"The Courageous Cripple" -- A horse faster than Man O' War

[Calzone Lord]

Here are some cuts from one of horse racings all-time most popular, talented, and heroic campaigners. Old Rosebud.

He was often called either "The Courageous Cripple" or "Old Buddy" by the press. He raced six years before Man O' War.

Here is what his Daily Racing Form Past performances looked like going into the 1914 Kentucky Derby:





Old Rosebud dominated the Kentucky Derby by 8 lengths while under restraint throughout. He ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:03 2/5ths over a dull Churchill Downs racetrack -- and broke the track record by a stunning 1.40 seconds.





He was a faster racehorse on figures than Man O' War at this point. Man O' War's Belmont was his only race even close to Old Rosebud's Derby.

However, Old Rosebud badly bowed his tendon in his very start. The Injury was so severe -- it required a 3-year layoff.

Old Rosebud didn't race again until age 6 -- he made an impossible comeback and won 15 of 21 starts that season and easily cinched Horse of the Year. But, he broke down again near the end of the season. The same tendon.



He made another impossible comeback at age 8 -- and was again a top race horse.

He finally died when he broke down badly in a workout at age 11.

Here are some column cuts: