Omaha daily bee., 1911-07-23
GIRL NOW RIDES RosEBEN
Famous Race Horse Now Used as
Saddle Mount.

Famous Race HOrse Now Used as
saddle Mount.
A bookmaker who used to be a familiar
figure on the big tracks came to wash
ington the other day to loaf a while and
spend little money. One afternoon he
found himself on the Speedway watching
the procession of folks In automobiles and
carriages and on horseback. Suddenly he
stood up In his automobile. lifted his hat
and bowed low to a pretty girl on a big,
clean-lmbed horse cantering by.
BY =" he cried. IF there amt Rose.
beni"
And It was. For old Roseben the
big train" famous weight carrier and
one of the most popular horses that ever
raced on an American track, IL now the
regular saddle mount OF Miss Wadsworth,
the daughter Of former Representative
James w. Wadsworth and sister Of the
former speaker of the New York assem-
bly,, who lives In Washington.
Roseben was taken off the tracks In
1909 after winning forty-four races and
$4,000 in first money In six years. besides
breaking several records for the sprint
distances and demonstrating his ability to
finish in front. despite the most crushing
imposts that could be devised by the Of
fetal handicapper.
Finally when his legs went bad and It
became apparent that his racing days
were over, his owner, Davy Johnson, gave
him to Mr.. Wadsworth knowing that he
would take the best of care of the old
racer. Mr. Wadsworth gave Roseben TO
his daughter, who soon found out that
the race horse was as gentle as a child
and made an ideal woman's mount. His
legs were too bad for racing, but plenty
good enough for light work,
The only trouble Miss Wadsworth has
with Rosenben is in keeping him down on
earth when two or three horses in his
vicinity are INDUCING in a brush. Once
he did get the bit In his teeth when two
cavalrymen from Fort Myer on govern
ment mounts breezed by him. He lit out
and in about eight minutes those cavalry
chargers were hull down in the distance
Lady" said one of the soldiers to
Miss wadsworth, after she had fought
Roseben to standstill and the cavalry
man had puffed up to her, lis that reg
ular horse you're on?" SEA.
.'No" Miss Wadsworth replied with
smile this is the famous Roseben."
II thought It was something like that"
said the soldier, cause he went more like
an automobile than any four-legged animal
/ ever saw"
But Roseben isn't often permitted to in
dulge In any sprints. AS Miss Wadsworth
saws. he has "a few bad legs" and IL
doesn't do him any. good to get his head
loose and stretch his wonderful muscles
in old-time style.
Rosenben. whom the track regulars
nearly all called the big train" Is q son
of Ben Strome and Roseieaf. He began
his racing career as 2-year-old under
the coIors Of the Chicago millionaire Iohn
A. Drake. but his first essays on the turt
were not successful. 1t was not until
Roseben had turned years that ne pe-
gan to show his real quality. That was IA
1904. He won hts maiden race at motifs
Park on October II. defeating only fair
field. Only six times did he start thAt
year. winning three races and less than
$1,000. His first appearance in the east
where he was 70 become the most re-
uah,e horse of his day was at Brighton
Beach on July 7.
In 1905 Roseben won seventeen races ana
On one of them lowered the seven-furions
mark 10 l;25 on a circular track. ne
started in that year at the once popular
Renn,ngs track on the outskirts OF Wash
inrton which was put out Of business by
congress three years ago and 10 now an
unpicturesque ruin. Roseben hadn't much
OF a reputation at that time, but the rae
ing public at once took the big morse 10
their hearts for the gallant manner IN
which he won. All tracks looked alike 10
him. but he never was much at distance
only once winning at the mile That was
his one falling
Roseben won his greatest fame in 1900
when he captured s2s.25O fret money In
ten races, taking the Carter, the sterhns'
the Excelsior, the Fall Handicap and the
Flight stakes. Seven races and No7Vo
went TO him in 1907. His star began to
wane in 1908. when he was 7 years DID,
New York sun.