Bull Dog was a decent stakes winner in France but did not show nearly the ability of his older full brother Sir Gallahad III. Nonetheless, Sir Gallahad III helped win Bull Dog better opportunities than he would otherwise have had at stud. After American Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox, Alabama Stakes winner Escutcheon and other good winners emerged from Sir Gallahad III's first two American crops, Charles Shaffer paid the equivalent of US$80,000 for Bull Dog and installed him at his Coldstream Stud. Bull Dog repaid him by becoming an outstanding sire in his own right and sired a stallion son still better than he in Bull Lea.
Race record
8 starts, 2 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds, US$7802 (converted from French earnings)
1929:
1930:
Assessments
In his book Sire Lines, Abram Hewitt opined that Bull Dog's racing form was some 15-20 pounds below that displayed by Sir Gallahad III. Bull Dog may perhaps have had somewhat more talent than he displayed on the race course; according to the Daily Racing Form, Bull Dog's trainer George Newtown died in the spring of 1930 and the horse was never more than half-fit for any of his engagements.
As an individual
A dark bay horse, Bull Dog stood 16 hands and ½ inch when measured at the time of his importation. He was robust with good substance and powerful hindquarters but was a bit long in the back. He reportedly had an excellent disposition and was a good doer.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Bull Dog sired 254 winners (73.8%) and 52 stakes winners (14.7%) from 344 named foals. Sires and Dams of Stakes Winners 1925-1985 (Blood-Horse) lists Bull Dog as having sired 52 stakes winners from 345 foals. He typically threw a round, full-bodied, heavily-muscled type with good precocity and speed, taking after the speedy Plucky Liege rather than the staying Teddy. Many of his progeny were rather long in the back, and Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form noted that a significant number of them had problems with respiratory bleeding. Bull Dog is a Brilliant chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Bull Lea (USA), Canina (USA), Floradora (USA), Gaga (USA), Johns Joy (USA), Miss Dogwood (USA), Miss Ferdinand (USA, Occupation (USA), Occupy (USA), Our Boots (USA), Talma Dee (USA), The Doge (USA), Woof Woof (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Aunt Jinny (USA), Countess Fleet (USA), Dark Star (USA), Decathlon (USA), Donut King (USA), Imbros (USA), Midafternoon (USA), Pet Bully (USA), Prince Blessed (USA), Rough’n Tumble (USA), Royal Coinage (USA), Sette Bello (USA), Spartan Valor (USA), Star Pilot (USA), Tom Fool (USA)
Connections
Foaled at Haras du Bois-Roussel, Bull Dog was bred and owned by Captain Jefferson Davis Cohn. In the fall of 1930, Bull Dog was imported to the United States by Charles B. Schaffer, who had purchased him as a replacement for Man o' War's full brother My Play. Bull Dog stood his entire stud career at Shaffer's Coldstream Stud (which passed to the hands of Shaffer's son, E. E. Dale Shaffer, following Shaffer's death in 1943) and was pensioned in 1948 after he became physically unable to mount his mares. Following the sale of Coldstream Stud, the old stallion remained there and was allowed to live out his days in his familiar box and paddock. He was buried on land that now belongs to the University of Kentucky.
Pedigree notes
Bull Dog is inbred 5x4 to 1875 Derby Stakes winner and three-time leading English sire Galopin. He is also inbred 5x5 to 1863 St. Leger Stakes winner Lord Clifden, the leading English sire of 1876, and 5x5 to 1863 dual Classic winner Macaroni, probably the best English broodmare sire of his time. He is a full brother to 1923 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Sir Gallahad III, a four-time American leading sire and 12-time American leading broodmare sire; to Quatre Bras II, a stakes winner in France and America; and to Marguerite de Valois, dam of 1939 Acorn Stakes winner Hostility and ancestress of the top racers or sires Roman Brother, Dr. Patches, Fappiano, Quiet American, Ogygian and Honour and Glory. He is also a half brother to 1934 Grand Prix de Paris winner Admiral Drake (by Craig an Eran), a Classic sire in England and France; to 1938 Derby Stakes winner Bois Roussel (by Vatout), also a sire of Classic winners; and to French stakes winner Bel Aethel (by Teddy's son Aethelstan II).
Bull Dog is out of Plucky Liege, a speedy juvenile who did not train on at 3. She is a half sister to Garron Lass (by Roseland), whose Friar Marcus filly Friar's Daughter produced the undefeated 1935 English Triple Crown winner Bahram (by Blandford), 1932 Irish Derby winner Dastur, 1941 Durban July Handicap winner Sadri II (by Solario; registered in England under the name Sadruddin prior to his export to South Africa) and French stakes winner Fille de Salut (by Sansovino). Plucky Liege's dam Concertina never raced but was sired by the great English stallion St. Simon from Comic Song (by Petrarch), whose dam Frivolity (by Macaroni) won the 1869 Middle Park Plate.
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: August 11, 2023
Race record
8 starts, 2 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds, US$7802 (converted from French earnings)
1929:
- 2nd Prix Robert Papin (FR, 1200mT, Maisons-Laffitte)
1930:
- Won Prix Daphnis (FR, 1600mT, Le Tremblay)
- Won Prix Fleche d'Or (FR, 1600mT, Le Touquet)
Assessments
In his book Sire Lines, Abram Hewitt opined that Bull Dog's racing form was some 15-20 pounds below that displayed by Sir Gallahad III. Bull Dog may perhaps have had somewhat more talent than he displayed on the race course; according to the Daily Racing Form, Bull Dog's trainer George Newtown died in the spring of 1930 and the horse was never more than half-fit for any of his engagements.
As an individual
A dark bay horse, Bull Dog stood 16 hands and ½ inch when measured at the time of his importation. He was robust with good substance and powerful hindquarters but was a bit long in the back. He reportedly had an excellent disposition and was a good doer.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Bull Dog sired 254 winners (73.8%) and 52 stakes winners (14.7%) from 344 named foals. Sires and Dams of Stakes Winners 1925-1985 (Blood-Horse) lists Bull Dog as having sired 52 stakes winners from 345 foals. He typically threw a round, full-bodied, heavily-muscled type with good precocity and speed, taking after the speedy Plucky Liege rather than the staying Teddy. Many of his progeny were rather long in the back, and Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form noted that a significant number of them had problems with respiratory bleeding. Bull Dog is a Brilliant chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- Led the American general sire list in 1943; 2nd in 1942 and 1944; 3rd in 1940 and 1945; 4th in 1939; 5th in 1937 and 1946.
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 1953, 1954, and 1956; 2nd in 1955; 3rd in 1945; 4th in 1946 and 1950; 5th in 1961; 7th in 1947-1949; 9th in 1944.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 1935, 1940, 1942, and 1943.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- Led the American general sire list in 1943; 2nd in 1942 and 1944; 3rd in 1940, 1941, 1944, and 1945; 4th in 1938 and 1939; 5th in 1937 and 1946; 6th in 1936.
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 1953, 1954, and 1956; 2nd in 1952 and 1955; 3rd in 1945; 4th in 1946, 1950, 1951, and 1957; 5th in 1961; 6th in 1958; 7th in 1947-1949; 9th in 1944 and 1960; 10th in 1959.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 1935 by number of winners and in 1942 and 1943 by progeny earnings.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the American general sire list in 1943; 2nd in 1942 and 1944; 3rd in 1940, 1941, and 1945; 4th in 1938 and 1939; 5th in 1937 and 1946; 6th in 1936.
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 1953, 1954, and 1956; 2nd in 1951 and 1955; 3rd in 1945; 4th in 1946 and 1958; 6th in 1958 and 1961; 7th in 1947-1949; 9th in 1944 and 1960; 10th in 1959.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the American general sire list in 1943.
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 1953, 1954, and 1956.
Notable progeny
Bull Lea (USA), Canina (USA), Floradora (USA), Gaga (USA), Johns Joy (USA), Miss Dogwood (USA), Miss Ferdinand (USA, Occupation (USA), Occupy (USA), Our Boots (USA), Talma Dee (USA), The Doge (USA), Woof Woof (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Aunt Jinny (USA), Countess Fleet (USA), Dark Star (USA), Decathlon (USA), Donut King (USA), Imbros (USA), Midafternoon (USA), Pet Bully (USA), Prince Blessed (USA), Rough’n Tumble (USA), Royal Coinage (USA), Sette Bello (USA), Spartan Valor (USA), Star Pilot (USA), Tom Fool (USA)
Connections
Foaled at Haras du Bois-Roussel, Bull Dog was bred and owned by Captain Jefferson Davis Cohn. In the fall of 1930, Bull Dog was imported to the United States by Charles B. Schaffer, who had purchased him as a replacement for Man o' War's full brother My Play. Bull Dog stood his entire stud career at Shaffer's Coldstream Stud (which passed to the hands of Shaffer's son, E. E. Dale Shaffer, following Shaffer's death in 1943) and was pensioned in 1948 after he became physically unable to mount his mares. Following the sale of Coldstream Stud, the old stallion remained there and was allowed to live out his days in his familiar box and paddock. He was buried on land that now belongs to the University of Kentucky.
Pedigree notes
Bull Dog is inbred 5x4 to 1875 Derby Stakes winner and three-time leading English sire Galopin. He is also inbred 5x5 to 1863 St. Leger Stakes winner Lord Clifden, the leading English sire of 1876, and 5x5 to 1863 dual Classic winner Macaroni, probably the best English broodmare sire of his time. He is a full brother to 1923 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Sir Gallahad III, a four-time American leading sire and 12-time American leading broodmare sire; to Quatre Bras II, a stakes winner in France and America; and to Marguerite de Valois, dam of 1939 Acorn Stakes winner Hostility and ancestress of the top racers or sires Roman Brother, Dr. Patches, Fappiano, Quiet American, Ogygian and Honour and Glory. He is also a half brother to 1934 Grand Prix de Paris winner Admiral Drake (by Craig an Eran), a Classic sire in England and France; to 1938 Derby Stakes winner Bois Roussel (by Vatout), also a sire of Classic winners; and to French stakes winner Bel Aethel (by Teddy's son Aethelstan II).
Bull Dog is out of Plucky Liege, a speedy juvenile who did not train on at 3. She is a half sister to Garron Lass (by Roseland), whose Friar Marcus filly Friar's Daughter produced the undefeated 1935 English Triple Crown winner Bahram (by Blandford), 1932 Irish Derby winner Dastur, 1941 Durban July Handicap winner Sadri II (by Solario; registered in England under the name Sadruddin prior to his export to South Africa) and French stakes winner Fille de Salut (by Sansovino). Plucky Liege's dam Concertina never raced but was sired by the great English stallion St. Simon from Comic Song (by Petrarch), whose dam Frivolity (by Macaroni) won the 1869 Middle Park Plate.
Books and media
- Bull Dog is profiled in Chapter 68 of Abram S. Hewitt's Sire Lines (1977, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; updated and re-released by Eclipse Press in 2006).
- Bull Dog is one of 205 stallions whose accomplishments at stud are profiled in Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, The Australian Bloodhorse Review), a massive reference work written by Jennifer Churchill, Andrew Reichard and Byron Rogers.
Fun facts
- Bull Dog was reportedly badly frightened as a 2-year-old when a spectator flung a newspaper at him during a race and struck him in the face. What impact this had on his racing career is uncertain.
- In 1952, 1953, 1955 and 1956, Bull Dog and Sir Gallahad III finished 1-2 on the American broodmare sire list (though not always in that order).
- In 1948, Bull Dog became the first horse to surpass US$4 million in progeny earnings with only North American runners.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: August 11, 2023