner Progressing (by Bimelech) and to 1968 Sorority Stakes winner Big Advance (by Bold Ruler), third dam of 1994 Argentine champion older male and stayer Double Paid and 1997 Gran Premio Copa de Oro (ARG-G1) winner Diddler. High Bid is also a half sister to Intrepid Lady (by Bold Ruler), dam of 1996 Energizer Oaks (ENG-G1) winner Intrepidity (by Sadler's Wells), Irish Group 2 winner Calandra (by Sir Ivor), multiple Irish Group 3 winner Acushla (by Storm Bird), and stakes winners River Prince (by Forli) and Squadron Leader (by Storm Bird). In addition, High Bid is a half sister to Step On (by Nasrullah), third dam of multiple Argentine Group 1 winner Blue Baby Blue, and to Some Progress (by Bold Ruler), third dam of Grade 3 winner No Comprende and Australian Group 3 winner Party Boy.
High Bid and her siblings were produced from the Princequillo mare Stepping Stone (out of Stepping Across, by Balladier), whose half sister Long Stretch (by Menow) is the second dam of English Group 3 winner Miss Slip. Stepping Stone is also a half sister to Step Over (by Ambiorix), dam of multiple stakes winner On Your Toes and second dam of Grade 2 winner Assault Landing and Grade 3 winners St. Brendan, Finder's Choice, and Finder's Reward.
Fun facts
- After Bold Bidder wrapped up the opening part of his season at Santa Anita in 1966, he was sent east to his new owner's Gainesway Farm, where he served several mares before continuing his racing career on the Chicago circuit—an unusual move for an active racehorse in the modern era.
- The Santa Anita track record of 1:59-3/5 that Bold Bidder set in the 1966 Charles S. Strub Stakes stood for 16 years. The horse that broke it? His own son, Spectacular Bid, who won the 1980 Strub in world-record time of 1:57-4/5.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: January 29, 2024