Gallant Man | Horse Profile

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Gallant Man

Gallant Man was born in Sussex, England in 1954 and became one of the most successful European-foaled horses to compete in the United States. Over a career that spanned 26 starts in two seasons, Gallant Man went 14-4-1 and earned $510,355.

Prior to the running of the 1957 Triple Crown, Gallant Man won the Hibiscus in his stakes debut before losing to Bold Ruler in the Wood Memorial. It would be the first of six meetings between the two in what became a storied rivalry.

Future Hall of Fame jockey Bill Shoemaker misjudged the finish line in the 1957 Kentucky Derby and stood up in his stirrups far too early. Gallant Man slowed and the mistake allowed Iron Liege to win by a nose. In a Derby with great depth, Round Table finished third, while Bold Ruler was fourth.

Gallant Man returned to win the 1957 Belmont Stakes five weeks later, in a time that wasn’t bettered until Secretariat’s amazing 1973 run. Gallant Man won by eight lengths from Inside Tract and Bold Ruler, the latter having just beaten Iron Liege in the Preakness Stakes.

Gallant Man’s victories in the rest of the season included the Travers Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup. He and Bold Ruler met again in the 1957 Woodward Stakes, the pair finishing second and third, respectively, behind Dedicate. Bold Ruler then won their next meeting, the Trenton Handicap, beating Gallant Man and Round Table.

In their final meeting, Gallant Man beat Bold Ruler in the 1958 Metropolitan Handicap. Gallant Man also won the Hollywood Gold Cup as a 4-year-old.

Retiring to stud at Spendthrift Farm, Gallant Man would become the longest living Triple Crown race winner, dying in 1988 at the age of 34. That longevity has been one of the qualities of his bloodline; one of his granddaughters was Kentucky Derby-winning filly Genuine Risk, who lived for 31 years.

Gallant Man was inducted in to the Hall of Fame in 1987, one year before his death.