Prince Rose (1928–1944) was a British-bred, Belgian-trained Thoroughbred racehorse, often referred to as the best horse in Belgian racing.[1]

Prince Rose
Prince Rose (Hervé Denaigre), oil on canvas
painted by Bob Demuyser (1920–2003)
SireRose Prince
GrandsirePrince Palatine
DamIndolence
DamsireGay Crusader
SexStallion
Foaled1928
CountryGreat Britain
ColourBay
BreederLord Durham
OwnerHenri Coppez
TrainerNot found
Record20: 16–0–2
EarningsUS$59,267 (equivalent)
Major wins
Grand Prix de Bruxelles (1931)
Grand International d'Ostende (1931 & 1932)
Prix du President de la Republique (1932)
Awards
Leading sire in France (1946)
Honours
Grand Prix Prince Rose at Hippodrome Wellington
Last updated on February 2, 2007

Background

edit

Bred in England by Lord Durham, Prince Rose was sired by Rose Prince out of the mare Indolence. His grandsire was Prince Palatine, a two-time British Horse of the Year and his damsire was Gay Crusader, winner of the 1917 English Triple Crown.

The Earl of Durham died in 1929 and his estate sold Prince Rose to Henri Coppez (1869–1946) who brought him to Belgium.

Racing career

edit

At age three, Prince Rose won the Grand Prix de Bruxelles, beat the great French filly Pearl Cap in the Grand International d'Ostende then was third to her in the 1931 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. In 1932, Prince Rose won the Prix du President de la Republique at Hippodrome de Saint-Cloud.[2]

Stud record

edit

Retired to stud duty after winning sixteen races in twenty starts, Prince Rose sired seven offspring in Belgium before being sent to the Haras de Cheffreville breeding Farm in France in 1938 where he would produce another thirty-five.

Foaled Name Sex Major Wins/Achievements
Prince Chevalier Stallion
1940 Princequillo Stallion
1941 Prince Bio Stallion Prix Noailles (1944), Poule d'Essai des Poulains

However, most important for horse racing in the United States, in 1939 Prince Rose had been mated with the mare Cosquilla who, because of the onset of World War II, was shipped to safety in Ireland. There, Cosquilla foaled Princequillo who would eventually be sent to race in the U.S. and who would become a very influential stallion. Prince Rose was killed by a bombing at his box door in 1944.[3]

Legacy

edit

Prince Rose is the grandsire of the U.S. Champion filly Misty Morn and U.S. Racing Hall of Fame colts Hill Prince and Round Table. Other important descendants of Prince Rose include Mill Reef, Fort Marcy, Sham, and 1973 U.S. Triple Crown champion Secretariat.

Honours

edit

The Grand International d'Ostende at Hippodrome Wellington in Ostend was renamed the Grand Prix Prince Rose in his honor.

Pedigree

edit
Pedigree of Prince Rose, bay stallion, 1928
Sire
Rose Prince
Prince Palatine Persimmon St. Simon
Perdita
Lady Lightfoot Isinglass
Glare
Eglantine Perth War Dance
Primrose Dame
Rose de Mai Callistrate
May Pole
Dam
Indolence
Gay Crusader Bayardo Bay Ronald
Galicia
Gay Laura Beppo
Galeottia
Barrier Grey Leg Pepper and Salt
Quetta
Bar the Way Right-Away
Barrisdale (family: 10-c)

References

edit
  1. ^ "Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) - June 17, 1987".
  2. ^ "Copper's Prince Rose Captures President of Republic Race". July 4, 1932 – via NYTimes.com.
  3. ^ "À propos de nous | Haras du Petit Tellier". Le Petit Tellier.