Dismissed as “just a sprinter” during his racing days, Roman was far being from the equal of Sir Gallahad III's best son, Gallant Fox. Nonetheless, it was Roman and not Gallant Fox who became Sir Gallahad II's best son at stud. Primarily an influence for speed, Roman was an excellent broodmare sire but also had influence through his Preakness Stakes-winning son Hasty Road.
Race record
40 starts, 18 wins, 5 seconds, 6 thirds, US$56,060
1939:
1940:
1941:
Assessments
Ranked eighth among American juveniles of 1939 by The Blood-Horse.
Rated at 117 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1939, 13 pounds below champion Bimelech.
As an individual
A good-sized bay horse, Roman was powerfully made with a heavy barrel and strong quarters. Photographs suggest that he was somewhat sickle-hocked and over at the knee. He was tough, honest, durable, and consistent and retired sound. A mile was the limit of his scope and he was probably better at 6 furlongs. He had a pleasant, sociable disposition.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Roman sired 310 winners (75.4%) and 53 stakes winners (12.9%) from 411 named foals. Sires and Dams of Stakes Winners 1925-1985 (Blood-Horse) lists Roman as having sired 54 stakes winners (13,1%), a tally concurred with by Abram Hewitt in Sire Lines. Roman is a Brilliant/Intermediate chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Hasty Road (USA), Pocahontas (USA), Queen Hopeful (USA), Romanita (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Astray (USA), Chieftain (USA), Desert Law (USA), Desert Love (USA), Destructor (USA), Flight Bird (USA), Iron Peg (USA), Proudest Roman (USA), Roman Brother (USA), Sweet Patootie (USA), Tom Rolfe (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Roman was bred and owned by Joseph Widener. He was trained by D. E. Stewart. Following his retirement from racing, Roman entered stud in Kentucky in 1942 and stood the first part of his career at Widener's Elmendorf Farm. Following Widener's death, Roman was eventually moved to The Stallion Station, which was run by Widener's former farm manager L. P. Doherty in association with Harold Snowden. Roman died of a rupture of the small intestine at The Stallion Station on August 26, 1960.
Pedigree notes
Roman is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to Offensive, dam of 1948 Sanford Stakes winner Slam Bang (by Shut Out) and second dam of multiple stakes winner Niteange (by Son Ange). He is a brother in blood to stakes winner Boss (by Sir Gallahad III's full brother Bull Dog) and a half brother to stakes winner Bucking (by Chance Shot). He is also a half brother to Stepladder (by Chance Shot), whose son Pintor (by Goya II) was a stakes winner on the flat and over jumps.
Roman's dam Buckup was foaled in England from the American mare Look Up (by Ultimus) and was brought to the United States with her dam. She won the 1931 Test Stakes and is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Chanceview (by Chance Shot). Lookup, in turn, is a half sister to 1931 Champagne Stakes winner Sweeping Light (by Manna).
Books and media
Roman is profiled in Chapter 67 of Abram S. Hewitt's Sire Lines (1977, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; updated and re-released by Eclipse Press in 2006).
Fun facts
Last updated: August 11, 2023
Race record
40 starts, 18 wins, 5 seconds, 6 thirds, US$56,060
1939:
- Won Hyde Park Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Bashford Manor Stakes (USA, 5FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Lafayette Stakes (USA, 4FD, Keeneland)
- 2nd Hialeah Juvenile Championship (USA, 3FD, Hialeah)
- 2nd Seminole Stakes (USA, 3FD, Hialeah)
1940:
- Won Jerome Handicap (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Laurel Stakes (USA, 8FD, Laurel)
- Won Chicago Handicap (USA, 6FD, Washngton Park; new track record 1:10-1/5)
- 2nd Blue Grass Stakes (USA, 9FD, Keeneland)
- 2nd Ritchie Handicap (USA, 6FD, Pimlico)
- 3rd Capital Handicap (USA, 6FD, Laurel)
- 3rd Bay Shore Handicap (USA, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Withers Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
1941:
- Won Fall Highweight Handicap (USA, 6FD, Belmont; equaled track record 1:10)
- Won Fleetwing Handicap (USA, 6FD, Empire City)
- Won American Legion Handicap (USA, 7FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Vosburgh Handicap (USA, 7FD, Belmont)
Assessments
Ranked eighth among American juveniles of 1939 by The Blood-Horse.
Rated at 117 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1939, 13 pounds below champion Bimelech.
As an individual
A good-sized bay horse, Roman was powerfully made with a heavy barrel and strong quarters. Photographs suggest that he was somewhat sickle-hocked and over at the knee. He was tough, honest, durable, and consistent and retired sound. A mile was the limit of his scope and he was probably better at 6 furlongs. He had a pleasant, sociable disposition.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Roman sired 310 winners (75.4%) and 53 stakes winners (12.9%) from 411 named foals. Sires and Dams of Stakes Winners 1925-1985 (Blood-Horse) lists Roman as having sired 54 stakes winners (13,1%), a tally concurred with by Abram Hewitt in Sire Lines. Roman is a Brilliant/Intermediate chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- 3rd on the American general sire list in 1953; 7th in 1949; 9th in 1954 and 1957.
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 1965; 2nd in 1963 and 1964; 5th in 1966; 9th in 1969; 10th in 1967 and 1968.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 1949 and 1953
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 3rd on the American general sire list in 1953; 7th in 1949; 9th in 1954 and 1957.
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 1965; 2nd in 1963 and 1964; 9th in 1961.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 1949 and 1953.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 3rd on the American general sire list in 1953; 7th in 1949; 9th in 1954 and 1957.
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 1965; 2nd in 1963 and 1964; 5th in 1966; 9th in 1961 and 1969; 10th in 1967 and 1968.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the American general sire list in 1965.
Notable progeny
Hasty Road (USA), Pocahontas (USA), Queen Hopeful (USA), Romanita (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Astray (USA), Chieftain (USA), Desert Law (USA), Desert Love (USA), Destructor (USA), Flight Bird (USA), Iron Peg (USA), Proudest Roman (USA), Roman Brother (USA), Sweet Patootie (USA), Tom Rolfe (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Roman was bred and owned by Joseph Widener. He was trained by D. E. Stewart. Following his retirement from racing, Roman entered stud in Kentucky in 1942 and stood the first part of his career at Widener's Elmendorf Farm. Following Widener's death, Roman was eventually moved to The Stallion Station, which was run by Widener's former farm manager L. P. Doherty in association with Harold Snowden. Roman died of a rupture of the small intestine at The Stallion Station on August 26, 1960.
Pedigree notes
Roman is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to Offensive, dam of 1948 Sanford Stakes winner Slam Bang (by Shut Out) and second dam of multiple stakes winner Niteange (by Son Ange). He is a brother in blood to stakes winner Boss (by Sir Gallahad III's full brother Bull Dog) and a half brother to stakes winner Bucking (by Chance Shot). He is also a half brother to Stepladder (by Chance Shot), whose son Pintor (by Goya II) was a stakes winner on the flat and over jumps.
Roman's dam Buckup was foaled in England from the American mare Look Up (by Ultimus) and was brought to the United States with her dam. She won the 1931 Test Stakes and is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Chanceview (by Chance Shot). Lookup, in turn, is a half sister to 1931 Champagne Stakes winner Sweeping Light (by Manna).
Books and media
Roman is profiled in Chapter 67 of Abram S. Hewitt's Sire Lines (1977, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; updated and re-released by Eclipse Press in 2006).
Fun facts
- Roman's prowess as a sire of speedy juveniles can be measured by the fact that 47 percent of his foals—not just his starters—won as 2-year-olds.
- Roman had a cat as his personal "pet" and mascot. The cat's name is unknown.
Last updated: August 11, 2023