Tom Rolfe
Template:Short description Template:Distinguish Template:Infobox racehorse 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He went on to record a notable hat-trick at Arlington Park, winning the Citation Handicap<ref name="nytimes.com">Template:Cite news</ref> in July, the Arlington Classic in August,<ref name="nytimes.com"/> and the American Derby in September (breaking the track record).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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.
Sire line tree
- Tom Rolfe<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Darley Arabian Sire Line: St Simon Branch</ref><ref>Jumpers: Darley Arabian Sire Line</ref><ref>American Classic Pedigree: Tom Rolfe</ref>
- Hoist The Flag<ref>American Classic Pedigree: Hoist the Flag</ref>
- Alleged
- Montelimar
- Law Society<ref>Irish Derby Winner Law Society Dies</ref>
- Leading Counsel
- Rodock
- Dun Doire<ref>David Jennings recalls remarkable day for the village of Dunderry</ref><ref>Nothing left in reserve by Dun Doire</ref>
- Justified
- Knockara Beau<ref>A farewell to Knockara Beau - one of my favourite ever horses</ref><ref>Knockara Beau still in with a shout after all these years</ref>
- Hours After
- Legal Case
- Evil Knievel
- Strategic Choice
- Bog Warrior
- Grey Gold
- Flemensfirth<ref>Champion NH Sire Flemensfirth Dies At 31</ref><ref>Dual Champion Flemensfirth has passed away, aged 31.</ref>
- Joe Lively
- Imperial Commander<ref>Imperial Commander – Fact File</ref>
- Tidal Bay<ref>Popular National Hunt star bows out</ref>
- Pandorama<ref>Pandorama takes Lexus prize</ref>
- Flemenstar<ref>'Horse of a lifetime' - prolific Grade 1 winner Flemenstar retired</ref>
- Lostintranslation
- Tornado Flyer
- Flat Top
- Shantou<ref>St. Leger Winner Shantou Dies at 28</ref>
- Ballynagour
- Morning Assembly
- Briar Hill
- Beware The Bear
- Death Duty
- The Storyteller
- Something Soon
- Run Wild Fred
- Jim Key
- Delta Flag
- Salutely
- Make Me A Champ
- Hoist The King
- Linkage
- Stalwart<ref>Successful Stallion Stalwart Dies</ref>
- Kingpost<ref name="As Pretty">AS PRETTY AS A PICTURE</ref>
- Stalwars<ref name="As Pretty"/>
- Stalwart Charger<ref>Stalwart Charger Lights Silver Screen : Horse racing: Gelding wins by 4 1/2 lengths, prompts trainer to call him best 3-year-old in the United States.</ref>
- Sacred Honour
- Alleged
- Run the Gantlet<ref>American Classic Pedigree: Run the Gantlet</ref>
- Panamint
- Ardross<ref>Ardross – “The Last Stayer Ever To Be Named Horse Of The Year”</ref>
- Miocamen<ref>Image: Miocamen</ref>
- Karinga Bay<ref>Death of popular British jumps sire Karinga Bay.</ref>
- Grave Doubts
- Copsale Lad
- Karanja
- Shining Strand
- Coneygree
- Alderbrook
- Baron Windrush
- Ollie Magern<ref>Ollie Magern storms to victory</ref>
- Sh Boom
- Anzum<ref>Racing: Rare case of Anzum is as Anzum does</ref>
- Young Kenny
- Ackzo
- Providential
- Prorutori
- Commanche Run<ref>English Classic Winner Commanche Run Dead</ref>
- Bonny Scot
- Wavy Run
- Commanche Court
- Timbera
- Salt Marsh
- Bowl Game<ref>American Classic Pedigree: Bowl Game</ref>
- French Colonial
- Tantalizing
- Rough Pearl
- Allez Milord
- Hoist The Flag<ref>American Classic Pedigree: Hoist the Flag</ref>
Pedigree
Template:Asterisk Tom Rolfe is inbred 4S x 5D to the stallion Papyrus, meaning that he appears fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree and fifth generation (via Conquilla) on the dam side of his pedigree.
Template:Asterisk Tom Rolfe is inbred 5S x 4D to the stallion Buchan, meaning that he appears fifth generation (via Bucolic) on the sire side of his pedigree and fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.