Page 75 - July 2022

H H i i s s p p a a t t h h “ “ w w a a s s a a r r o o u u g g h h a a n n d d b b u u m m p p y y r r o o a a d d i i n n d d e e e e d d , ,” ” a a w w r r i i t t e e r r o o n n c c e e declared, “but sometimes that’s how legends are made.”
In 1946, Bold Venture was bred to a mare named Verguenza - the Spanish word for “shame.” One year later, she gave birth to a chestnut colt called Middleground. The colt quickly did Bold Venture proud by annexing the Hopeful Stakes – a feat that made him
a top Kentucky Derby prospect. In 1950, Middleground embarked on a quest for the Triple Crown. Fittingly, he became the second horse (after his sire) to win the Kentucky Derby with an apprentice in the irons. After placing second in the Preakness, the colt soared to a 1-length victory in the Belmont Stakes. Although he didn’t manage to sweep the series,
Middleground’s stellar performance made Bold Venture the only Kentucky Derby victor to sire two similar winners.
Although he enjoyed a modest amount of success after Middleground, Bold Venture never sired another Champion. Even so, one of his offspring – a full sister to Assault named Equal Venture – produced Prove Out, a multiple- graded-stakes winner who annexed the lucrative Jockey Club Gold Cup. In 1956, Canada’s Fort Erie Racetrack paid tribute to the living legend by creating the Bold Venture Stakes (the event was later moved to Woodbine). For the most part, Bold Venture spent the remainder of his days
within the expansive confines of King Ranch. Tragically on March 22, 1958, the grand old stallion passed away at the age of 25. Sixty years later, the Champion was enshrined in the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame. This recognition was even more well-deserved because three of the stallion’s progeny – Assault, Middleground, and Miss Princess – were previous inductees. Beyond his accomplishments, however, Bold Venture would always hold a unique place in racing history because of the tremendous obstacles
he had overcome. His path “was a rough and bumpy road indeed,” a writer once declared, “but sometimes that’s how legends are made.”
Depth Charge went on to sire...
3-Time World Champion Brigand
Tiny Charger
1952 World Champion Johnny Dial with Elmer Hepler.
SPEEDHORSE July 2022 73
Hellbusch Denver
Speedhorse Archives
Speedhorse Archives