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…