Awad, Little Bold John Recognized in Maryland
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Awad and Little Bold John are the newest inductees into the Maryland-bred Thoroughbred Hall of Fame.
Both horses, known for their longevity as well as their accomplishments, were selected by a committee of Maryland racing industry members coordinated by the Maryland Horse Breeders Association and Maryland Racing Media Association.
Awad, who remains the second-richest Maryland-bred in history with earnings of $3,270,818, made 70 starts over seven seasons and won or placed in 30 stakes, nearly half in grade I competition. Little Bold John is the all-time leading Maryland-bred by number of stakes wins (25) on the flat. He raced until age 10, started 105 times, and won 38 races. When he retired in 1992 he was the third-richest Maryland-bred in history with earnings of $1,956,405.
Awad was bred and campaigned by Jim Ryan's Ryehill Farm. The son of Caveat—Dancer's Candy, by Noble Dancer ranked among the best turf horses in the nation in the mid-1990s. He was named Maryland-bred champion turf horse four times (1993, '95, '96 and '97) and was an 11-time stakes winner with four grade I wins, including the 1997 Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course and 1995 Arlington Million Stakes (gr. IT) at Arlington International Racecourse, both in course-record time.
Little Bold John represented decades of breeding by Hal C.B. Clagett. A son of John Alden—Little Bold Sphinx, by Bold Ambition, he was initially raced by Clagett, who sold him privately at the end of his 2-year-old season to John E. Owens III.
For five consecutive years (ages 3 to 7), Little Bold John made 11 or more starts a season, winning numerous stakes each year, topped by eight wins in 1987. Twice named Maryland-bred champion older runner (1988-89), his most notable victory came in the 1987 grade II Donn Handicap over a field that included the previous year's Horse of the Year, Lady's Secret. He also won three consecutive runnings of the Jennings Handicap (1987, '88, and '89).
A celebration to recognize this year's class of inductees will take place at the Maryland Horse Breeders Association Awards Dinner May 28 at Pimlico Race Course.