Roseben as a Saddle Horse, Daily Racing Form, 1911-04-12

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R0SEBEN AS A SADDLE HORSE. Washington, D. O., April 11. A bookmaker who used to bo a familiar figure on tlie big- tracks came to Washington not long ago on a visit. One afternoon he found himself on tlie Speedway watching the procession of folks in automobiles and carriages and on horseback. Suddenly he saw a big, cleanlimbed horse cantering by with a young woman in the saddle. "Well, well," lie cried, "if there isnt Rosebcn." And it was. For old Rosebcn, the "big train," famous weight carrier and one of the most popular horses that ever raced on an American track, is now the regular saddle mount of Miss Wadsworth, daughter of former Representative James y. Wadsworth and a sister of the former speaker of the New York Assembly, who lives iu Washington. Roseben was retired from the track in 1000 after winning ffity-two races and 4.01O in six years, besides breaking several records for the sprint distances and demonstrating his ability to finish in. front despite crushing imposts imposed by the oliicial handicapper. Finally when his legs went bad aud it became ap-pareut that his racing days were over, his owner, Davy Johnson, gave him to Mr. Wadsworth, knowing that lie would take tlie best of care of tiie old racer. Mr. Wadsworth presented Rosebcn to his daughter, who soon discovered that the race horse was as gentle as a child aud made an ideal womans mount. The only trouble Miss Wadsworth has with Roseben Is in keeping him down on earth when two or three horses in his vicinity are indulging iu a brush. Once ho did get tlie bit in his teeth when two cavalrymen from Fort Myer on government mounts breezed by him. He speeded up and in about eight minutes those cavalrj cuargers were hull down in the distance. "Lady." said one of the soldiers to Miss Wadsworth after she had fought Roseben to a standstill and the cavalrymen had puffed up to her, "is that a regular horse youre onV" "No." Miss Wadsworth replied with a smile, "this is the famous Roseben." "I thought it was something like that," said the soldier, " cause lie went more like an automobile than any four-legged animal I ever saw." But Roseben isnt often permitted to indulge in a sprint. As Misri Wadsworth says, he lias "a few bad legs," and it doesnt do him any good to get his head loose and stretch- his wonderful muscles in old-time style.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1910s/drf1911041201/drf1911041201_1_10
Local Identifier: drf1911041201_1_10
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800