Boule d'Or - An Old Friend I Hope Will Make It To Old Friends

Through my years as a racing fan I have followed the careers of certain horses that made a lasting impression for one reason or another. Sometimes, it was simply to watch a beautiful horse like La Lorgnette who quite literally stood head and shoulders over her racing combatants at a menacing 17 hands. For a while, I followed the awesome turf races of Lake Country, who won the Nassau Stakes back-to-back in 1985/86 with jockey Jeff Fell. As I grew older, the names changed from Bessarabian to Sky Classic and most recently, Southdale.

When the horse you follow is good enough, you eventually start to see their offspring hit the racetrack and the memories come flooding back. However, sometimes I would follow a horse from the claiming ranks and eventually they would disappear from the entries to be forgotten. Lately, I have been following a non-Woodbine horse by the name of Boule d'Or who caught my eye by racing across the world while managing to ring up the dubious accomplishment of 29 consecutive losses.

The eight year-old Boule d'Or is quite the racing character. Earlier this year, while handicapping the $26M day of racing that is the Dubai World Cup card, my wandering eye found a little nugget of information tucked in the Daily Racing Form's page of facts about Nad Al Sheba racecourse. Listed in the track records, amongst a legendary name like Dubai Millennium and runaway Dubai Duty Free winner Gladiatorus, was the name Boule d'Or. On January 27, 2005 a then four year-old Boule d'Or covered 1 1/4m in a record 2:01.18 under jockey Nigel Day to win the Damas Solitaire Stakes. That record will stand forever now that a new Dubai track is close to completion.


A few weeks following that big win, Boule d'Or would take the Leopardstown Stakes over the same Nad Al Sheba course. It would be his last victory in Dubai. In fact, it would be Boule d'Or's last win for another 29 starts until a seven year-old Boule d'Or wired a $62K optional claiming field over his favoured 1 1/4 mile distance on the Santa Anita turf. In between these two widespread victories the Irish bred son of Croco Rouge raced in four different countries and thirteen different racetracks. His travels have taken him from one conditioner to another including Roger Ingram, Conrad Allen, John Akenhurst, Patrick Gallagher, Ral Ayers, Jeff Mullins, Doug O'Neill and now Justin Treasure.

Since the G2 win of the San Luis Rey Handicap on March 22, 2008, Boule d'Or has been claimed twice and dropped down to the lowly $10K claiming ranks. Lately, Boule d'Or has not been collecting cheques and has been travelling to try and find a level.

Boule d'Or wins the G II San Luis Rey Handicap


In March of this year, Boule d'Or made his way to Turf Paradise in Arizona to try a pair of long distance turf events. On April 5th, the globe trotting turf specialist tried his luck in the $50K Wildcat Handicap which would be won by Allegre. Boule d'Or finished sixth.

On May 4th, Boule d'Or was entered in the Hasta La Vista Handicap. This race was made famous by announcer Frank Mirahmadi, who called out more than 20 impressions during the 1 7/8M event including the voices of Marv Albert and Howard Cosell. Boule d'Or showed some early movement before fading to finish eighth.

Boule d'Or in the Hilarious Hasta La Vista Handicap


Clearly, the old-timer has lost a step or two since his GII score last year and this past Sunday the veteran was back in California at Pleasanton to try an $8K claiming race going 1M70 on the dirt. At odds of 30-1, Boule d'Or was third at the half before tiring to finish last.

It is sad that a horse of this calibre with more than $500K in lifetime earnings is now kicking about the lower claiming ranks. I know it's a business and I do appreciate that the owner and trainer are giving Boule d'Or plenty of time between starts. But what will become of Boule d'Or if he cannot win at the $8K claiming level?

In the past, old faves like Boule d'Or would fall off my radar but with the advent of electronic watch lists it is becoming clear that I will watch this old guy make his way to the Top Bunk List. The Top Bunk List is a running tally of horses, still racing, that have made more than $500,000 and are running for $5,000 or less. It would be another dubious achievement in the history of a truly memorable racehorse.

Boule d'Or has raced 61 times with a record of 9 wins, 8 times placed and 13 third place finishes for earnings of nearly $600,000. This eight year-old is a GII winner, a track record holder and twice hit triple figures in speed ratings. He's slowing down now but he's given a lot to the game and I hope that in his autumn years the game will be kind to one of its old warriors. Good luck old friend.

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If reading this post reminded you of an old racing hero that hasn't hit the tote board in awhile, why not donate a little money in their memory to one of the great retirement programs listed below.

LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society
Canter USA
Old Friends Equine
Remember Me Rescue
Equine Advocates