Golden Gate Fields will salute fan favorite Bold Chieftain Jan. 22. The game 9-year-old was retired after his final race Jan. 16 to begin his new career as a stallion.
Fans attending the "Dollar Day program" (general parking, general admission, programs, beers, hot dogs, and sodas are all $1) will receive a Bold Chieftain poster and have the opportunity to see the dark bay horse parade one final time in front of the grandstand.
Bold Chieftain earned $1,683,181 while amassing 18 wins, 14 seconds, and four thirds in 47 career starts. Bold Chieftain won 14 stakes, including the San Francisco Mile (gr. IIT), the California Cup Classic twice, and the Sunshine Millions Classic.
His last race was Jan. 16 when he just missed winning Golden Gate's featured allowance event by a nose with regular rider Russell Baze aboard.
William J. Morey Jr., trainer and part owner of Bold Chieftain, was disappointed with the result of the race but was proud of his old warrior.
“This horse gives us all he’s got every time,” said Morey. “We had a lot of good wins with him.”
The day after he is honored at Golden Gate, Bold Chieftain will be on his way to nearby Vacaville to begin his new career as a stud at Victory Rose Thoroughbreds farm.
A California-bred son of Chief Seattle out of the Seattle Dancer mare Hooked On Music, Bold Chieftain won on every type of track surface (dirt, synthetic, turf, and wet) and at four different distances (six furlongs, one mile, 1 1/16 miles, and 1 1/8 miles).
Bold Chieftain was bred by his ownership group of Morey, Dwaine Hall, Ernest L. Langbein, and Kenneth Robinson.