Tom Rolfe

Thoroughbred racehorse infobox
horsename = Tom Rolfe


caption =
sire = Ribot
grandsire = Tenerani
dam = Pocahontas
damsire = Roman
sex = Stallion
foaled = 1962
country = United States flagicon|USA
colour = Bay
breeder = Raymond R. Guest
owner = Powhatan Stable
trainer = Frank Y. Whiteley, Jr.
record = 31: 16-5-5
earnings = $671,297
race = Cowdin Stakes (1964)
Preakness Stakes (1965)
American Derby (1965)
Arlington Classic (1965)
Aqueduct Handicap (1966)
Salvator Mile Handicap (1966)
awards= U.S. Champion 3-Yr-Old Colt (1965)
honours =
updated= September 30, 2006The racehorse Tom Rolfe (1962 - 1989) was one of the best American sons of the great racehorse and sire 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 at 15.2 hands and weighed less than 1,000 pounds. However, he became a winner of 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 then came back to win the Preakness Stakes. At the end of the year, he was voted 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 conest the 1965 Arc. He finished sixth on the grass course to the great Sea Bird, but that result remains one of the best ever by an American-trained entry in that French Classic.

Retired to stud at Claiborne Farm near Paris, Kentucky, Tom Rolfe proved a successful sire. Known today largely as a sire of outstanding broodmares, his best offspring on the track was the 1970 American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt and 1987 leading broodmare sire, Hoist The Flag. Tom Rolfe died in 1989 and was buried at the farm's Marchmont cemetery.

References

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