Although he had some ability, Rough'n Tumble came from less than fashionable bloodlines and was troubled by unsoundness. These characteristics did not make him a particularly attractive stallion prospect, and he ended up in Florida, then a minor market, after a single season in Maryland. The unheralded stallion almost single-handedly transformed Florida into a major center of Thoroughbred production and brought national attention to Ocala Stud (his home base) and Tartan Farms, which had made good use of his services under the guidance of John Nerud. The sire of the great Dr. Fager, he was also the broodmare sire of another Florida stalwart in In Reality, produced from his champion daughter My Dear Girl. Adding to his credits, he continued the male line of 1898 Kentucky Derby winner Plaudit through another son, Minnesota Mac, who became the grandsire of 1994 American Horse of the Year Holy Bull.
Race record
16 starts, 4 wins, 5 seconds, 4 thirds, US$126,980
1950:
1951:
Assessments
Rated at 119 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1950, 7 pounds below highweight Uncle Miltie and 5 pounds below divisional champion Battlefield.
Ranked sixth among American 3-year-old males of 1951 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A bay horse, Rough'n Tumble was tall and handsome with a good shoulder but had a clubbed foot. He was upright in his pasterns and slightly back at the knee, traits often seen in his descendants. His 3-year-old season was hampered by splint trouble and other injuries following a victory in the Derby Trial (then run as an allowance purse) and he did not race again after an unplaced run in the American Derby in August 1951, though he remained in training with hopes of returning him to the track through his 5-year-old season. He suffered from chronic laminitis after his 3-year-old season. As a stallion, he enjoyed human attention and posing for cameras.
As a stallion
Rough'n Tumble ranked among the top 10 American general sires three times, peaking at fourth in 1967. According to Jockey Club records, Rough'n Tumble sired 150 winners (71.8%) and 24 stakes winners (11.5%) from 209 named foals. Rough'n Tumble is a Brilliant/Classic chef-de-race in the Roman dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Dr. Fager (USA), Flag Raiser (USA), Minnesota Mac (USA), My Dear Girl (USA), Ruffled Feathers (USA), Treasure Chest (USA), Wedlock (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Rough'n Tumble was bred by Dr. Charles E. Hagyard, who sold him privately as a yearling to Frances A. Genter for a price reported as being less than US$5,000 (US$3,400 according to Charlene Johnson's Florida Thoroughbred). The colt was trained by Melvin "Sunshine" Calvert. He stood his first season at Windy Hills Farm in Maryland in 1954 and moved to Ocala Stud the following year, though he did return to Maryland for the 1959 season. Officially pensioned in March 1968, Rough'n Tumble was humanely destroyed due to declining health in April of that year and was buried at Ocala Stud.
Pedigree notes
Rough'n Tumble is inbred 4x4 to Spearmint and Whisk Broom II and 5x5 to Voter. He is a half brother to Sufficiency (by Helioscope), dam of multiple stakes winner Roger's Choice (by Groton), and to Full O' Beans (by Traffic Judge), second dam of 1979 American champion 2-year-old male Rockhill Native. Rough'n Tumble's dam Roused is one of only two foals produced from the stakes-placed Upset mare Rude Awakening, a half sister to multiple stakes winners Morshion and Downy Pillow (both by Morvich). Morshion, in turn, produced 1942 Washington Futurity winner Golden Rocket (by Cartago), whose son Rocket Bar (by Three Bars) won the Phoenix Gold Cup Handicap twice and earned a place in the American Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame after becoming a notable sire of Quarter Horses.
Rude Awakening and her siblings were produced from Cushion (by Nonpareil, an otherwise unimportant son of 1901 Futurity Stakes winner Yankee). The next dam in the tail-female lineage, Hassock (by the Martagon horse Martinet) produced nothing else of any importance and is out of Agnes Brennan (by Dr. McBride), who was likewise undistinguished.
Books and media
Rough'n Tumble is profiled in Chapter 71 of Abram S. Hewitt's Sire Lines (1977, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; updated and re-released in 2006 by Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: October 28, 2020
Race record
16 starts, 4 wins, 5 seconds, 4 thirds, US$126,980
1950:
- Won Primer Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Garden State Stakes (USA, 6FD, Garden State)
- 2nd Remsen Handicap (USA, 6FD, Jamaica)
- 3rd Futurity Stakes (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
1951:
- Won Santa Anita Derby (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Sheridan Handicap (USA, 8FD, Washington Park)
- 3rd San Felipe Stakes (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
Assessments
Rated at 119 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1950, 7 pounds below highweight Uncle Miltie and 5 pounds below divisional champion Battlefield.
Ranked sixth among American 3-year-old males of 1951 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A bay horse, Rough'n Tumble was tall and handsome with a good shoulder but had a clubbed foot. He was upright in his pasterns and slightly back at the knee, traits often seen in his descendants. His 3-year-old season was hampered by splint trouble and other injuries following a victory in the Derby Trial (then run as an allowance purse) and he did not race again after an unplaced run in the American Derby in August 1951, though he remained in training with hopes of returning him to the track through his 5-year-old season. He suffered from chronic laminitis after his 3-year-old season. As a stallion, he enjoyed human attention and posing for cameras.
As a stallion
Rough'n Tumble ranked among the top 10 American general sires three times, peaking at fourth in 1967. According to Jockey Club records, Rough'n Tumble sired 150 winners (71.8%) and 24 stakes winners (11.5%) from 209 named foals. Rough'n Tumble is a Brilliant/Classic chef-de-race in the Roman dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 4th on the American general sire list in 1967; 9th in 1965 and 1968.
Notable progeny
Dr. Fager (USA), Flag Raiser (USA), Minnesota Mac (USA), My Dear Girl (USA), Ruffled Feathers (USA), Treasure Chest (USA), Wedlock (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Rough'n Tumble was bred by Dr. Charles E. Hagyard, who sold him privately as a yearling to Frances A. Genter for a price reported as being less than US$5,000 (US$3,400 according to Charlene Johnson's Florida Thoroughbred). The colt was trained by Melvin "Sunshine" Calvert. He stood his first season at Windy Hills Farm in Maryland in 1954 and moved to Ocala Stud the following year, though he did return to Maryland for the 1959 season. Officially pensioned in March 1968, Rough'n Tumble was humanely destroyed due to declining health in April of that year and was buried at Ocala Stud.
Pedigree notes
Rough'n Tumble is inbred 4x4 to Spearmint and Whisk Broom II and 5x5 to Voter. He is a half brother to Sufficiency (by Helioscope), dam of multiple stakes winner Roger's Choice (by Groton), and to Full O' Beans (by Traffic Judge), second dam of 1979 American champion 2-year-old male Rockhill Native. Rough'n Tumble's dam Roused is one of only two foals produced from the stakes-placed Upset mare Rude Awakening, a half sister to multiple stakes winners Morshion and Downy Pillow (both by Morvich). Morshion, in turn, produced 1942 Washington Futurity winner Golden Rocket (by Cartago), whose son Rocket Bar (by Three Bars) won the Phoenix Gold Cup Handicap twice and earned a place in the American Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame after becoming a notable sire of Quarter Horses.
Rude Awakening and her siblings were produced from Cushion (by Nonpareil, an otherwise unimportant son of 1901 Futurity Stakes winner Yankee). The next dam in the tail-female lineage, Hassock (by the Martagon horse Martinet) produced nothing else of any importance and is out of Agnes Brennan (by Dr. McBride), who was likewise undistinguished.
Books and media
Rough'n Tumble is profiled in Chapter 71 of Abram S. Hewitt's Sire Lines (1977, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; updated and re-released in 2006 by Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Rough'n Tumble made his first start in a maiden claiming race for just US$7,000. He won gate to wire and was not risked for a tag again.
- Rough'n Tumble initially stood for just US$250. At his peak he stood for US$10,000, still a top-of-the-market fee in Florida.
- Because of his chronic laminitis, Rough'n Tumble had a private swimming pool built for his exercise at Ocala Stud.
Last updated: October 28, 2020