Subsequently, retired to stud, he was the sire of Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo and champion two-year-old Macho Uno.
Holy Bull was ranked #64 on the Blood-Horse magazine's list of the Top 100 U.S. racehorses of the 20th Century and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2001.
Holy Bull was a gray stallion who was bred in Florida by Rachel Carpenter's Pelican Stables.
Daily Racing Form caricaturist Peb captured his somewhat split personality by portraying him as a raging bull with a halo above his head.
[6] On September 18, he made his stakes debut in the Belmont Futurity, where he faced the previously undefeated Dehere, the eventual champion two-year-old colt of 1993.
[7][8] Holy Bull had not been nominated as a foal to the Breeders' Cup and his Croll declined to supplement at a cost of $120,000 to race in the Juvenile.
[9] Instead, Holy Bull finished his two-year-old season by winning the In Reality Stakes, part of the Florida Stallion series.
[11] He suffered his first loss in the Fountain of Youth Stakes when he was caught in an early speed duel and tired, finishing last.
[13] After his unexpectedly poor performance, Holy Bull was made the third betting choice in the Florida Derby in a field of fourteen that included favorite Go For Gin.
His time of 1:47.96 for 1+1⁄8 miles was the fastest Florida Derby since Alydar in 1978 and earned him a "lofty" Beyer Speed Figure of 115.
He went to the early lead and set a moderate pace, then responded to a brief challenge by pulling away under a hand ride.
"[15][16] Holy Bull was the favorite in the 1994 Kentucky Derby but after breaking poorly, he finished a distant 12th on a sloppy track.
[19] Croll skipped the Preakness Stakes on May 21 and instead entered Holy Bull in the prestigious Metropolitan Handicap, popularly known as the Met Mile, against older horses on May 30.
Holy Bull quickly took the lead and drew off to win by 5+1⁄2 lengths, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 122.
"[21] As the Belmont Stakes was held 12 days after the Met Mile, Croll bypassed it to focus on races later in the year.
"[26] Holy Bull’s next start on August 20 was the Travers Stakes, held at the same 1+1⁄4-mile distance as the Kentucky Derby.
In the long history of the Travers, only Man o' War had ever run a faster six furlongs and held on to win the race.
Rounding the far turn, Holy Bull opened up a large lead but then Concern, at one point more than 20 lengths behind, started to close ground rapidly.
As they neared the finish line, Concern looked the likely winner but Holy Bull refused to let him by, prevailing by a neck.
"[29] Holy Bull finished the season in the Woodward Stakes on September 17 against a field that included Grade I winners Devil His Due, Colonial Affair, Go For Gin, Tinners Way, and Bertrando.
This time Holy Bull rated behind the early pace set by Bertrando, then drew off to win by five lengths.
"[4] Holy Bull again skipped the Breeders’ Cup, in part because the supplemental fee to enter him in the Classic would have been $360,000.
Holy Bull's chances of extending the Plaudit sire line depends mainly on Macho Uno, who has also proved a moderate success at stud.