My identify is Nathan Rosen. I am 16 years previous from Middletown, New Jersey. Horse racing has been my ardour since I used to be born. I am very glad to share my expertise with you.
My first racing recollections are going to Monmouth Park and Saratoga Race Course with my father, Jeremy Rosen, and grandfather, Ed Rosen. My father is a minority companion at BBN Racing and my grandfather is the final supervisor of Lepore Stables. Each gave me recollections I will always remember.
My first actual racing reminiscence was the Saratoga Oaks Invitational on August 2, 2019 at Saratoga. BBN partnered with Ashbrook Farm for the Concrete Rose marketing campaign. She was a heavy favourite coming into this slot after successful Publication of Report on the Belmont Oaks. I keep in mind the environment clearly. Everybody was very assured. However you by no means know what is going on to occur at Saratoga. The very sluggish tempo frightened some BBN companions, however ultimately she received the race by a large margin, with jockey Julien Leparou giving her a number of ‘love faucets’ over the wire. I jumped into my dad’s arms and playfully punched him a couple of occasions out of pure pleasure. She is BBN’s first racing millionaire and can all the time have a particular place in my coronary heart.
One other essential reminiscence of mine is the Nest within the G1 Alabama Stakes. Going again somewhat bit, Nest received the earlier race, the Teaching Membership American Oaks in Saratoga. It was on Haskell’s day after we had been at Monmouth Park whereas our grandfather was at Saratoga. Haskell has been an annual household custom for so long as I can keep in mind, so it was a disgrace my grandfather did not be part of us. Alabama’s weekend was made much more thrilling as BBN gave first-time starter Mo Stash a win in his debut on the way in which to Saratoga. He later turned a stakes winner and Byrne’s favourite horse. It was an excellent begin to an amazing weekend. Heading into the Alabama match, I used to be feeling tense for a similar purpose as Concrete Rose. We knew Nest was an amazing horse and we hoped for her greatest efficiency. And boy did she. She received by 4 1/4 lengths and despatched Saratoga right into a frenzy. What made this win so particular for me was that I used to be in a position to spend it with my complete household. To at the present time, Nest’s win over Alabama is without doubt one of the greatest performances I’ve ever seen. I additionally had an opportunity to see her off the monitor and she or he was one of many calmest horses I’ve ever ridden. Each time individuals ask me, “Nate, who’s your favourite horse?” I all the time say “Nest,” as a result of on the course she’s dominant and off the course she’s candy.
Within the spring of 2024, my birthday want (I used to be born on Keeneland’s opening day, April 3, 2009) was to journey to Keeneland. It is secure to say, it was top-of-the-line presents I’ve ever acquired. On Thursday I went on a visit with my dad to Lane’s Finish Farm, Ashford Stud and Spendthrift Farm. We received to see legendary racing drivers like Flightline, American Pharoah, and Vino Rosso. I take into account all three of those horses to be among the greatest I’ve had in my life. We additionally received to see and feed the nice Zenyatta at Lane’s Finish. Friday we went to the races and eventually received to expertise Keeneland. There have been a number of entries, however the principle entry was Mo Stash. After a incredible 3-year-old marketing campaign, we had been all excited to see his 4-year-old debut. He had an amazing win and made our journey to Kentucky a lot extra worthwhile. Saturday’s Bluegrass Stakes was an amazing day. It is fairly cool in hindsight to see Sierra Leone win a race so nicely after which go on to have a yr like that.
In 2025, one other birthday want got here true. After a powerful 2-year-old race, my hope was to offer BBN a bracket buster run within the Stone Avenue Lexington Stakes. There was a whole lot of speak about it, nevertheless it appeared like a stretch for his first begin of the yr. Ultimately, he bravely completed second behind Gosgar, and this race turned the start line for his memorable 3-year-old profession. Bracket Buster will all the time be a particular horse to me due to his success in New Jersey. It was a dream come true for me to win the Pegasus Stakes and are available again within the Haskell Stakes. Any New Jersey jockey will inform you that placing a horse on Haskell is a superb accomplishment. Although he got here in 4th place, it was really wonderful to see him run so onerous on the most important stage on the coast. My love for him is rising. It was unimaginable to see him on TV as he gave sovereignty. It was all he had when he completed second within the Travers Stakes. To proceed his sturdy run, bringing residence the G3 Oklahoma Derby was an effective way to solidify his standing as a prime 3-year-old horse.
My favourite horse final yr was Kilwin. After an exhilarating 2-year-old season with a really strong exhibiting within the Breeders’ Cup, I used to be very excited for her to start out the yr within the Limestone Stakes. When it got here time to change to filth within the Leslie’s Woman In a single day Stakes, I used to be nervous however excited. It was a brand new problem. I used to be coming residence from the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga and watching the race from my automotive. My grandpa was driving, and as a passenger, I attempted to comply with Kilwin’s whereabouts and provides him real-time updates on the race. All race explanations for him went out the window after they returned residence. I used to be dropping my thoughts and was rooting for her to get residence. And it labored! I keep in mind a textual content message I despatched to my touring dad after the race. The precise textual content I despatched him was “Welcome…we’ll the check!!!” From that second on, I knew that was the place I wished her to run.
The check stakes had been held on August 2nd, the day Concrete Rose received the Saratoga Oaks and coincidentally additionally his mom’s birthday. Earlier than the race began, everybody was saying, “We’ll be glad whether or not we come second or third.” Not me. I wished to win, however the rest can be disappointing.
We arrived on the clubhouse and determined to look at the check from the identical spot the place we had seen the Concrete Rose shine six years earlier. The beginning gate opened and the subsequent factor she knew, she discovered the sphere many occasions bigger. “It’s not like this…” I believed. However because the race progressed, it became pondering, “Wait, we’re not out of this but.” Then they headed residence. I used to be shocked when jockey Jose Ortiz angled her from the skin. “Come on, Jose! Come on, Jose! Get up! Get up! Get up! Sure!” The second she crossed the end line, we knew she was the winner.
We ran to the winner’s circle screaming in pure pleasure. After I received down there, I high-fived everybody I might see. I regarded up on the crowd and noticed my grandparents and cousins cheering us on. That was a very particular second for me. It wasn’t till we received to the champagne room that we noticed Kilwin actually come out of the gate.
Kilwin’s victory within the Take a look at was the primary BBN Grade 1 I used to be in a position to watch in particular person and it elevated my love for the game tenfold.
As you understand, racing is essential to me. I spend hours scouring entries and outcomes and watching previous races on YouTube. Typically all through the day I textual content my dad, “Dad, did you see this horse are available in right here?” His response is normally, “What class are you in?”
As a hockey participant, I inform all my associates that I’d commerce scoring a aim in additional time for a horse successful a race. There is a rush of adrenaline whenever you see your horse hurtling in direction of the end line in entrance of you. However the most effective a part of racing is the recollections you make alongside the way in which. In the course of the summer season, I ask my grandpa many occasions if he needs to go to Monmouth Park. Each time he says sure, I really feel like I’ve a very nice day forward of me.
The fun of racing, the frustration of dropping, and all of the recollections alongside the way in which, racing has fully formed me into the particular person I’m right this moment. There’s one thing actually particular about watching these wonderful animals do what they had been born to do. There’s so much to be a fan of about horse racing…the races, the homeowners, the jockeys, and most significantly, the horses themselves. That is why it is the best sport on this planet.
