Former Turfway Owner Recalls Pete Rose's Love of Racing

The name Pete Rose has been synonymous with baseball and, more notoriously, betting on that sport. But when Major League Baseball's all-time hits leader died Sept. 30 at the age of 83, many recalled Rose's love of horse racing. "I probably met Pete in the early '80s. When I bought Turfway Park, Pete and I became very close, attributed to the horse racing industry and horses," said Jerry Carroll, who used to own the Florence, Ky., track. "He would come out to Turfway, as would a lot of the sports figures. … Pete was an avid racing fan and knew a lot about racing. He was a big speed player. He liked the horses that broke out front." Carroll took Rose to a steeplechase event Carroll organized in Nashville, Tenn., that featured England's Princess Anne and her horse Wood Chisel. Afterward, there was an event at the governor's mansion. Rose said the day was the most fun he had had without a bet ticket involved. Carroll said Rose was exposed to Thoroughbred racing as a child when his father took him to Cincinnati's local track, River Downs, now called Belterra Park. Once he reached the major leagues, Rose would frequent tracks in Florida during spring training as well as those near ballparks around the country. "He liked trainers," Carroll recalled. "And he had special trainers that he liked. I think he would call some of the trainers occasionally. But he liked certain jocks. I know he liked Jerry Bailey, guys like that that were at the top of the line when he was watching races. But if he lost, he'd always blame the jock." Rose was an infamous part of a winning Pick 6 at Turfway Park in January 1989 in which he, Carroll, and restaurateur Ted Gregory won more than $265,000. While the bet was legal, Carroll didn't want there to be a lot of attention on the winning bet because of his role and Rose's notoriety. At the time, Rose, unbeknownst to him, was already under investigation by Major League Baseball, which ultimately led to a lifetime ban from the sport and its Hall of Fame for betting on games in which he managed the Cincinnati Reds. News of the winning wager only added to his woes. At the time, Rose owed a bookmaker money from previous bets. Carroll said a Cincinnati television station's sports anchor jokingly said to Rose, "I hear you hit the Pick 6," not knowing that he had. Rose gave him a thumbs up, not meaning to confirm it, but at the end of the broadcast, the anchor said, "I think the rich get richer. It's my understanding Pete Rose hit the Pick 6." The bookmaker heard this report and threatened to blackmail Rose if he didn't get his money. When he wasn't paid, he went to Major League Baseball. Rose eventually served prison time for not reporting income from racing and other endeavors. Rose shifted his attention from betting to owning, telling the Portland Oregonian newspaper in 1991, "I'm in cahoots with a group in Lexington, Ky., that's organizing together to get into the business of raising horses." Rose attended that year's Keeneland July Selected Yearling Sale, formerly the summer yearling sale. Rose said he met with trainer D. Wayne Lukas to explore the Hall of Famer's potentially working with any of his horses. But Carroll said to the best of his knowledge, Rose never bought any horses; any shares he had were small ones gifted to him. Carroll said that since Rose's death was announced he spent a lot of time reminiscing about his friend. Whether it was about an oval or a diamond, Rose had something to share. "How I remember him was the great stories that he was able to tell," Carroll said. "It's unbelievable."