Tom Rolfe
Tom Rolfe | |
---|---|
Sire | Ribot |
Grandsire | Tenerani |
Dam | Pocahontas |
Damsire | Roman |
Sex | Stallion |
Foaled | 1962 |
Country | United States |
Color | Bay |
Breeder | Raymond R. Guest |
Owner | Powhatan Stable |
Trainer | Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. |
Record | 31: 16-5-5 |
Earnings | $671,297 |
Major wins | |
Cowdin Stakes (1964) American Derby (1965) Arlington Classic (1965) Aqueduct Handicap (1966) Salvator Mile Handicap (1966) American Triple Crown wins: | |
Awards | |
U.S. Champion 3-Yr-Old Colt (1965) |
Tom Rolfe (April 14, 1962 – June 12, 1989) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was the leading colt of his generation in the United States, winning the Preakness Stakes and being voted American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse in 1965.
Background
Tom Rolfe was one of the best American sons of the undefeated Italian champion Ribot. His dam was Pocahontas, from whom he takes his name (the historical Pocahontas's only child was named Thomas). His half-siblings include the talented racehorse and sire Chieftain (a son of Bold Ruler).
A small horse, Tom Rolfe stood 15.2 hands and weighed less than 1,000 pounds.
Racing career
Tom Rolfe won 16 of his 31 starts, with total earnings of $671,297. Ridden by future Hall of Fame jockey Ron Turcotte, he ran third to winner Lucky Debonair in the 1965 Kentucky Derby. In May he won the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course, beating Dapper Dan by a neck, despite losing a shoe in the race and sustaining a minor injury.[1] In the Belmont Stakes in June he led in the straight but was caught close to the finish and beaten a neck by Hail To All.[2] He went on to record a notable hat-trick at Arlington Park, winning the Citation Handicap[3] in July, the Arlington Classic in August,[3] and the American Derby in September (breaking the track record).[4] His performances were enough to earn him American Champion 3-Year-Old Male Horse honors.
His sire, Ribot, won back-to-back runnings of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and Tom Rolfe was shipped to Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, France to contest the 1965 Arc. He disputed the lead until the closing stages and finished sixth on the grass course to Sea-Bird, but that result remains one of the best by an American-trained entry in that championship race.
Tom Rolfe stayed in training as a four-year-old in 1966. His wins included carrying 127 pounds to victory in the Aqueduct Handicap in September.[5]
Stud record
Retired to stud at Claiborne Farm near Paris, Kentucky, Tom Rolfe proved a successful sire. He is largely known today as a sire of outstanding broodmares, but his best offspring on the track was 1970 American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt and 1987 leading broodmare sire Hoist The Flag. Tom Rolfe died in 1989 and was buried at Claiborne Farm's Marchmont cemetery.
Breeding
Sire Ribot bay 1952 | Tenerani brown 1944 | Bellini | Cavaliere D'Arpino |
---|---|---|---|
Bella Minna | |||
Tofanella | Apelle | ||
Try Try Again | |||
Romanella ch. 1943 | El Greco | Pharos | |
Gay Gamp | |||
Barbara Burrini | Papyrus | ||
Bucolic | |||
Dam Pocahontas brown 1955 | Roman bay 1937 | Sir Gallahad | Teddy |
Plucky Liege | |||
Buckup | Buchan | ||
Look Up | |||
How bay 1948 | Princequillo | Prince Rose | |
Cosquilla | |||
The Squaw | Sickle | ||
Minnewaska |
References
- ^ "The Free Lance-Star - Google News Archive Search". google.com.
- ^ "The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search". google.com.
- ^ a b "3-T0-10 FAVORITE MAKES LATE MOVE - Time of 1 - 34 4/5 Sets Mark for Classic -- Sum Up Is Third as Seven Start - Article - NYTimes.com". 29 August 1965.
- ^ "Tom Rolfe Sets Track Mark in Winning $128,100 American Derby - SHOEMAKER RIDES 2-TO-5 FAVORITE Tom Rolfe Is Clocked in 2 - 00 3/5 for 1 1/4 Miles -Royal Gunner Second - Article - NYTimes.com". 14 September 1965.
- ^ "Ocala Star-Banner - Google News Archive Search". google.com.
- Tom Rolfe's pedigree and stats
- v
- t
- e
- 1873 Survivor
- 1874 Culpepper
- 1875 Tom Ochiltree
- 1876 Shirley
- 1877 Cloverbrook
- 1878 Duke of Magenta
- 1879 Harold
- 1880 Grenada
- 1881 Saunterer
- 1882 Vanguard
- 1883 Jacobus
- 1884 Knight of Ellerslie
- 1885 Tecumseh
- 1886 The Bard
- 1887 Dunboyne
- 1888 Refund
- 1889 Buddhist
- 1890 Montague
- 1894 Assignee
- 1895 Belmar
- 1896 Margrave
- 1897 Paul Kauvar
- 1898 Sly Fox
- 1899 Half Time
- 1900 Hindus
- 1901 The Parader
- 1902 Old England
- 1903 Flocarline ♥
- 1904 Bryn Mawr
- 1905 Cairngorm
- 1906 Whimsical ♥
- 1907 Don Enrique
- 1908 Royal Tourist
- 1909 Effendi
- 1910 Layminster
- 1911 Watervale
- 1912 Colonel Holloway
- 1913 Buskin
- 1914 Holiday
- 1915 Rhine Maiden ♥
- 1916 Damrosch
- 1917 Kalitan
- 1918 War Cloud
- 1918 Jack Hare Jr.
- 1919 Sir Barton ₩
- 1920 Man o' War
- 1921 Broomspun
- 1922 Pillory
- 1923 Vigil
- 1924 Nellie Morse ♥
- 1925 Coventry
- 1926 Display
- 1927 Bostonian
- 1928 Victorian
- 1929 Dr. Freeland
- 1930 Gallant Fox ₩
- 1931 Mate
- 1932 Burgoo King
- 1933 Head Play
- 1934 High Quest
- 1935 Omaha ₩
- 1936 Bold Venture
- 1937 War Admiral ₩
- 1938 Dauber
- 1939 Challedon
- 1940 Bimelech
- 1941 Whirlaway ₩
- 1942 Alsab
- 1943 Count Fleet ₩
- 1944 Pensive
- 1945 Polynesian
- 1946 Assault ₩
- 1947 Faultless
- 1948 Citation ₩
- 1949 Capot
- 1950 Hill Prince
- 1951 Bold
- 1952 Blue Man
- 1953 Native Dancer
- 1954 Hasty Road
- 1955 Nashua
- 1956 Fabius
- 1957 Bold Ruler
- 1958 Tim Tam
- 1959 Royal Orbit
- 1960 Bally Ache
- 1961 Carry Back
- 1962 Greek Money
- 1963 Candy Spots
- 1964 Northern Dancer
- 1965 Tom Rolfe
- 1966 Kauai King
- 1967 Damascus
- 1968 Forward Pass
- 1969 Majestic Prince
- 1970 Personality
- 1971 Canonero II
- 1972 Bee Bee Bee
- 1973 Secretariat ₩
- 1974 Little Current
- 1975 Master Derby
- 1976 Elocutionist
- 1977 Seattle Slew ₩
- 1978 Affirmed ₩
- 1979 Spectacular Bid
- 1980 Codex
- 1981 Pleasant Colony
- 1982 Aloma's Ruler
- 1983 Deputed Testamony
- 1984 Gate Dancer
- 1985 Tank's Prospect
- 1986 Snow Chief
- 1987 Alysheba
- 1988 Risen Star
- 1989 Sunday Silence
- 1990 Summer Squall
- 1991 Hansel
- 1992 Pine Bluff
- 1993 Prairie Bayou
- 1994 Tabasco Cat
- 1995 Timber Country
- 1996 Louis Quatorze
- 1997 Silver Charm
- 1998 Real Quiet
- 1999 Charismatic
- 2000 Red Bullet
- 2001 Point Given
- 2002 War Emblem
- 2003 Funny Cide
- 2004 Smarty Jones
- 2005 Afleet Alex
- 2006 Bernardini
- 2007 Curlin
- 2008 Big Brown
- 2009 Rachel Alexandra ♥
- 2010 Lookin At Lucky
- 2011 Shackleford
- 2012 I'll Have Another
- 2013 Oxbow
- 2014 California Chrome
- 2015 American Pharoah ₩
- 2016 Exaggerator
- 2017 Cloud Computing
- 2018 Justify ₩
- 2019 War of Will
- 2020 Swiss Skydiver ♥
- 2021 Rombauer
- 2022 Early Voting
- 2023 National Treasure
- 2024 Seize the Grey
Legend – ₩ = Triple Crown Winners, ♥ = Filly