| Horsename: | Bull Lea |
| Sire: | Bull Dog |
| Grandsire: | Teddy |
| Dam: | Rose Leaves |
| Damsire: | Ballot |
| Sex: | Stallion |
| Country: | United States |
| Colour: | Brown |
| Breeder: | Coldstream Farm |
| Owner: | Calumet Farm |
| Trainer: | Frank J. Kearns |
| Record: | 27: 10–7–3 |
| Earnings: | $94,825[1] |
| Race: | Blue Grass Stakes (1938) Kenner Stakes (1938) Widener Handicap (1939) |
| Awards: | Leading sire in North America (1947, 1948, 1949, 1952, 1953) Leading broodmare sire in North America (1958, 1959, 1960, 1961) |
Bull Lea (March 11, 1935 – June 16, 1964) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who is best known as the foundation sire responsible for making Calumet Farm one of the most successful racing stables in American history. In their article on Calumet Farm, the International Museum of the Horse in Lexington, Kentucky wrote that Bull Lea was "one of the greatest sires in Thoroughbred breeding history."[2]
Bred by E. Dale Schaffer's Coldstream Stud in Lexington, Kentucky, Bull Lea was sired by Bull Dog and out of the mare Rose Leaves by Ballot. He was purchased as a yearling for $14,000 by Calumet Farm's Warren Wright, Sr. and sent to race at age two under trainer Frank J. Kearns.
Bull Lea make nine starts at age two, earning two wins, two seconds and two third-place finishes. The highlights were his runner-up performances in both the 1937 Hopeful and Champagne Stakes, two important races for his age group.
At age three, Bull Lea recorded seven wins from sixteen starts. He set a new Keeneland Race Course record for nine furlongs in winning the 1938 Blue Grass Stakes. Made a 3:1 second choice by bettors for the Kentucky Derby, he finished eighth and then ran sixth in the Preakness Stakes.
The following year, the four-year-old's most important win came in the Widener Handicap.
Bull Lea entered stud in 1940 at Calumet Farm's operation in Lexington, Kentucky. He was the Leading sire in North America for 1947, 1948, 1949, 1952 and 1953. He also was Leading broodmare sire from 1958 to 1961.[3] He was also the first sire in the history of American Thoroughbred horse racing to have offspring with earnings of more than $1 million in a single season.
Bull Lea sired fifty-eight stakes winners, seven of which are Hall of Fame members. His progeny includes:
Damsire of:
Grandsire of:
Bull Lea died on June 16, 1964, aged 29, at Calumet Farm and is buried there with a statue overlooking his grave.