25 Facts About Holy Bull

Holy Bull suffered a career-ending injury in the Donn Handicap soon after the beginning of his four-year-old campaign in 1995.

Holy Bull was a gray stallion who was bred in Florida by Rachel Carpenter's Pelican Stables.

Holy Bull was sired by Great Above, whose dam was the US Racing Hall of Fame filly Ta Wee.

Holy Bull was known for his brilliant speed and was able to win from the front or off the pace.

Holy Bull was unbeaten in his four races as a two-year-old, including the Grade I Belmont Futurity.

Holy Bull made his racing debut on August 14,1993 in a maiden special weight race at Monmouth Park, displaying "super speed" despite racing greenly.

Over a muddy track, Holy Bull went to the early lead with Dehere tracking the pace in third place.

Holy Bull hung on to win by half a length in a time of 1:23.31 for seven furlongs.

Holy Bull had not been nominated as a foal to the Breeders' Cup and his Croll declined to supplement at a cost of $120,000 to race in the Juvenile.

At age three Holy Bull won eight out of ten starts, five of which were Grade I events.

Holy Bull made his first start of 1994 in the Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park on January 20.

Holy Bull took the early lead but was passed in the stretch by Patton.

Holy Bull then rallied and pulled away to win by three-quarters of a length.

Holy Bull suffered his first loss in the Fountain of Youth Stakes when he was caught in an early speed duel and tired, finishing last.

The loss was blamed on Holy Bull getting excited and breathing through his mouth instead of his nose, thus not getting enough air.

Holy Bull took the early lead and set a solid early pace, then drew away in the stretch to win by nearly six lengths.

Holy Bull cleaned out every oat and the following morning was as bright as the sun.

Holy Bull went to the early lead and set a moderate pace, then responded to a brief challenge by pulling away under a hand ride.

Holy Bull was the favorite in the 1994 Kentucky Derby but after breaking poorly, he finished a distant 12th on a sloppy track.

Holy Bull was treated for several days after the race with antibiotics against a possible infection and missed a few days of training.

Holy Bull again skipped the Breeders' Cup, in part because the supplemental fee to enter him in the Classic would have been $360,000.

Holy Bull was voted the Eclipse Award for Outstanding 3-Year-Old Male Horse and American Horse of the Year, earning 241 out of 245 votes for the latter award.

Holy Bull was retired to stud at Jimmy Bell's Jonabell Farm, which was later sold to Darley Stud and became part of their North American operation.

Holy Bull's offspring include 2000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner and US Champion 2-year-old male Macho Uno, 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo, 2007 Stephen Foster Handicap winner Flashy Bull, and graded stakes race winners Bwana Bull, Confessional, Bishop Court Hill, Woke Up Dreamin, Eishin Boone, and Sunny Ridge.

Holy Bull was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age on June 7,2017, at the age of 26.