View source for Tom Rolfe

{{short description|American Thoroughbred racehorse}}
{{distinguish|Tom Rolf}}
{{Infobox racehorse
| horsename = Tom Rolfe
| image = 
| caption =
| sire = [[Ribot (horse)|Ribot]]
| grandsire = [[Tenerani]]
| dam = Pocahontas
| damsire = Roman 
| sex = [[Stallion (horse)|Stallion]]
| foaled = 1962
| country = United States
| color = [[Bay (horse)|Bay]]
| breeder = [[Raymond R. Guest]]
| owner = [[Raymond R. Guest|Powhatan Stable]]
| trainer = [[Frank Y. Whiteley Jr.]]
| record = 31: 16-5-5
| earnings = $671,297
| race = [[Cowdin Stakes]] (1964)<br>[[American Derby]] (1965)<br>[[Arlington Classic]] (1965)<br>[[Aqueduct Handicap]] (1966)<br>[[Salvator Mile Handicap]] (1966)<p>
'''[[Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing#United States Triple Crowns|American Triple Crown]] wins:'''<br>[[Preakness Stakes]] ([[1965 Preakness Stakes|1965]])</p>
| awards= [[American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse|U.S. Champion 3-Yr-Old Colt]] (1965)
| honors =  
|updated= 
}}
'''Tom Rolfe''' (April 14, 1962 – June 12, 1989) was an American [[Thoroughbred]] [[horse racing|racehorse]]  and [[Horse breeding#Terminology|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 (horse)|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 [[National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame|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 [[horseshoe|shoe]] in the race and sustaining a minor injury.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hOVLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LosDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7377,4298643&dq=tom-rolfe+preakness&hl=en|title=The Free Lance-Star - Google News Archive Search|work=google.com}}</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>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RIY1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=Wp8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=7235,1434484&dq=tom-rolfe+preakness&hl=en|title=The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search|work=google.com}}</ref> He went on to record a notable hat-trick at [[Arlington Park]], winning the [[Citation Handicap]]<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/08/29/archives/3t010-favorite-makes-late-move-time-of-134-45-sets-mark-for-classic.html|title=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|work=The New York Times |date=29 August 1965}}</ref> in July, the [[Arlington Classic]] in August,<ref name="nytimes.com"/> and the [[American Derby]] in September (breaking the track record).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/09/14/archives/tom-rolfe-sets-track-mark-in-winning-128100-american-derby.html|title=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|work=The New York Times |date=14 September 1965}}</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 [[Pound (mass)|pounds]] to victory in the [[Aqueduct Handicap]] in September.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tMwwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-QUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3735,887431&dq=tom-rolfe&hl=en|title=Ocala Star-Banner - Google News Archive Search|work=google.com}}</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 in North America|leading broodmare sire]] [[Hoist The Flag]]. Tom Rolfe died in 1989 and was buried at Claiborne Farm's Marchmont cemetery.

==Sire line tree==
{{tree list}}
*'''Tom Rolfe'''<!--b. 1962--><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Sirelines/Galopin.htm |title=Sire Line: Galopin |access-date=2025-08-23 |archive-date=2023-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331092542/https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Sirelines/Galopin.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/SireLineschts/SireLineDAKFStSimon.html Darley Arabian Sire Line: St Simon Branch]</ref><ref>[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/JumpSires/JumpsiresDAA.html Jumpers: Darley Arabian Sire Line]</ref><ref>[https://www.americanclassicpedigrees.com/tom-rolfe.html American Classic Pedigree: Tom Rolfe]</ref>
**[[Hoist The Flag]]<!--b. 1968--><ref>[https://www.americanclassicpedigrees.com/hoist-the-flag.html American Classic Pedigree: Hoist the Flag]</ref>
***[[Alleged (horse)|Alleged]]<!--b. 1974-->
****Montelimar<!--b. 1981-->
*****Monty's Pass<!--b. 1993--><ref>[https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/he-proved-fairy-tales-do-come-true-for-ordinary-people-grand-national-hero-dies-aged-29-810577 ‘He proved fairy tales do come true for ordinary people’: Grand National hero dies aged 29]</ref>
*****[[Hedgehunter]]<!--b. 1996-->
****[[Law Society (horse)|Law Society]]<!--b. 1982--><ref>[https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/137536/irish-derby-winner-law-society-dies Irish Derby Winner Law Society Dies]</ref>
*****[[Eddie Read Stakes#Winners|Approach the Bench]]<!--b. 1988-->
*****[[Prix d'Harcourt#Winners since 1980|Fortune's Wheel]]<!--b. 1988-->
*****[[Grand Prix de Paris#Winners since 1957|Homme de Loi]]<!--b. 1989-->
*****[[Gran Premio d'Italia#Winners since 1984|Right Win]]<!--b. 1990-->
*****[[Gran Premio del Jockey Club#Winners since 1981|Court of Honour]]<!--b. 1992-->
*****[[Grosser Preis von Berlin#Winners since 1970|Anzillero]]<!--b. 1997-->
*****[[Hatton's Grace Hurdle#Winners|Catch Me]]<!--b. 2002-->
****[[Leading Counsel]]<!--b. 1982-->
*****[[Champion Hurdle Trial#Winners|Rodock]]<!--b. 1994-->
*****[[Festival Trophy Handicap Chase#Winners since 1946|Dun Doire]]<!--b. 1999--><ref>[https://www.meathchronicle.ie/2021/01/29/david-jennings-recalls-remarkable-day-for-the-village-of-dunderry/ David Jennings recalls remarkable day for the village of Dunderry]</ref><ref>[https://www.independent.ie/sport/horse-racing/nothing-left-in-reserve-by-dun-doire/26406323.html Nothing left in reserve by Dun Doire]</ref>
*****[[WillowWarm Gold Cup#Winners since 1960|Justified]]<!--b. 1999-->
*****[[Cleeve Hurdle#Winners|Knockara Beau]]<!--b. 2003--><ref>[https://www.racingpost.com/news/features/a-farewell-knockara-beau-one-of-my-favourite-ever-horses-akYAy1I8lVIL/ A farewell to Knockara Beau - one of my favourite ever horses]</ref><ref>[https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/14241556.knockara-beau-still-shout-years/ Knockara Beau still in with a shout after all these years]</ref>
****[[Hours After (horse)|Hours After]]<!--b. 1985-->
****[[Legal Case]]<!--b. 1986-->
*****Evil Knievel<!--b. 1999-->
****[[Strategic Choice]]<!--b. 1991-->
*****[[Drinmore Novice Chase#Winners since 1994|Bog Warrior]]<!--b. 2004-->
*****Grey Gold<!--b. 2005-->
****[[Flemensfirth]]<!--b. 1992--><ref>[https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/champion-nh-sire-flemensfirth-dies-at-31/ Champion NH Sire Flemensfirth Dies At 31]</ref><ref>[https://thegrassrootsgazette.ie/dual-champion-flemensfirth-has-passed-away-aged-31/ Dual Champion Flemensfirth has passed away, aged 31.]</ref>
*****Joe Lively<!--b. 1999-->
*****[[Imperial Commander (horse)|Imperial Commander]]<!--b. 2001--><ref>[https://eclipsemagazine.co.uk/imperial-commander-fact-file/ Imperial Commander – Fact File]</ref>
*****[[Tidal Bay]]<!--b. 2001--><ref>[https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/racing/tidal-bay-retires-429026 Popular National Hunt star bows out]</ref>
*****[[Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle#Winners|Pandorama]]<!--b. 2003--><ref>[https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/racing/arid-30487227.html Pandorama takes Lexus prize]</ref>
*****Flemenstar<!--b. 2005--><ref>[https://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-of-a-lifetime-and-prolific-grade-1-winner-flemenstar-retired-agU1G8P7DZqH/ 'Horse of a lifetime' - prolific Grade 1 winner Flemenstar retired]</ref>
*****Lostintranslation<!--b. 2012-->
*****Tornado Flyer<!--b. 2013-->
****Flat Top<!--b. 1993-->
****[[Shantou (horse)|Shantou]]<!--b. 1993--><ref>[https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/252875/st-leger-winner-shantou-dies-at-28 St. Leger Winner Shantou Dies at 28]</ref>
*****Ballynagour<!--b. 2006-->
*****Morning Assembly<!--b. 2007-->
*****Briar Hill<!--b. 2008-->
*****Beware The Bear<!--b. 2010-->
*****Death Duty<!--b. 2011-->
*****The Storyteller<!--b. 2011-->
*****Something Soon<!--b. 2013-->
*****Run Wild Fred<!--b. 2014-->
*****Jim Key<!--b. 2016-->
***Delta Flag<!--b. 1975-->
***Salutely<!--b. 1978-->
****Make Me A Champ<!--b. 1991-->
***[[Hoist The King]]<!--b. 1979-->
***[[Linkage (horse)|Linkage]]<!--b. 1979-->
***Stalwart<!--b. 1979--><ref>[https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/176497/successful-stallion-stalwart-dies Successful Stallion Stalwart Dies]</ref>
****Kingpost<!--b. 1985--><ref name="As Pretty">[https://vault.si.com/vault/1988/04/11/as-pretty-as-a-picture-kingpost-is-ugly-but-his-jim-beam-win-was-a-beaut AS PRETTY AS A PICTURE]</ref>
****Stalwars<!--b. 1985--><ref name="As Pretty"/>
****Stalwart Charger<!--b. 1987--><ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-07-02-sp-494-story.html 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<!--b. 1991-->
**[[Run the Gantlet]]<!--b. 1968--><ref>[https://www.americanclassicpedigrees.com/run-the-gantlet.html American Classic Pedigree: Run the Gantlet]</ref>
***[[Adelaide Cup#Winners|Panamint]]<!--b. 1974-->
***[[Ardross (horse)|Ardross]]<!--b. 1976--><ref>[https://horseracinghof.com/features/ardross-the-last-stayer-ever-to-be-named-horse-of-the-year/ Ardross – “The Last Stayer Ever To Be Named Horse Of The Year”]</ref>
****Miocamen<!--b. 1986--><ref>[https://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/JumpSires/JSimag/miocamen.html Image: Miocamen]</ref>
****[[Gordon Stakes#Winners since 1960|Karinga Bay]]<!--b. 1987--><ref>[https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Death+of+popular+British+jumps+sire+Karinga+Bay.-a0149141717 Death of popular British jumps sire Karinga Bay.]</ref>
*****Grave Doubts<!--b. 1996-->
*****Copsale Lad<!--b. 1997-->
*****Karanja<!--b. 1999-->
*****Shining Strand<!--b. 1999-->
*****[[Coneygree]]<!--b. 2007-->
****[[Alderbrook (horse)|Alderbrook]]<!--b. 1989-->
*****[[Classic Chase#Winners|Baron Windrush]]<!--b. 1998-->
*****[[Kauto Star Novices' Chase#Winners|Ollie Magern]]<!--b. 1998--><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/7076953.stm Ollie Magern storms to victory]</ref>
*****Sh Boom<!--b. 1998-->
****[[Anzum]]<!--b. 1991--><ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-rare-case-of-anzum-is-as-anzum-does-1133546.html Racing: Rare case of Anzum is as Anzum does]</ref>
****[[Midlands Grand National#Winners|Young Kenny]]<!--b. 1991-->
****Ackzo<!--b. 1993-->
***[[Providential]]<!--b. 1977-->
****Prorutori<!--b. 1986-->
***[[Commanche Run]]<!--b. 1981--><ref>[https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/171054/english-classic-winner-commanche-run-dead English Classic Winner Commanche Run Dead]</ref>
****[[Great Voltigeur Stakes#Winners|Bonny Scot]]<!--b. 1989-->
****Wavy Run<!--b. 1991-->
****[[Commanche Court]]<!--b. 1993-->
****Timbera<!--b. 1994-->
**Salt Marsh<!--b. 1970-->
**[[Bowl Game (horse)|Bowl Game]]<!--b. 1974--><ref>[https://www.americanclassicpedigrees.com/bowl-game.html American Classic Pedigree: Bowl Game]</ref>
**French Colonial<!--b. 1975-->
**Tantalizing<!--b. 1979-->
**Rough Pearl<!--b. 1981-->
**Allez Milord<!--b. 1983-->
{{tree list/end}}

==Pedigree==
{{Pedigree
|name = Tom Rolfe
|f = [[Ribot (horse)|Ribot]]
bay  1952
|m = Pocahontas
brown  1955
|ff = [[Tenerani]]  
brown  1944
|fm = Romanella
ch.  1943
|mf = [[Roman (horse)|Roman]]
bay 1937
|mm = How
bay 1948
|fff = [[Bellini (horse)|Bellini]]
|ffm = Tofanella
|fmf = [[El Greco (horse)|El Greco]]
|fmm = Barbara Burrini
|mff = [[Sir Gallahad]]
|mfm = Buckup
|mmf = [[Princequillo]]
|mmm = The Squaw
|ffff = [[Cavaliere d'Arpino (horse)|Cavaliere d'Arpino]]
|fffm = Bella Minna
|ffmf = [[Apelle]]
|ffmm = Try Try Again
|fmff = [[Pharos (horse)|Pharos]]
|fmfm = Gay Gamp
|fmmf = '''[[Papyrus (horse)|Papyrus]]*'''
|fmmm = '''Bucolic*'''
|mfff = [[Teddy (horse)|Teddy]]
|mffm = [[Plucky Liege]]
|mfmf = '''[[Buchan (horse)|Buchan]]*'''
|mfmm = Look Up
|mmff = [[Prince Rose]]
|mmfm = '''Cosquilla*'''
|mmmf = [[Sickle (horse)|Sickle]]
|mmmm = Minnewaska
|}}

{{asterisk}} Tom Rolfe is [[inbreeding|inbred]] 4S x 5D to the stallion [[Papyrus (horse)|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.

{{asterisk}} Tom Rolfe is inbred 5S x 4D to the stallion [[Buchan (horse)|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.

==References==
{{reflist}}
*[http://www.pedigreequery.com/tom+rolfe Tom Rolfe's pedigree and stats]

{{Preakness Stakes Winners}}

[[Category:1962 racehorse births]]
[[Category:1989 racehorse deaths]]
[[Category:Racehorses bred in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Racehorses trained in the United States]]
[[Category:Horse racing track record setters]]
[[Category:Preakness Stakes winners]]
[[Category:United States Champion Thoroughbred Sires]]
[[Category:Eclipse Award winners]]
[[Category:Thoroughbred family 9-h]]
[[Category:Chefs-de-Race]]