Each horse offers valuable lessons, and everyone involved in the Thoroughbred industry often recalls one special horse that taught them the most. For Woodbine track announcer Robert Geller, who will be calling this weekend’s Grade 1 Canadian International, that influential horse was Taras Bulba—a remarkable competitor who triumphed in Australia before taking on the global stage.
Though Taras Bulba was bred in New Zealand, he raced primarily in Australia during the mid-1970s, where a young Geller eagerly watched from his home in Melbourne. “Following that horse’s journey taught me a lot about the highs and lows of horse racing,” Geller shared. “When you become emotionally invested in a horse and track every step of its career, you begin to understand the many challenges horses face—whether it’s bleeding issues, getting scratched before big races, or dealing with unfavorable track conditions. As a fan, you want to see your horse succeed, especially one with such talent. Taras Bulba was truly exceptional and performed incredibly well.”
During the 1974-75 season, Taras Bulba earned the title of Australia’s champion 3-year-old by winning prestigious Group 1 races such as the Rosehill Guineas, AJC Derby, and Australian Champion Stakes, plus a second-place finish in the Cox Plate. The next season, he was named Horse of the Year after capturing more Group 1 victories in the Underwood Stakes and Randwick Stakes, alongside wins in the Queen’s Plate and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Despite competing at an elite level, Taras Bulba struggled with exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhages (EIPH), a condition that eventually barred him from racing in Australia. In 1977, he was sent to the United States, where he showed promise in allowance races at Hollywood Park but could not replicate his top form in several graded stakes attempts. As his performance declined, he failed to place in claiming races in Southern California before retiring. His career totals included 13 wins from 58 starts and earnings of $492,381.
Geller’s connection with Taras Bulba deepened as he later followed the horse’s trans-Pacific path from Australia to North America. Originally from England and raised in Australia, Geller began his announcing career in 1984 at Wangaratta, Victoria. He spent six years as the English-language race caller in Hong Kong before moving to the U.S. in 1996 for Emerald Downs’ inaugural season. He also worked at Sunland Park during Emerald Downs’ off-season and finally joined Woodbine in 2015.
This article was first published by Paulick Report on September 28, 2026, in their Features section.
Fan Take: Stories like Taras Bulba’s resonate deeply with horse racing fans because they highlight the resilience and complexity behind every racehorse’s career. Remembering the journeys of such legendary horses not only honors the sport’s rich history but also inspires future generations to appreciate the highs and lows that make racing so compelling.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
