Grover Greer "Bud" Delp (September 7, 1932 – December 29, 2006) was an American
Hall of Fame
A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or Wiktionary:fame, fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actu ...
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...
racehorse
Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic pr ...
trainer best remembered for his conditioning of Hall of Fame colt,
Spectacular Bid
Spectacular Bid (February 17, 1976 – June 9, 2003) was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1979 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes and holds the world record for the fastest 1 1/4 miles on the dirt. He won 26 of his 30 r ...
, who according to Delp was "The greatest horse to ever look through a bridle".
Bud Delp began his career as a Thoroughbred trainer in 1962 and in 1980 was voted the
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer The Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor for trainers. Created in 1971, it is part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually.
Its Canadian counterpart is the Sovereign Award for Outstandin ...
. Delp, along with
John J. Tammaro, Jr.,
King T. Leatherbury
King T. Leatherbury (born March 26, 1933 in Shady Side, Maryland, Shady Side, Maryland) is an American Thoroughbred horse trainer, racehorse trainer who ranks fifth all-time in wins among U.S. trainers.
Called a Maryland racing legend by Churchi ...
and
Richard E. Dutrow, Sr. were known as Maryland racing's
"Big Four" who dominated racing in that state during the 1960s and 1970s and who helped modernize thoroughbred racing.
During his career, Bud Delp's horses won 3,674 races and earned purses totaling nearly $41 million. He ended his career at a 20.5 win percentage. In 2002, an honor he said he was most proud of, Delp was inducted into the United States'
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American Thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers. In 1955, the museum moved to its current location on Union Av ...
.
References
Bud Delp at the United States' National Museum of Racing and Hall of FameBud Delp's obituary at Bloodhorse.com
1932 births
2006 deaths
American racehorse trainers
Eclipse Award winners
United States Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame inductees
Deaths from cancer in Maryland
People from Harford County, Maryland
People from Ellicott City, Maryland
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