On April Fool’s Day in 1992, the late James Bowe’s broodmare Limestone Miss foaled down a bay colt by the unremarkable sire Aristocracy at the family farm in Gathabawn, a small village near Johnstown in County Kilkenny. Little did Bowe know the huge impact this new arrival would have not only on his life, but also on National Hunt Racing. This is the story of the legendary Limestone Lad, one of racing’s true cult heroes.
Table of Contents
Limestone Lad Breeding & Pedigree
Limestone Lad was the latest in a long line of horses bred by James Bowe. It all started when Bowe splashed out 100 guineas to buy a broodmare called Kinneagh. It proved to be a an extremely shrewd purchase and the Bowes are still racing her descendants to this very day.
James Bowe often sold the foals his mares produced and one he sold out of Kinneagh was Drumgora, the Champion Chase winner of 1981. She also produced Miss Kiln, who Bowe kept for breeding and she eventually produced a filly by Raise You Ten, Limestone Miss, who would go on to become the dam of the People’s Champion, Limestone Lad.
Limestone Miss’ first foal was by also by Aristocracy. Born in 1987, Bowe named her Miss Lime and she won three races for Anthony Mullins. In 1992, Limestone Miss produced another Aristocracy foal, this time a colt. The original plan was to send him to the sales but fate intervened and the fairytale story of Limestone Lad began.
Limestone Lad – The Fairytale Begins
After Limestone Lad was born in 1992 the long term plan, as was the case with most of the colts in the Bowe breeding operation, was to sell. In June 1995, just after he had turned three, the date was set for Limestone Lad, who had already been gelded, to go under the hammer at Tattersalls.
As is normal procedure, Tattersalls sent one of their own vets to examine Limestone Lad before the sale. The news wasn’t good. The vet determined that the horse had an irregular heartbeat and because of this, he had to be withdrawn from the sale. James Bowe concluded that the only course of action was to train the horse himself and what a decision that proved to be.
Die Or Do It
Initially, Bowe wasn’t sure how much ability Limestone Lad had. As he said himself, he had to teach him things slowly and carefully but once he got the hang of things, he would ‘die or do it’. Those four words pretty much sum up the attitude that Limestone Lad brought to the racetrack.
As was the case with his training, it took Limestone Lad a few runs to learn how to race. On February 12th, 1997, he made his debut at Naas in a 19f bumper and he finished ninth, eighteen lengths behind the winner.
He wasn’t seen again until November later that year and this time, he showed a bit more promise over 16f on heavy ground, finishing fifth of thirty one horses, seventeen lengths behind future Grand National winner Amberleigh House. On his next two starts he finished fourth and fifth, again in bumpers at Cork and Thurles.
First Win
It was clear that Limestone Lad was beginning to get the hang of things. Bowe entered him in another bumper at Limerick’s Christmas Meeting and this time, he was feeling confident of a big run. Sent off at odds of 6/1, Aileen Sloane Lee rode for the first time and she steered her mount to victory by nine lengths. Limestone Lad had finally learned how to win and it would prove to be the first victory of many.
Bowe’s charge would run in three more bumpers. He finished well beaten at Navan and Gowran but when JP McNamara got the leg up at Naas, it was the first time we got to see Limestone Lad going from the front. He galloped on strongly all the way to the line to win by 2.5L and it was the first glimpse the racing got of this horse’s swashbuckling style.
Ordinary Start Over Hurdles
The dual bumper winner now set his sights on maiden hurdles. Just fifteen days after his Naas win, he ran in a maiden hurdle at Navan. He tried to make all but he got tired in the closing stages of that 18f race and he was beat nineteen lengths into fifth.
Three weeks later he dropped back to 17f at Limerick and again, he went from the front. This time he got collared in the closing stages but he fought on well to finish second, beaten just half a length. Another two defeats in maiden hurdles followed but he made it fifth time lucky in a maiden at Clonmel (20f hvy), making all in dominant fashion to win by nine lengths.
Bowe gave him one last run in a conditions hurdle over the same C&D three weeks later, Limestone Lad’s first try on good ground. He ran okay to finish fourth but he didn’t enjoy the underfoot conditions and after the race, Bowe decided to put him away and ready him for a winter campaign in the 1998/99 season.
Limestone Lad – Winning Machine
After his first six runs over hurdles, the handicapper gave Limestone Lad a mark of 99. Bowe entered him in a handicap hurdle over two miles at Naas on November 21st, 1998, and Shay Barry got the call to ride. Sent off at 10/1, Barry sent his charge to the front and they never saw another rival. It was a first handicap hurdle win for Limestone Lad but it certainly wouldn’t be his last.
The winning margin for that first victory was 4.5L. Next time, at Navan, Limestone Lad won by six lengths off 108, this time on heavy ground. He absolutely relished the mud and he won another two mile handicap hurdle in testing conditions at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting off 117.
Handicapper Takes Action
The handicapper had started to take note of Limestone Lad’s dominant pillar to post victories. He gave him a 10lbs hike for that Leopardstown win and Bowe decided to test him in deeper waters. The decision was made to run in a conditions hurdle at Naas and step him up to two and a half miles. This time, he would only finish second but it was future Grade 1 winner Le Coudray that beat him and there was no shame in that.
Limestone Lad would have six more runs in the 98/99 season. Four of them came in handicap hurdles and all four resulted in victory. In February he went close in the Grade 3 Red Mills Trial Hurdle and then in April, on his last run of the campaign, he finished third behind Istabraq on good ground in the Irish Champion Hurdle.
Over eight lengths separated them at the finish, but this rivalry would be renewed and Limestone Lad would eventually gain revenge. In the end, ‘The Lad’ ran ten times in the 1998/99 season. He started off rated 99 and after winning all seven of his handicap hurdle starts, he finished the season rated 153. A meteoric rise but he wasn’t finished yet.
Limestone Lad 1998/99 Results
| Race | Result | Rating |
| Naas Handicap Hurdle (16f) | 1st | 99 |
| Navan Handicap Hurdle (16f) | 1st | 108 |
| Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle (16f) | 1st | 117 |
| Naas Conditions Hurdle | 2nd | 127 |
| Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle (16f) | 1st | 127 |
| Gowran Park Grade 3 (16f) | 2nd | 134 |
| Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle (16f) | 1st | 134 |
| Naas Handicap Hurdle (19f) | 1st | 137 |
| Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle (20f) | 1st | 142 |
| Punchestown Champion Hurdle (16f) | 3rd | 149 |
Grade 1 Glory in 1999/2000
Limestone Lad picked up where he left off at the start of the 1999/2000 season. A facile win in a conditions hurdle at Dundalk was an ideal prep run for a rematch with the mighty Istabraq eleven days later in a conditions race at Tipperary. Once again, the multiple Champion Hurdle winner proved too good for Limestone Lad, passing him after the last hurdle and drawing clear in the closing stages.
The Lad closed the gap to Le Coudray to just three lengths on his next start at Navan in a Grade 2. Bowe decided to drop him back into listed handicap company at Naas to boost his confidence on his next start and booked 5lb claimer Shane McGovern for the ride. He dotted up by nine lengths off a mark of 153 and the new partnership proved to be a match made in heaven.
Third Time Lucky
A Grade 2 win at Punchestown under McGovern followed in November and two weeks later, he locked horns with Istabraq for a third time, this time in the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse.
There were no secrets when it came to the race tactics that would be employed on Limestone Lad. McGovern went hard from the front and as they approached the second last hurdle, he still had an eight length lead. By the time they reached the final obstacle Istabraq had closed the gap to just three lengths and it looked like his natural speed would prove too much inside the final furlong.
However, on this day, Limestone Lad was having none of it. Shane McGovern gave him the office and his teak tough partner responded gamely. Istabraq got to within a length of him 100 yards from the line but The Lad pulled out more to repel his classy rival and showed real guts to land his first Grade 1 victory by five lengths. He finally got the recognition he deserved and this win proved that he was one of the best hurdlers around, once he had his favoured testing conditions.
Gallant Cheltenham Effort
After five more runs (and four more wins) the Bowes set their sights on the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. It was Limestone’s Lad first ever run on foreign soil and as ever, he did his trainer proud. Unfortunately, the ground came up good to firm at that year’s Festival but The Lad still ran a massive race, beat just a length into second by Bacchanal.
That race capped off another incredible campaign. Twelve runs, eight wins, including that famous first Grade 1 triumph at Fairyhouse. After Cheltenham, Limestone Lad went on a well earned summer holiday and he wouldn’t be seen again until October.
Limestone Lad 1999/2000 Biggest Wins
| Race | Result | Rating |
| Naas Listed Handicap Hurdle (16f) | 1st | 153 |
| Punchestown Grade 2 | 1st | 158 |
| Hatton’s Grace Fairyhouse G1 (20f) | 1st | 160 |
| Leopardstown Grade 2 (24f) | 1st | 167 |
| Navan Grade 2 (24f) | 1st | 167 |
| Cheltenham Stayers’ Hurdle (G1) | 2nd | 167 |
2000/2001 – Brief Chasing Career
During his summer break, James Bowe made the decision to try Limestone Lad over fences. After a pipe opener over hurdles in Cork, The Lad made his chasing debut on October 15, 2000. He took to the new discipline well, winning successive novice chases in Cork before adding a pair of Grade 3 novice chases at Punchestown.
In December, Bowe thought it was the right time to try Limestone Lad at the highest level over fences. His jumping did not hold up in the Grade 1 Drinmore at Fairyhouse and he trailed in fourth, beaten over eight lengths. He just didn’t have the same confidence jumping the bigger obstacles and he’d only be seen chasing on one further occasion.
Back Over Hurdles
It was business as usual for Limestone Lad as he returned to his favourite discipline. He started off 2001 with wins at Naas and a Grade 2 at Navan, before running third in the Champion Stayers’ Hurdle at Fairyhouse. His final run of the season came in the Grade 1 Powers Cold Cup Chase at the same track and he signed off with another solid effort in second behind Sackville. That was the last time he ran in a chase.
Limestone Lad ran ten times in the 2000/2001 season. He notched up six wins and only finished out of the first three once. Now a 9yo, old father time was surely going to catch up with him soon but this unbelievably tough and gritty gelding had other ideas.
Limestone Lad 1999/2000 Biggest Wins
| Race | Result |
| Punchestown Grade 3 Nov Chase (20f) | 1st |
| Punchestown Grade 3 Nov Chase (16f) | 1st |
| Navan Grade 2 Hurdle (24f) | 1st |
2001/2002 – Not Finished Yet
At the start of the 2001/2002 season, Bowe decided to give Limestone Lad a spin on the flat in Navan to blow away the cobwebs. On his second start of the campaign he reverted to hurdles at the same track and he chased home Liss A Paoraigh on ground that was probably a shade too quick for him.
The Lad was next sighted in a Listed handicap hurdle at Naas. Running off 150, he laughed at his rivals, making all for a six length win. His confidence was back and he went on to win three races in a month, the highlight being him reversing Navan form with Liss A Paoraigh in the G1 Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse.
Later that season he added another Grade 1 to his now bulging trophy cabinet, the Irish Champion Stayers’ Hurdle at Punchestown. It capped off another successful season which saw him run eleven times and win six more races. Incredibly, there was still more to come.
Limestone Lad 2001/02 Biggest Wins
| Race | Result | Rating |
| Naas Listed Handicap Hurdle (20f) | 1st | 150 |
| Punchestown Grade 2 Hurdle (16f) | 1st | 157 |
| Fairyhouse Hatton’s Grace (G1) (20f) | 1st | 161 |
| Champion Stayers’ Punchestown (24f) | 1st | 162 |
2002/03 – The Final Chapter
Limestone Lad embarked on what would be his last season with a below par run on the flat at the Curragh. A few naysayers were claiming his hunger and spark had gone but he soon silenced those doubters.
Three weeks later he was back over hurdles at Navan and he made all to beat old rival Liss A Paoraigh by two lengths in a 20f Grade 2. He demonstrated his versatility yet again on his next start in another Grade 2 at Navan, this time beating the same rival by eleven lengths over 16f. A third win in the Hatton’s Grace soon followed and Limestone Lad was looking better than ever.
A Grade 2 win at Leopardstown over 24f in December was followed by a head defeat in the Irish Champion Hurdle back at 16f in February. Bowe decided to put him away after that run and he plotted one final assault on the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
Yet again, the ground came up good at Cheltenham and that put paid to Limestone Lad’s chances. As ever, the old warrior went out on his shield and he finished a very creditable third to the classy French raider Baracouda. It proved to be the final run of the now 11 year old’s career.
Long And Happy Retirement
As James Bowe said after his retirement, Limestone Lad spent seven years of his life as a racehorse. The other twenty five years he enjoyed living his best life out in a field, probably reflecting on the many epic battles he had during his racing career.
There is no doubt that the signature win of his career, the one that will never be forgotten, was his brilliant Hatton’s Grace triumph over Istabraq. He will also be remembered for maintaining an incredible unbeaten record in handicap hurdles, winning all nine of his starts in that sphere.
The only thing that was missing from his CV was a Cheltenham Festival win but he never got the ground he needed over there. However, a record of 29 wins and 11 seconds from 47 runs over hurdles will likely never be bettered.
He lived out his days on the family farm in Gathabawn and he passed away at the grand old age of 32 in late March 2024. As far as cult heroes go, you won’t find any tougher than the granite Limestone Lad.
Limestone Lad FAQs
Who owned Limestone Lad?
Limestone Lad was owned, bred and trained by James Bowe. He was the second foal out of Limestone Miss and he spent his entire life on the family farm in county Kilkenny.
Who was Limestone Lad’s trainer?
Limestone Lad was trained by his owner and breeder James Bowe. Initially, the plan was to sell him but a Tattersall’s Vet found he had an irregular heartbeat before the sales so Bowe decided to keep him at home and train him himself.
What is Limestone Lad’s biggest win?
Limestone Lad won multiple Grade 1 races but the biggest win of his career came when he lowered the colours of Istabraq in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in 1999.