The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-07-13
ROSEBEN is THROUGH.
Race Horse Has Broken
Down HOpelessIy.

Mighty Roseben will race no more. Davy
Johnson has decided to let the big Train
pass the remainder OF his days on the farm
OF James W. Wadsworth, in the Genesee
Valley, and the ODee-champion Splinter
perhaps the greatest IN the world-wi'l
board a private horse ear in Gravesend on
Thursday. Roseben broke down hopeless
" In the fore legs after his race In
was defeated by Nimbus.
johnson and his friends tried to cut a
melon on that occasion, and got as mich
as 5 to for their oral wagers. but Rose
ever faced the barrier. after a plucky at
tempt to score a victory, succumbed to nm
ailment which had kept Trainer Frank d.
Weir busy for more than two years. This
time Roseben's breakdown proved so seri-
GUS that Weir realized 1t was all over.
Roseben will always be remembered as
Dave Johnson's greatest medium for
plunging wagers. 1t is impossible to- say
how much money Johnson won and lost on
the races run by the Ben Strome gelding.
but the amount ran up into six figures,
beyond a doubt.
When johnson bought Roseben from John
A. Drake the latter offered the opinion
that the Big Train was nothing more
than a Splinter. and could not win from
good horses at distances over seven fur
longs. But johnson, after seeing Roseben
pick up as much as 147 pounds and win six
furlong dashes in a gallop. was convinced
that the Ben Strome gelding could hold his
own at longer distances. 1t was two years
ago that Johnson believed Roseben had the
Metropolitan Handicap, one mile. at his
mercy, and so firm was the plunger's con-
fdence that he wagered $40. 600. only to see
the great Splinter quit after going seven
furlongS.
johnson refused to be convinced. how
ever. and started the Big Train In the
Brooklyn Handicap. one mile and a quarter,
with a similar result. Then Roseben went
back to the sprint races and reestablished
his prestige. 1t was not until the fall OF
that year, however. that Roseben was In
his best form. He showed such phenom-
email speed In private trials at iGravesend
that johnson framed a novel killing that
went through as smooth as silk. .
Roseben was entered In a selling event
at Belmont Park, the distance seven fur
longs, and as there were only two other
starters, both cheap platers, the odds
| against the Big Train were prohibitiYe
make to the layers. He wanted to bet that
Roseben could run the seven furlongs in
LIS or better. The layers jumped at this
apparently foolhardy offer and agreed 10
lplunger then unloaded $4,000 with various
spectators. while his turf associates
wagered half as much again.
Shaw had the mount and rode the Big
Train hard from barrier to wire with the
result that the time was 1:22, a worlds zee
ord which may. never be equalled. When
Eoseben was about TO retire a few weeks
later he was stricken with a blood disease
that nearly ended his life. But he recov-
cred after strenuous treatment and raced
again with fair success last season.
Weir took the big s%printer to California
last winter and won some good races with
him, but Roseben's ~underpinning was con-
stantly under suspicion. When the geld
Ing came East he had a lorg rest and then
ran several races which quickly emon-
strated that he was not himself.
II want TO feel that the old fellow is IN
good hands" said johnson yesterday. and
that is why I am sending him to Mr.;
Wads~orth's farm. He has served me well
and 1 shall remain loyal to him to the
end"
That racing at Empire City, beginning
tomorrow, viii show unusual strength Is
indicated by these prominent owners who
have engaged stable room: S. c. Hildreth.
August Belmont. r. T. Wilson, jr.. John u.
Madden. f. P. Whitney, james R, Keeae,
H. X. Knapp, Thomas C. Mcdowell, the
Chelsea Stable, Mr.. Earle. H C. Bedwell.
Barney Schneider. z. r. Bradley. Frederick
Johnson. John ]. Hyiand. Samuel Emery.
I F. Bartlett. Robert H; Davis; William
Cast, Colonel W. E. Applegate. George j.
Long. R. F. Carman. P. s. P. Randolph,
L. o. Apnleby. John T. ireland. G. NJ.
Odom. Miller Henderson. James T.. Gaff-
ney, John W. Schorr. Richard Watkins.
Kimball Patterson, c. Van Letter aud
others,