06/02/2023
This is an original photo of the 1937 Santa Anita Handicap that would be won by Rosemont and Harry Richards. Seabiscuit would finish second and Indian Broom third.
Rosemont should have earned the sobriquet "the Giant Killer" for his racing career. Although he is famous for defeating Seabiscuit in the 1937 Santa Anita Handicap, he also bested Triple Crown winner Omaha in the 1935 Withers and outlasted Discovery in the 1936 Narragansett Special.
Rosemont was bred in Virginia by Edward McLean, the owner of both the Washington Post and the Hope Diamond.
He was sired by The Porter, a son of Sweep and was out of Garden Rose by the immortal Colin.
William DuPont purchased Garden Rose while she was carrying Rosemont from a dispersal of McLean's bloodstock.
As a two year old, Rosemont's best performance was his victory by four lengths over the nice filly Nellie Flag in the 1934 Eastern Shore Handicap in stakes record time. He finished second to both Chance Sun in the Grand Union Hotel Stakes and to Psychic Bid in the Hopeful.
He came up lame while preparing for the Pimlico Futurity and was retired for the season. His first start back was a second place finish to Plat Eye in an allowance race in May 1935.
His next start would be the Withers Stakes where he would meet not only Plat Eye, but the winner of both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness - Omaha. Most commentators dismissed Rosemont as a sprinter who couldn't carry his speed very far and was sent off at 8-1 with Omaha at 1-2.
While the pace was very fast, Rosemont was not on the lead, but had settled into third with Omaha just behind. As they turned for home, Rosemont took over from a tiring Plat Eye and held off Omaha by a length and a half in the fastest Withers since Jamestown's victory in 1931.
Two weeks later Omaha would register an easy victory in the Belmont Stakes over a muddy track and over Rosemont. His third place finish that day would come at a price as he would be out of action until late September after wrenching himself badly in the sloppy going.
In his return to the races, Rosemont was unable to find the winner's circle, finishing fourth in an allowance at Harvre de Grace, sixth in the Jerome, second in the San Vicente Handicap and another fourth in the San Antonio Handicap.
On February 22, 1936 he went postward in the Santa Anita Handicap with fourteen others including Time Supply, Azucar, Top Row and the favorite, the mighty Discovery.
The race through the stretch was nothing short of a slug fest among Time Supply, Top Row and Rosemont. Foul claims were lodged by both jockeys against Top Row, the winner.
While the finish was allowed to stand, it was conceded that Rosemont would have won but for the interference at a critical juncture.
His stature was greatly enhanced with this third place finish, but the rough treatment he received that day caused him to be laid up for at least six months.
Rosemont returned in August to second place finishes in both the Delaware and Aqueduct Handicaps.
In September he was entered in the Narragansett Special where he would carry 121 to Discovery's 130. Initially Rosemont broke slowly and was sixth at the half mile, but jockey Harry Richards found an opening on the rail, and gunned Rosemont through. Now he was in the lead and was suddenly clear by 1 1/2 lengths entering the stretch.
At this point Jon Bejshak untangled Discovery from the pack and began his drive. Soon he was bearing down on Rosemont with every stride. Even with Discovery lapped on him, Rosemont refused to quit and held off the great champion by a neck at the finish.
He would begin his 1937 campaign in California with a second attempt at the Santa Anita Handicap as his objective. Rosemont began slowly with a fifth to Seabiscuit in an allowance race, but would turn the tables on him in the San Antonio carrying top weight of 122, while giving the Biscuit 7lbs.
For the Santa Anita Handicap, Rosemont would draw post 17 out of the 18 horses entered. At the start Rosemont was eleventh and would stay there through the first half mile while Boxthorn and Special Agent set a blistering pace with the first quarter in 22 2/5 and the half in 45 4/5.
Seabiscuit was fourth at this juncture and would take the lead as they turned for home with Rosemont moving into fourth just behind Time Supply. Relentlessly he closed the gap with Seabiscuit until at last he had put a nose in front.
This memorable finish over the great Seabiscuit would be the last time Rosemont would get to the winners circle. He would register disappointing finishes in both the Suburban and Brooklyn Handicaps coming up lame in the latter race.
At stud, he would sire: Bed O' Roses, the 1949 Champion Two Year Old Filly and the 1951 Champion Handicap Mare; and Thinking Cap, the winner of the 1955 Travers Stakes.
His daughters would produce: Berlo, the 1960 Champion Three Year Old Filly; Peace Corps, the 1971 Maryland Champion Handicap Horse; and Gala Performance, the winner of the 1967 Jim Dandy Stakes, and the sire of: Monksfield, the winner of the 1977, 1978, and 1979 Aintree Hurdle; and West Tip, the winner of the 1986 Aintree Grand National.
While Rosemont is best remembered for his victory over Seabiscuit in the Big Cap, his wins over both Omaha and Discovery were no less impressive.
He raced in an age of giants and more than held his own.
