Old Rosebud /

Old Rosebud (1911–1922) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse whose pedigree traced to the influential sire Eclipse, and through Eclipse to the founding stallion, the Godolphin Arabian. In the list of the top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century by Blood-Horse magazine, Old Rosebud ranks 88th. Despite a successful racing career, Old Rosebud was plagued by ailments throughout his life, culminating in a fatal injury at a claiming race when he was 11 years old. Bred by John E. Madden, the bay colt (soon to be gelded) was out of the stallion Uncle's first crop. Born in Kentucky, he was purchased as a yearling for $500 by trainer Frank D. Weir. Weir then sold a majority interest in the gelding to the treasurer of Churchill Downs, Hamilton C. Applegate. Frank Weir said of the gelding, "Old Rosebud was the kind of horse one sees once in a lifetime. He certainly was the fastest horse I ever trained or saw. If he had been sound, there's no telling how fast he would have run." Old Rosebud was determined to be the historical two-year-old champion of 1913 and was the top earner for the year. At two, Old Rosebud's most important victories included the Flash Stakes and the United