NEWS
Two-time leading Canadian sire Bold Executive dies
Posted: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 11:22 AM
by Frank Angst
Two-time leading Canadian sire Bold Executive, a blue-collar success story in the breeding shed, died on Monday evening at the age of 27.
Paradox Farm owner Mike Colterjohn said a vascular problem was discovered Monday evening as the active Bold Ruckus sire came in from the paddock. Standing at Paradox Farm at Gardiner Farms, his home since 1989 when he debuted with a $3,500 stud fee, Bold Executive proved to be one of Canada’s most consistent sires.
Bold Executive finished as the country’s leading sire in 2003 and 2004 and ranked among the leading sires in 1998, 1999, 2001, and 2002. Through September 26 this year, he has again found his way to the top of Canada’s sire list with progeny earnings of $2,171,304.
Colterjohn noted that Bold Executive was still active, covering about 40 mares this season.
“He was tough and he had a strong libido,” Colterjohn said. “He’s always had great fertility and I think he was helped by never having a season where he covered 200 mares or something. I think that helped him stay active.”
On the track, Bold Executive won three restricted stakes at Woodbine, taking the Yearling Sales and Coronation Futurity Stakes at age two. At three he won the Shepperton Stakes.
While successful on the track, he would find his niche in Ontario’s breeding program. After initially standing for $3,500, Bold Executive’s consistent success led to stud fee increases throughout his career and he stood the last five years for a career-high $15,000.
Bold Executive’s leading runners include three Canadian champions in Sand Cove, Blonde Executive, and Simply Lovely. Sand Cove was named champion older horse last year after winning four stakes at Woodbine, including the Seagram Cup Stakes (Can-G3). Blonde Executive earned champion sprinter honors in 2004, a year she won the Duchess Stakes (Can-G3) and three other stakes. Simply Lovely secured champion two-year-old filly honors in 2004 when she won three stakes at Woodbine.
As the sire of 43 stakes winners and 430 winners from 584 starters through September 26, Colterjohn said Bold Executive was also a key player in Ontario’s Sire Stakes. With his progeny enjoying success on the Polytrack at Woodbine, Bold Executive currently ranks first on the sire list by progeny earnings on synthetic surfaces.
Colterjohn also said Bold Executive seemed aware of his status at the farm.
“He was tough as a lot of the Bold Ruckus horses are and I think we see that in a lot of his progeny,” Colterjohn said. “As far as he was concerned, he was the only man in the world.”
Frank Angst is senior writer of Thoroughbred Times.
