Bold Executive, top Canadian stallion, dead at 27

Bold Executive, Canada’s perennial leading sire during the last two decades, Bold Executive, was euthanized Monday afternoon at the age of 27.

A son of Bold Ruckus, out of Arctic Vixen (by Victoria Park), Bold Executive was being returned to his stall from a day in his paddock at Paradox Farm (formerly Gardiner Farm) in Caledon East, Ontario, when he began to have some breathing discomfort. Dr. Mike Colterjohn, who has been managing the stallion for Gardiner Farms for his entire career, said the horse was found to have a leaking artery which would have required surgery.

“We had to put him down, but he didn’t suffer at all,” said Colterjohn. “He was the oldest active sire on the leading sire list in North America, and he was our buddy.”

The stallion, who was bred by Gus Schickedanz and was a stakes winner for owner Rocco Marcello at Woodbine during his racing career, is currently Canada’s leading sire with just over $2.1 million in progeny earnings. He has been the leading sire in Canada five times since he entered stud in 1989.

Bold Executive has sired 20 crops of racing age (he has two more to come, and bred 40 mares this year) over 420 winners, 43 stakes winners and the earners of over $44 million.

The sire’s top runners include champions Blonde Executive, Simply Lovely, and Sand Cove plus stars such as Main Executive, Top Ten List, Timely Ruckus, Rushiscomingup and so many more.

He stood for a fee of $15,000 this season.

Bold Executive has been buried on the Gardiner/Paradox property next to top horses such as Carney’s Point and Briartic.