Roman Brother (May 27, 1961 – March 8, 1991) was an American
Champion
A champion (from the late Latin ''campio'') is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition. There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, an ...
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 ...
. As a two-year-old, he was initially overshadowed by his stable companion
Raise a Native
Raise a Native (April 18, 1961 – July 28, 1988) was an undefeated Thoroughbred Horse racing, racehorse that was named 1963 champion two-year-old colt in the Turf and Sport Digest poll and was the highest rated juvenile in the Experimental Free ...
before emerging as one of the year's leading juveniles with a win in the
Champagne Stakes. As a three-year-old, he was highly tried, running twenty times and winning six races including the
Jersey Derby
The Jersey Derby is a $60,000 American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually in late July/early August at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. Since 1993, it has been raced on grass at a distance of miles.
A Jerse ...
and the
American Derby
The American Derby is a Thoroughbred horse race in the United States run annually at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The inaugural American Derby was held at Chicago's old Washington Park Race Track on the city's South Side and rac ...
. He was also placed second in the
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is run over 1.5 miles (2,400 m). Colts and geldings carry a weight of ; fillies carry . The race, nicknamed Th ...
and the
Jockey Club Gold Cup
The Jockey Club Gold Cup, established in 1919, is a thoroughbred flat race open to horses of either gender three-years-old and up. It has traditionally been the main event of the fall meeting at Belmont Park, just as the Belmont Stakes is of the sp ...
. He reached his peak as a four-year-old in 1965 when he was voted
American Horse of the Year
The American Award for Horse of the Year, one of the Eclipse Awards, is the highest honor given in American thoroughbred horse racing. Because Thoroughbred horse racing in the United States has no governing body to sanction the various awards, "Hor ...
in a poll conducted by the ''
Daily Racing Form
The ''Daily Racing Form'' (DRF) (referred to as the ''Racing Form'' or "Form" and sometimes "telegraph" or "telly") is a tabloid newspaper founded in 1894 in Chicago, Illinois, by Frank Brunell. The paper publishes the past performances of race ...
''.
Background
Roman Brother was a bay gelding bred by the
Ocala
Ocala ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Marion County within the northern region of Florida, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the city's population was 63,591, making it the 54th most populated city in Florida.
Home to ...
Stud Farm in
Marion County Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
. He was sired by Third Brother, who won the
Long Island Handicap
The Long Island Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in November at Aqueduct Racetrack, in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. The race is for fillies and mares, age three and up, willing to race the one and one-half miles on the ...
for his owner-breeder
Christopher Chenery
Christopher Chenery (September 16, 1886 – January 3, 1973) was an American engineer, businessman, and the owner/breeder of record for Thoroughbred horse racing's U.S. Triple Crown champion Secretariat.
Early life and career
Christopher C ...
in 1956. Third Brother showed some promise as a stallion before his death in 1963: in addition to Roman Brother, he sired Exceedingly, who defeated
Damascus
)), is an adjective which means "spacious".
, motto =
, image_flag = Flag of Damascus.svg
, image_seal = Emblem of Damascus.svg
, seal_type = Seal
, map_caption =
, ...
in the William Dupont Jr. Handicap. Roman Brother's dam, Roman Zephyr, won four races and was a descendant of the influential broodmare
Plucky Liege
Plucky Liege (1912–1937) was a British Thoroughbred racemare who produced eleven winners, including an Epsom Derby winner at the age of twenty-three and three British Classic race winners. The performances of these horses led to her becoming ...
. In January 1963, Roman Brother was sent to the Florida Breeders' sale, where he sold for $23,500 (the second highest price at the sale) to Farnsworth Farm.
He entered into the ownership of
Louis Wolfson's Harbor View Farm and was trained by future
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 ...
inductee
Burley Parke. Roman Brother was an unusually small Thoroughbred, standing 15.1
hands
A hand is a prehensile, multi-fingered appendage located at the end of the forearm or forelimb of primates such as humans, chimpanzees, monkeys, and lemurs. A few other vertebrates such as the koala (which has two opposable thumbs on each " ...
high
and weighing in at 889 pounds just before the Belmont Stakes. Contemporary newspapers nicknamed him the "Mighty Mite".
Roman Brother was described by one of his handlers as "all heart" but also "a mean little devil".
Racing career
1963: two-year-old season
In the summer of 1963, the leading two-year-old in Parke's stable was Raise a Native, who was undefeated in four races and was regarded as the best horse of his generation before his career was ended by injury in early August. At the time of Raise a Native's injury, his stable companion, Roman Brother, who had been
gelded
A gelding is a castrated male horse or other equine, such as a pony, donkey or a mule. Castration, as well as the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male equine to be calmer and better-behaved, making th ...
before the start of his racing career, had appeared only once on the racecourse, winning a maiden race at
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a Thoroughbred horse racing facility and casino in the South Ozone Park, Queens, South Ozone Park and Jamaica, Queens, Jamaica neighborhoods of Queens, New York City, United States. Aqueduct is the only racetrack locate ...
on July 25. The gelding made steady progress before emerging as a top-class horse in autumn. Racing at Aqueduct, Roman Brother won two allowance races before challenging for the
Champagne Stakes on October 13. Wolfson paid a supplementary fee of $10,000 to run Roman Brother, as he had not been among the original entries for the race, which carried prize money of $212,150, making it the most valuable race ever run in New York. Ridden by
John L. Rotz
John L. Rotz (December 16, 1934 – July 12, 2021) was an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey and a World Champion in Western riding competitions.
Early career
After graduating from Warrensburg-Latham High School in Illinois in 1952, Rotz ...
, Roman Brother tracked the leaders before taking the lead early in the straight and drawing away from his ten opponents to win by four and a half lengths. His win was marked at Ocala Stud Farm by the ringing of the old ship's bell which was used to mark major successes by the stud's produce.
Despite losing his undefeated record when second to
Hurry to Market
Hurry to Market (foaled 1961 in Kentucky) was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. He was voted American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt in 1963, but his career was ended by injury before he could run again.
Background
Bred by Louise Clements ...
at
Garden State Park
Garden State Park was a harness and thoroughbred race track in Cherry Hill, Camden County, New Jersey. It is now the site of a high-end, mixed-use "town center" development of stores, restaurants, apartments, townhouses, and condominiums. Garden ...
, Roman Brother started favorite for the
Garden State Futurity
The Garden State Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid November at the now defunct Garden State Park Racetrack in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. A futurity event for two-year-olds, it is sometimes referred to as the Garden S ...
at the same track on November 9. In a race which carried world record prize money of $317,390, he finished second, beaten a length by Hurry to Market. An objection by Rotz against the winner for causing interference was unsuccessful.
Although Raise a Native and Hurry to Market topped the polls for the title of
American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt The American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971.
The award originated in 1936 when the ''Daily Racing F ...
, Roman Brother was reported to be the biggest money winner of his generation in 1963.
1964: three-year-old season
Roman Brother began his season in his native Florida. After finishing third on his debut, he won the seven-furlong
Bahamas Stakes
The Bahamas Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in January at Hialeah Park Race Track in Hialeah, Florida. A seven furlong race on dirt, it was the first important test of the calendar year for newly turned three-year-olds. ...
over seven
furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and United States customary units equal to one eighth of a mile, equivalent to 660 feet, 220 yards, 40 rods, 10 chains or approximately 201 metres. It is now mostly confined to use in hors ...
s at
Hialeah Park
The Hialeah Park Race Track (also known as the Hialeah Race Track or Hialeah Park) is a historic racetrack in Hialeah, Florida, Hialeah, Florida. Its site covers 40 square blocks of central-east side Hialeah from Palm Avenue east to East 4th Avenu ...
, surviving a rough race to win in a time of 1:23.2. By this time, he was regarded as a leading contender for the
U.S. Triple Crown series. Later in February, Roman Brother moved up to nine furlongs for the
Everglades Stakes
The Everglades Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Hialeah Park in Hialeah, Florida. For three-year-old horses, the mile race was run on dirt until 1994 when it was converted to a race on turf. It was elevated to Grade ...
, in which he started favorite. Ridden by
Manuel Ycaza
Manuel Ycaza (born Carlos Manuel De Ycaza; February 1, 1938 – July 16, 2018) was a Panamanian American jockey who led the way for Latin American jockeys in the United States.
De Ycaza began riding ponies at age six and by age fourteen was ridi ...
, the gelding came from well off the pace to catch Mr. Brick in the closing strides and win by a head. After the race, Ycaza described the winner as "an awful willing little horse". In the
Flamingo Stakes
The Flamingo Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of a mile and one-eighth. Run as the Florida Derby until 1937, the inaugural event took place at Tampa Downs on February 27, 1926. There was ...
on March 3, Roman Brother was matched against
Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer (May 27, 1961 – November 16, 1990) was a Thoroughbred who, in 1964, became the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby. He then became one of the most successful sires of the 20th century. He is considered a Canad ...
, another unusually small thoroughbred, in what was described in the press as a meeting of the "Mighty Mites".
Northern Dancer won, with Roman Brother fifth in a
dead-heat with Dandy K, beaten more than fifteen lengths by the winner. Three weeks later, Roman Brother failed to concede ten
pounds to Dandy K when finishing second in the
Fountain of Youth Stakes. On the final start of his Florida campaign, Roman Brother again finished fifth behind Northern Dancer, this time in the
Florida Derby
The Florida Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Since 2005, it has been run five weeks before the Kentucky Derby, which is held on the first Saturd ...
.
In April, Roman Brother moved north and finished third to Mr Brick and
Quadrangle in the
Wood Memorial Stakes
The Wood Memorial Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually in April at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. It is run over a distance of 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on dirt. The Wood Memori ...
at
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a Thoroughbred horse racing facility and casino in the South Ozone Park, Queens, South Ozone Park and Jamaica, Queens, Jamaica neighborhoods of Queens, New York City, United States. Aqueduct is the only racetrack locate ...
. He was then sent to
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs is a horse racing complex located on Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, famed for hosting the annual Kentucky Derby. It officially opened in 1875 and was named for Samuel Churchill, whose family was ...
where he prepared for the Derby by running second to the Californian colt
Hill Rise
{{Infobox thoroughbred racehorse
, horsename = Hill Rise
, image =
, caption =
, sire = Hillary
, grandsire = Khaled
, dam = Red Curtain
, damsire = Russia
, sex = Stallion
, foaled = 1961
, country = USA
, colour = Bay
, breeder = G ...
in the
Derby Trial Stakes
The Pat Day Mile Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on dirt over a distance of one mile scheduled on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The current purse is $500,000.
History ...
. Four days later, Roman Brother was drawn on the outside of the twelve-runner field for the Kentucky Derby, for which Hill Rise was made favorite ahead of Northern Dancer. Roman Brother was beaten four lengths in fourth place behind Northern Dancer, Hill Rise and The Scoundrel. After finishing fifth in the
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race held on Armed Forces Day which is also the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs () on ...
, he broke a run of seven defeats by winning the $125,300
Jersey Derby
The Jersey Derby is a $60,000 American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually in late July/early August at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. Since 1993, it has been raced on grass at a distance of miles.
A Jerse ...
at Garden State Park. Parke only ran the gelding because The Scoundrel had been injured, but Roman Brother took the lead on the turn into the stretch and drew clear to beat Mr. Brick by three lengths. A week later, he ran second to Quadrangle in the
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is run over 1.5 miles (2,400 m). Colts and geldings carry a weight of ; fillies carry . The race, nicknamed Th ...
, finishing ahead of Northern Dancer and Hill Rise.
At the end of June, Roman Brother was sent to
Arlington Park
Arlington International Racecourse (formerly Arlington Park, the name was Arlington Park Jockey Club from as soon as 1948 up to 1955) was a horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Horse racing in the Chicago regi ...
, where he ran second to Dandy K when odds-on favorite for the $100,000
Chicagoan Handicap. Two weeks later, he finished third to Quadrangle in the
Dwyer Stakes
The Dwyer Stakes is an American Grade III stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbred racehorses held annually at Belmont Park racetrack in Elmont, Long Island, New York. Run in early July, it is open to three-year-old horses and is raced over a ...
at Aqueduct. In August, Roman Brother ran fourth behind the filly
Tosmah
Tosmah (1961–1992) was a champion Thoroughbred race horse. She was the leading American filly of her generation at both two and three years of age.
Background
Tosmah was bred in Kentucky by Eugene Mori. Her sire was the great Tim Tam (horse ...
in the
Arlington Classic
The Arlington Classic Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three year old horses over a distance of miles on the turf held annually in late May at Arlington Park race track near Chicago.
History
The event was inaugurated ...
and then contested the
American Derby
The American Derby is a Thoroughbred horse race in the United States run annually at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The inaugural American Derby was held at Chicago's old Washington Park Race Track on the city's South Side and rac ...
at the same track three weeks later. Starting the 2/1 favorite, he produced a strong finish to win the $134,300 prize by a length from Lt. Stevens. Roman Brother's next target was the inaugural running of the $144,820 New Hampshire Sweepstake at
Rockingham Park
Rockingham Park was a horse racing establishment in Salem, New Hampshire, in the United States. First built in 1906, it was used as an area for many to gamble on the weekends. Seabiscuit raced there in 1935 and 1936,''Daily Racing Form'' staff (2 ...
. Ridden by
Fernando Alvarez, he came from last place in the backstretch to win by half a length from Knightly Manner in a track record time of 1:55.8. It was the gelding's fifth win in seventeen runs since the start of the year and took his career earnings to $627,008. Two weeks later, he defeated Lt. Stevens by a nose in the
Discovery Handicap
The Discovery Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the latter part of November at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. A Listed event open to three-year-old horses, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one ...
at Aqueduct.
In October, Roman Brother was moved up in distance for another meeting with Quadrangle in the
Lawrence Realization Stakes
The Lawrence Realization Stakes was an American horse race first run on the turf in 1889. The race, for three-year-old Thoroughbred colts, geldings and fillies, was last run in 2005.
History
Inaugurated at the Sheepshead Bay Race Track at Gravese ...
over one and five-eighth miles at Aqueduct. He failed by a nose to catch Quadrangle but was blocked on three occasions and was given a "poorly judged" ride by Alvarez. Roman Brother and Quadrangle met again in the two-mile
Jockey Club Gold Cup
The Jockey Club Gold Cup, established in 1919, is a thoroughbred flat race open to horses of either gender three-years-old and up. It has traditionally been the main event of the fall meeting at Belmont Park, just as the Belmont Stakes is of the sp ...
on October 31, but most interest was attracted by
Kelso, who was attempting to win the race for a fifth time and to become the biggest money winner in racing history. Kelso won easily, and Roman Brother beat Quadrangle by six lengths for second place.
1965: four-year-old season
For the start of his 1965 campaign, Roman Brother was sent to compete in
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
. He finished last of the ten runners in the Malibu Stakes at
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a Thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent horse racing events in the United States during early fall, winter and in spring. The track is home to numerous prestigious races ...
on January 2 and ninth behind Hill Rise in the
San Fernando Stakes
The San Fernando Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to four-year-old horses, it is contested on at a distance of miles (8.5 furlongs) on Pro-Ride synthetic d ...
two weeks later. A move to Florida in February brought little improvement as he finished seventh to Sunstruck in the
Seminole Handicap
The Seminole Handicap is a discontinued American Thoroughbred horse race first run as the Inaugural Handicap on the January 14, 1932 opening day of the newly constructed Hialeah Park Race Track in Hialeah, Florida. Shut down in 1926 as a result of ...
.
After a five-month break, Roman Brother, ridden by his new regular jockey
Braulio Baeza
Braulio Baeza (born March 26, 1940) is an American Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey and one of the master Thoroughbred jockeys of our time. In 1963, he was the first Latin American jockey to win the Kentucky Derby. Baeza began his ra ...
, returned in July to win an allowance race at Aqueduct and then ran second to
Pia Star
{{Infobox racehorse
, horsename = Pia Star
, image =
, caption =
, sire = Olympia
, grandsire = Heliopolis
, dam = Inquisitive
, damsire = Mahmoud
, sex = Stallion
, foaled = 1961
, country = United States
, colour = Bay
, bree ...
in the
Brooklyn Handicap
The Brooklyn Invitational Stakes (formerly known as the Brooklyn Handicap) is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, on Long Island. It currently is a Grade II event open to four-year-ol ...
, with Kelso in third. He won a minor race at
Saratoga before finishing ahead of Kelso again in the Aqueduct Stakes in September, when the geldings finished third and fourth behind
Malicious. Roman Brother then finished second to the mare
Old Hat in the
Michigan Mile And One-Eighth Handicap
The Michigan Mile And One-Eighth Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the now defunct Detroit Race Course in Livonia, Michigan. A one time Grade II event raced on dirt, it was open to horses age three and older.
First ...
.
With Kelso ruled out for the season with an eye injury Roman Brother dominated the rest of America's older horses in October, winning all three of his races. On October 2, he won the
Woodward Stakes
The Woodward Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race and is one of the premier races for older thoroughbred horses in the United States. It is named for prominent racehorse owner William Woodward.
The race was first run in 1954 at Aqueduct Rac ...
from Royal Gunner, with Malicious taking third. Ten days later, Roman Brother won the
Manhattan Handicap
The Manhattan Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race raced annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is named for Manhattan, the principal borough of the City of New York. Currently offering a purse of $1,000,000, the Grade I Manh ...
by eight lengths from Hill Rise. According to the
New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
, the manner of his victory "left little doubt of his superiority" over the rest of the handicap division. On October 30 at Aqueduct, Roman Brother appeared for a second attempt at the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Taking the lead on the final turn, he drew away from his rivals to win by five lengths from Berenjenal. According to the
Associated Press
The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. newspa ...
reporter, Baeza "never had an easier ride".
On his final race of the season, Roman Brother moved onto turf and was made favorite for the
Washington, D.C. International Stakes
The Baltimore Washington International Turf Cup is an American Grade III invitational horse race run over one mile. Inaugurated in 1952, it was raced at Laurel Park Racecourse on the turf in Laurel, Maryland, at a distance of miles (12 furlongs ...
at
Laurel Park Racecourse
Laurel Park, formerly Laurel Race Course, is an American thoroughbred racetrack located just outside Laurel, Maryland which opened in 1911. The track is miles in circumference. Its name was changed to "Laurel Race Course" for several decades unt ...
.
He was among the leaders from the start and finished third behind the French-trained runners
Diatome
{{Infobox racehorse
, horsename = Diatome
, image =
, caption =
, sire = Sicambre
, grandsire = Prince Bio
, dam = Dictaway
, damsire = Honeway
, sex = Stallion
, foaled = 13 June 1962
, country = Great Britain
, colour = Dark Bay
, ...
and
Carvin
Carvin () is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France.
Geography
An ex-coalmining commune, now a light industrial and farming town, situated some northeast of Lens, completely encircled by the N17 and D ...
.
Roman Brother was named 1965
Horse of The Year after topping a poll organised by the publishers of ''
Daily Racing Form
The ''Daily Racing Form'' (DRF) (referred to as the ''Racing Form'' or "Form" and sometimes "telegraph" or "telly") is a tabloid newspaper founded in 1894 in Chicago, Illinois, by Frank Brunell. The paper publishes the past performances of race ...
'', becoming the first horse sold at public auction to be so honored.
The two-year-old filly
Moccasin
A moccasin is a shoe, made of deerskin or other soft leather, consisting of a sole (made with leather that has not been "worked") and sides made of one piece of leather, stitched together at the top, and sometimes with a vamp (additional panel o ...
won the two rival polls organized by the Thoroughbred Racing Association and ''Turf and Sports Digest'', beating Roman Brother by 44 votes to 39 in the latter poll. Roman Brother was named
Champion Handicap horse in all three polls.
1966: five-year-old season
Roman Brother opened his five-year-old season by winning a seven-furlong race at Hialeah on January 25. The prize took his career earnings to $940,403, leading to speculation that he was poised to become the next equine millionaire.
On February 5, Roman Brother, carrying 126 pounds, started 1/2 favorite for the Seminole Handicap at the same track. The gelding was never in contention, finishing fourth to Convex. Roman Brother sustained an injury to his left ankle in the race, which forced him to miss an intended run in the
Widener Handicap
The Widener Handicap at Hialeah Park Race Track in Hialeah, Florida was a Grade III stakes race for Thoroughbred racehorses 3-years-old and up. It was run over a distance of miles (10 furlongs) until 1993 when it was modified to miles. Initially ...
.
The injury did not respond to treatment, and Roman Brother was retired from racing.
Retirement and Death
Roman Brother spent his retirement at Harbor View Farm before being moved to Stephen and Gary Wolfson's Happy Valley Farm after the sale of Harbor View. On the afternoon of March 8, 1991, he died after a severe bout with colic, less than three months before his 30th birthday. His rival Northern Dancer, who like Roman Brother was foaled on May 27, 1961, had been euthanized exactly 16 weeks earlier on November 16, 1990, due to complications also from colic. The two had been one of the only known close rivals ever to have the same foaling date and to die within four months of each other due to the same illness.
The Roman Brother Handicap, a race restricted to Florida-breds and run at Hialeah, was named in the gelding's honor.
Pedigree
References
{{reflist, colwidth=30em
1961 racehorse births
1991 racehorse deaths
Thoroughbred family 16-a
Racehorses bred in Florida
Racehorses trained in the United States
American Thoroughbred Horse of the Year