Plum Bold (USA)
March 8, 1969 – May 1984
Bold Ruler (USA) x Plum Cake (USA), by Ponder (USA)
Family 9-c
March 8, 1969 – May 1984
Bold Ruler (USA) x Plum Cake (USA), by Ponder (USA)
Family 9-c
One of Bold Ruler's lesser sons on the track, Plum Bold showed early promise but fell prey to injury. He made a name for himself after his export to South Africa for stud duty, becoming a champion sire in his adopted country.
Race record
16 starts, 4 wins, 5 seconds, 3 thirds, $81,907
1971:
As an individual
A wide-chested chestnut horse, Plum Bold was speedy and precocious but was injured in his career and never achieved everything his initial form might have promised.
As a stallion
Plum Bold was the South African champion sire of 1980/1981. He was third on the South African general sire list in 1978/1979, 1979/1980 and 1982/1983 and was fifth in 1981/1982. According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Plum Bold sired 100 winners (42.0%) and 17 stakes winners (7.1%) from 238 named foals; these records may be incomplete with regard to his South African progeny. Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (Churchill, Reichard and Rogers) credits Plum Bold with 23 stakes winners.
Notable progeny
Another Reef (USA), Bold Cherry (SAF), Bold Tropic (SAF)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Plum Bold was bred and owned by Calumet Farm. He was trained by Reggie Cornell. He was exported to South Africa in 1974 and entered stud at the Birch Brothers' breeding farm, Vogelvlei Stud. He was repatriated to Kentucky in 1980 and stood the remainder of his career at Gainesway Farm near Lexington. He died at Gainesway in May 1984.
Pedigree notes
Plum Bold is inbred 4x4 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner and 1941 American champion sire Blenheim II. He is a full brother to multiple Grade 2 winner Sugar Plum Time, dam of stakes winner Christmas Bonus (by Key to the Mint), second dam of 2002 Oaklawn Handicap (USA-G1) winner Kudos and multiple Grade 3 winner Christmas Gift and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Grand Slam and Canadian Grade 3 winner Officer Cherrie. Plum Bold is also a full brother to Yule Log, dam of 1982 American champion 3-year-old filly Christmas Past (by Grey Dawn II). In addition, he is a half brother to 1977 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Sweet Tooth (by On-and-On); to Plum Plum (by On-and-On), dam of 1977 Patriot Stakes (USA-G3) winner Pruneplum (by Olden Times); and to Sultans Favorite (by Bagdad), third dam of 2010 Ecuadorean champion imported sprinter El Carite.
Plum Bold's dam Plum Cake won a division of the Jasmine Stakes as a 3-year-old in 1961. She is a half sister to 1968 Golden Rod Stakes winner Spring Sunshine (by Nashua), dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Raise a Cup (by Raise a Native) and 1987 Juvenile Stakes (USA-G3) winner Lucky So n' So (by Alydar). Spring Sunshine is also the second dam of Grade 2 winner Dazzle Me Jolie and the third dam of Grade 3 winners Bright Again and Rare Pick. In addition, Plum Cake is a half sister to stakes winner No Fooling (by Tom Fool) and to Heliolight (by Helioscope), dam of 1971 Sport Page Handicap winner Lonesome River (by Rough'n Tumble); second dam of Grade 2 winner Eminency and Grade 3 winner Katonka; and the third dam of 1980 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Codex, multiple Grade 2 winners Give Me Strength and Talakeno and Grade 3 winners Smooth Runner and Hidden Assets.
Plum Cake's dam Real Delight (Bull Lea--Blue Delight, by Blue Larkspur) was the American champion 3-year-old filly and handicap female of 1952. She is a full sister to 1953 Kentucky Oaks winner Bubbley, second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Who Duzzit. She is also a full sister to the stakes-winning colts All Blue and Kentucky Pride and a half sister to 1956 Kentucky Oaks winner Princess Turia (by Heliopolis), dam of 1968 American co-champion 3-year-old male Forward Pass (by On-and-On) and Grade 2 winner Turn to Turia (by Best Turn). In addition, Real Delight is a half sister to Whirling Lark (by Whirlaway), dam of 1955 Gotham Stakes winner Go Lightly (by Faultless) and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner El Senor, Grade 2 winner Carry the Banner and Grade 3 winners Jamila Kadir and Strawberry Wine.
Fun facts
Last updated: August 22, 2020
Race record
16 starts, 4 wins, 5 seconds, 3 thirds, $81,907
1971:
- Won Juvenile Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Belmont)
- Won National Stallion Stakes (Males) (USA, 5.5FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Great American Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Tremont Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Aqueduct)
As an individual
A wide-chested chestnut horse, Plum Bold was speedy and precocious but was injured in his career and never achieved everything his initial form might have promised.
As a stallion
Plum Bold was the South African champion sire of 1980/1981. He was third on the South African general sire list in 1978/1979, 1979/1980 and 1982/1983 and was fifth in 1981/1982. According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Plum Bold sired 100 winners (42.0%) and 17 stakes winners (7.1%) from 238 named foals; these records may be incomplete with regard to his South African progeny. Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (Churchill, Reichard and Rogers) credits Plum Bold with 23 stakes winners.
Notable progeny
Another Reef (USA), Bold Cherry (SAF), Bold Tropic (SAF)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Plum Bold was bred and owned by Calumet Farm. He was trained by Reggie Cornell. He was exported to South Africa in 1974 and entered stud at the Birch Brothers' breeding farm, Vogelvlei Stud. He was repatriated to Kentucky in 1980 and stood the remainder of his career at Gainesway Farm near Lexington. He died at Gainesway in May 1984.
Pedigree notes
Plum Bold is inbred 4x4 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner and 1941 American champion sire Blenheim II. He is a full brother to multiple Grade 2 winner Sugar Plum Time, dam of stakes winner Christmas Bonus (by Key to the Mint), second dam of 2002 Oaklawn Handicap (USA-G1) winner Kudos and multiple Grade 3 winner Christmas Gift and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Grand Slam and Canadian Grade 3 winner Officer Cherrie. Plum Bold is also a full brother to Yule Log, dam of 1982 American champion 3-year-old filly Christmas Past (by Grey Dawn II). In addition, he is a half brother to 1977 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Sweet Tooth (by On-and-On); to Plum Plum (by On-and-On), dam of 1977 Patriot Stakes (USA-G3) winner Pruneplum (by Olden Times); and to Sultans Favorite (by Bagdad), third dam of 2010 Ecuadorean champion imported sprinter El Carite.
Plum Bold's dam Plum Cake won a division of the Jasmine Stakes as a 3-year-old in 1961. She is a half sister to 1968 Golden Rod Stakes winner Spring Sunshine (by Nashua), dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Raise a Cup (by Raise a Native) and 1987 Juvenile Stakes (USA-G3) winner Lucky So n' So (by Alydar). Spring Sunshine is also the second dam of Grade 2 winner Dazzle Me Jolie and the third dam of Grade 3 winners Bright Again and Rare Pick. In addition, Plum Cake is a half sister to stakes winner No Fooling (by Tom Fool) and to Heliolight (by Helioscope), dam of 1971 Sport Page Handicap winner Lonesome River (by Rough'n Tumble); second dam of Grade 2 winner Eminency and Grade 3 winner Katonka; and the third dam of 1980 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Codex, multiple Grade 2 winners Give Me Strength and Talakeno and Grade 3 winners Smooth Runner and Hidden Assets.
Plum Cake's dam Real Delight (Bull Lea--Blue Delight, by Blue Larkspur) was the American champion 3-year-old filly and handicap female of 1952. She is a full sister to 1953 Kentucky Oaks winner Bubbley, second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Who Duzzit. She is also a full sister to the stakes-winning colts All Blue and Kentucky Pride and a half sister to 1956 Kentucky Oaks winner Princess Turia (by Heliopolis), dam of 1968 American co-champion 3-year-old male Forward Pass (by On-and-On) and Grade 2 winner Turn to Turia (by Best Turn). In addition, Real Delight is a half sister to Whirling Lark (by Whirlaway), dam of 1955 Gotham Stakes winner Go Lightly (by Faultless) and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner El Senor, Grade 2 winner Carry the Banner and Grade 3 winners Jamila Kadir and Strawberry Wine.
Fun facts
- Plum Bold was the first American-bred stallion to become a champion sire in South Africa. He was also the first son of Bold Ruler to earn a sire championship in a major racing nation outside North America.
Last updated: August 22, 2020