Holy Bull
Encyclopedia
Holy Bull is an American
Hall of Fame
Champion
Thoroughbred
racehorse
. He was sired by Great Above, whose dam was the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame filly
Ta Wee
.
and was ridden by future Hall of Fame jockey
Mike Smith in every start except his first, when he was ridden by Luis Rivera Jr. Croll inherited Holy Bull from Pelican Stable owner Rachel Carpenter, who had died shortly before Holy Bull won his first race at Monmouth Park in 1993.
Unbeaten in his four races as a two-year-old, at age three Holy Bull won eight out of ten starts, five of which were Grade I
events. He scored wins in the Hutcheson Stakes
, Florida Derby
, and the Blue Grass Stakes
. Much like Hansel
, who went off as the betting favorite in the 1991 Kentucky Derby and finished 10th, Holy Bull was the favorite in the 1994 Derby but wound up 12th.
Following the Derby, his handlers chose to rest the colt and bypassed the remaining two legs of the U.S. Triple Crown series. Once back on the track, Holy Bull soon dominated American racing. He defeated older horses Cherokee Run, Devil His Due and Colonial Affair in the Metropolitan Handicap
. His victory in the Metropolitan marked the beginning of a six-race winning streak that included the Dwyer Stakes
, Haskell Invitational Handicap
, Travers Stakes
, and Woodward Stakes
, which he won by five lengths over Devil His Due
and Colonial Affair
. Holy Bull ended the 1994 racing season as U.S. Champion 3-year-old male
and Horse of the Year
. The Daily Racing Form
weighted Holy Bull at 130 lbs., most for a 3 year-old in 15 years(Spectacular Bid
) in 1979.
As a four-year-old, Holy Bull won the Olympic Handicap easily but was injured and pulled up during the Donn Handicap
. Sold to Darley Stud
, in retirement he stands stud
at Darley's Jonabell Farm in Lexington, Kentucky
. His offspring include 2000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile
winner and U.S. Champion 2-year-old male Macho Uno
, 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo
, 2007 Stephen Foster Handicap
winner Flashy Bull
, and graded stakes race
winners Bwana Bull, Confessional, Bishop Court Hill, Woke Up Dreamin, and Eishin Boone.
In the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th Century, Holy Bull was ranked #64. In 2001, he was inducted in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
Champion
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. He was sired by Great Above, whose dam was the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
Ta Wee
Ta Wee
Ta Wee was an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame race horse bred at the Tartan Stable of William L. McKnight . Foaled on March 26, 1966, her sire was Intentionally, the American Champion Sprint Horse of 1959...
.
Race History
Holy Bull was trained by Warren A. "Jimmy" Croll, Jr.Warren A. Croll, Jr.
Warren A. "Jimmy" Croll, Jr. was an American Hall of Fame Thoroughbred race horse trainer.Croll was born in 1920 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. After finishing high school, he attended the University of Pennsylvania with the intention of becoming a veterinarian but left to pursue his passion for...
and was ridden by future Hall of Fame jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
Mike Smith in every start except his first, when he was ridden by Luis Rivera Jr. Croll inherited Holy Bull from Pelican Stable owner Rachel Carpenter, who had died shortly before Holy Bull won his first race at Monmouth Park in 1993.
Unbeaten in his four races as a two-year-old, at age three Holy Bull won eight out of ten starts, five of which were Grade I
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
events. He scored wins in the Hutcheson Stakes
Hutcheson Stakes
The Hutcheson Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. A Grade II event raced on dirt, it is open to three-year-old horses. Run over a distance of seven and a half furlongs, it currently offers a purse of $150,000.Inaugurated on...
, Florida Derby
Florida Derby
The Florida Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida on the Saturday closest to the end of March or the first of April. Added to the racing schedule in 1952, the Grade 1 race is run at 1⅛ miles on the dirt...
, and the Blue Grass Stakes
Blue Grass Stakes
The Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, currently sponsored by the Toyota Motor Corporation, is an American Grade 1 horse race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds held annually in mid April at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky....
. Much like Hansel
Hansel (horse)
Hansel is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the final two legs of the U.S. Triple Crown races in 1991 and was voted the Eclipse Award for Outstanding 3-Year-Old Male Horse. Out of the mare Count on Bonnie, his sire was Woodman, a Champion 2-year-old colt in Ireland who was a son of the...
, who went off as the betting favorite in the 1991 Kentucky Derby and finished 10th, Holy Bull was the favorite in the 1994 Derby but wound up 12th.
Following the Derby, his handlers chose to rest the colt and bypassed the remaining two legs of the U.S. Triple Crown series. Once back on the track, Holy Bull soon dominated American racing. He defeated older horses Cherokee Run, Devil His Due and Colonial Affair in the Metropolitan Handicap
Metropolitan Handicap
The Metropolitan Handicap, frequently called the "Met Mile," is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the last week of May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile .The Met Mile was first...
. His victory in the Metropolitan marked the beginning of a six-race winning streak that included the Dwyer Stakes
Dwyer Stakes
The Dwyer Stakes is an American Grade II stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbred racehorses held annually at Belmont Park racetrack in Elmont, Long Island, New York. Run in early July, it is open to three-year-old horses and is raced over a distance of 1 1/16-miles on dirt...
, Haskell Invitational Handicap
Haskell Invitational Handicap
The Resorts Casino & Hotel Haskell Invitational is an American Grade I race for thoroughbred horses. In 1968, the Board of Directors of Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey honored its former President and Chairman Amory L. Haskell with the Amory L. Haskell Handicap, a race for older...
, Travers Stakes
Travers Stakes
The Travers Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.First held in 1864, it was named for William R. Travers, the president of the old Saratoga Racing Association. His horse, Kentucky, won the first running of the Travers...
, and Woodward Stakes
Woodward Stakes
The Woodward Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race and is one of the premier races for older thoroughbred horses in the United States. Named for prominent racehorse owner, George Nicholas Woodward, it is run at 1⅛ miles on the dirt for a purse of $750,000.The Woodward was run as a handicap in...
, which he won by five lengths over Devil His Due
Devil His Due
Devil His Due was multimillionaire American Thoroughbred racehorse and successful sire. Bred in Kentucky by Peter E. Blum and raced under the Blue Ribbon Farm banner, he had a record of 41: 11-12-3 with career earnings of $3,920,405. At the time of his retirement he was fourth on the all time...
and Colonial Affair
Colonial Affair
Colonial Affair is an American thoroughbred stallion racehorse....
. Holy Bull ended the 1994 racing season as U.S. Champion 3-year-old male
Eclipse Award for Outstanding 3-Year-Old Male Horse
The American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971....
and Horse of the Year
Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year
The American Award for Horse of the Year is the highest honor given in American thoroughbred horse racing. It has been awarded since 1887 to the horse, irrespective of age, whose performance during the racing year is deemed the most outstanding....
. The Daily Racing Form
Daily Racing Form
The Daily Racing Form is a tabloid newspaper founded in 1894 in Chicago, Illinois by Frank Brunell. The paper publishes the past performances of race horses as a statistical service for bettors on horse racing in the United States....
weighted Holy Bull at 130 lbs., most for a 3 year-old in 15 years(Spectacular Bid
Spectacular Bid
Spectacular Bid was an American Thoroughbred race horse. "The Bid" as he was known was one of the most dominant gallopers of his time...
) in 1979.
As a four-year-old, Holy Bull won the Olympic Handicap easily but was injured and pulled up during the Donn Handicap
Donn Handicap
The Donn Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in late January/early February at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.The race is named after the Donn family, who for many years owned and operated the racetrack....
. Sold to Darley Stud
Darley Stud
Darley Stud is a Thoroughbred breeding operation owned by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai and vice-president of the United Arab Emirates. Darley breeds horses in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, Dubai, Japan and Australia....
, in retirement he stands stud
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
at Darley's Jonabell Farm in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
. His offspring include 2000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Breeders' Cup Juvenile
The Breeders' Cup Juvenile is a Thoroughbred horse race for 2-year-old colts and geldings raced on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships....
winner and U.S. Champion 2-year-old male Macho Uno
Macho Uno
Macho Uno is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He was sired by the 1994 American Horse of the Year and U.S...
, 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo
Giacomo
Giacomo is a Thoroughbred stallion race horse trained by John Shirreffs who is perhaps best known for winning the 2005 Kentucky Derby in 2:02.75...
, 2007 Stephen Foster Handicap
Stephen Foster Handicap
The Stephen Foster Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run in mid-June near the end of the Churchill Downs Spring Meet in Louisville, Kentucky...
winner Flashy Bull
Flashy Bull
Flashy Bull by Jerry and Liz Squyres at Crowning Point Farm in Paris, Kentucky is an American thoroughbred stallion racehorse. He was sired by the 1994 U.S...
, and graded stakes race
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
winners Bwana Bull, Confessional, Bishop Court Hill, Woke Up Dreamin, and Eishin Boone.
In the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th Century, Holy Bull was ranked #64. In 2001, he was inducted in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
.