Rose of Sharon (USA)
1926 – November 8, 1929
Light Brigade (GB) x Rosa Mundi (USA), by Plaudit (USA)
Family 4-m
1926 – November 8, 1929
Light Brigade (GB) x Rosa Mundi (USA), by Plaudit (USA)
Family 4-m
A feminine counterpart to Black Gold five years earlier, Rose of Sharon won four Oaks races during her 3-year-old season, but she did not confine her conquests to her own division, winning two stakes against good colts. Unfortunately she was also Black Gold's counterpart in tragedy, dying of illness before the end of her 3-year-old year.
Race record
14 starts, 10 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$64,069
1929:
Honors
American champion 3-year-old filly (1929)
Assessments
The Blood-Horse not only rated Rose of Sharon as the best American 3-year-old filly of 1929 but rated her second only to Blue Larkspur among American 3-year-olds of either sex.
As an individual
A masculine brown filly, Rose of Sharon stood 17 hands. She was stronger and more muscular than most of her male counterparts but did not come to hand soon enough to race as a 2-year-old. Her appearance was marred by lop ears.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Rose of Sharon was bred and owned by Senator Johnson N. Camden, Jr., at his Hartland Stud. She was trained by Daniel E. Stewart, who raced the filly in his colors during part of 1929 but was probably either leasing Rose of Sharon or acting on behalf of Camden, who was observing mourning for his late wife at that time. The filly was ridden to her Kentucky Oaks score by Willie Crump. Rose of Sharon died of pneumonia November 8, 1929, and was buried at her birthplace. Her dam, Rosa Mundi, died the following year and was also buried at Hartland Stud.
Pedigree notes
Rose of Sharon is outcrossed through five generations. She is a full sister to Columbia, dam of 1932 Quebec Derby winner Jillion (by Black Servant). She is also a half sister to Rose Margot (by Peter Quince), whose grandson Mayito was a notable winner in Cuba in 1947-1948.
Rose of Sharon's dam Rosa Mundi is a half sister to 1912 Breeders' Futurity winner Helios (by Star Shoot) and to Dark Rose (by Light Brigade), whose daughter Lady Waterloo (by Quatre Bras II) produced the good sprinter Duc de Fer (by Spy Song) and stakes winners Duc d'Or (by Mr. Music) and Gold Duchess (by Spy Song). Rosa Mundi and her siblings were produced from Hindoo Rose (by Hindoo), whose dam Janie Clay (by Teuton or Sir Dixon) is a half sister to 1903 Great Eastern Handicap winner Lady Amelia (by Ben Brush), second dam of 1924 Dwyer Stakes winner Ladkin. The female line is one of many branches descended from the famous 19th century matron Maggie B. B.
Books and media
Rose of Sharon is profiled in Chapter 5 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown; originally published in John Hervey's Racing in America 1922 -1936 (The Jockey Club, 1937). From the Keeneland Library General Collection; used by permission. Please contact the Keeneland Library with any questions regarding use or licensure of this photo.
Last updated: May 9, 2024
Race record
14 starts, 10 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$64,069
1929:
- Won Ashland Oaks (USA, Lexington)
- Won Chicago Test (USA, 8.5FD, Hawthorne)
- Won Illinois Oaks (USA, 9FD, Washington Park)
- Won Kentucky Oaks (USA, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Latonia Oaks (USA, 10FD, Latonia)
- Won Potomac Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Havre de Grace)
Honors
American champion 3-year-old filly (1929)
Assessments
The Blood-Horse not only rated Rose of Sharon as the best American 3-year-old filly of 1929 but rated her second only to Blue Larkspur among American 3-year-olds of either sex.
As an individual
A masculine brown filly, Rose of Sharon stood 17 hands. She was stronger and more muscular than most of her male counterparts but did not come to hand soon enough to race as a 2-year-old. Her appearance was marred by lop ears.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Rose of Sharon was bred and owned by Senator Johnson N. Camden, Jr., at his Hartland Stud. She was trained by Daniel E. Stewart, who raced the filly in his colors during part of 1929 but was probably either leasing Rose of Sharon or acting on behalf of Camden, who was observing mourning for his late wife at that time. The filly was ridden to her Kentucky Oaks score by Willie Crump. Rose of Sharon died of pneumonia November 8, 1929, and was buried at her birthplace. Her dam, Rosa Mundi, died the following year and was also buried at Hartland Stud.
Pedigree notes
Rose of Sharon is outcrossed through five generations. She is a full sister to Columbia, dam of 1932 Quebec Derby winner Jillion (by Black Servant). She is also a half sister to Rose Margot (by Peter Quince), whose grandson Mayito was a notable winner in Cuba in 1947-1948.
Rose of Sharon's dam Rosa Mundi is a half sister to 1912 Breeders' Futurity winner Helios (by Star Shoot) and to Dark Rose (by Light Brigade), whose daughter Lady Waterloo (by Quatre Bras II) produced the good sprinter Duc de Fer (by Spy Song) and stakes winners Duc d'Or (by Mr. Music) and Gold Duchess (by Spy Song). Rosa Mundi and her siblings were produced from Hindoo Rose (by Hindoo), whose dam Janie Clay (by Teuton or Sir Dixon) is a half sister to 1903 Great Eastern Handicap winner Lady Amelia (by Ben Brush), second dam of 1924 Dwyer Stakes winner Ladkin. The female line is one of many branches descended from the famous 19th century matron Maggie B. B.
Books and media
Rose of Sharon is profiled in Chapter 5 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- In botany, “rose of Sharon” is a common name for several flowering plants. In the United States, the name is most commonly applied to Hibiscus syriacus, a deciduous shrub bearing large trumpet-shaped flowers with prominent yellow stamens. The name comes from the King James Version of the Bible, where it appears in Song of Solomon 2:1; it has since commonly been used as a title of Christ, alluding to His beauty in the eyes of His people.
- According to Thoroughbred historian William Robertson (The History of Thoroughbred Racing in America), the US$50,000 insurance payout on Rose of Sharon following her death was one of the largest for a racehorse up to that time.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown; originally published in John Hervey's Racing in America 1922 -1936 (The Jockey Club, 1937). From the Keeneland Library General Collection; used by permission. Please contact the Keeneland Library with any questions regarding use or licensure of this photo.
Last updated: May 9, 2024