When the four Jawl Brothers of Victoria were seeking to win their first B.C. Derby in 1976 they purchased a likely looking prospect named Bold Laddie for six figures and fully expected to be in the winner's circle.

"it was one of our most disappointing days when he finished fourth and came back with a serious sesamoid injury," recalls Mohan Jawl. But the injury kick-started both Bold laddie and the Jawls into the breeding business. Both parties have been very successful.

The Jawls initially thought of sending Bold Laddie to California, but the late Doug Winship, a breeder and jockey agent, urged them to syndicate the son of Boldnesian and stand him in British Columbia. Under Winship's guidance the first major syndication in the province came together and Bold Laddie began his second career.

The Jawls realized they had a responsibility to support him and they converted a dairy farm in Victoria into a Thoroughbred showcase and began bringing in some high class broodmare prospects. The best one turned out to be Above The Stars, who produced Bold Laddie's highest money winner, the $364,000 winner Astro Beauty.

His first few weeks in the breeding shed were very worrisome to his syndicate shareholders. He was a shy breeder and after many false starts he did not cover his first mare until March.

There were some suggestions initially that his foals may prove to be unsound but that was dispelled in his first crop which produced Lil Ol' Gal (16 wins, $182,000) and Trapper Bold (14 wins, $110,000).

Following Astro Beauty at the top of the money winners list are Happy Trap, $250,000; Knave, $325,000 and Commander Bold, $234,000.

Bold Laddie's figures are quite amazing for a stallion who has stood his entire career in British Columbia. He has sired 31 stakes winners from starters to date and his average per starter is $25,103.

Going on 26 at time of writing, Bold Laddie remains active at Rick and Lois Clough's Salishan Meadows in White Rock where he bred 23 mares last spring and got 21 in foal.