John W. Rogers

Biography

John Rogers trained trotters before getting his start with thoroughbreds around 1880 in the Midwest with the extensive stable of Ed Corrigan. The first major racing success for Rogers was with the Corrigan-owned Modesty, who won the inaugural American Derby in 1884. For Corrigan, Rogers also trained Freeland, the best handicapper of 1885. Rogers and Corrigan, however, had a falling out and parted ways in 1886.

With a new prominent client in Capt. S. S. Brown, Rogers continued to thrive. In 1886, Rogers conditioned the Brown-owned Troubadour to victory in the Suburban Handicap and saddled Buddhist, also owned by Brown, to win the 1889 Preakness Stakes.

In 1901, Rogers succeeded Sam Hildreth as the head trainer for William Collins Whitney, developing top stars for the stable such as Nasturtium, Blue Girl, and Gunfire. Whitney died in 1904, but Rogers remained with the family, training for his son, Harry Payne Whitney.

For H. P. Whitney, Rogers trained the two best fillies of the 1902 crop, Artful and Tanya. Artful was the only horse to defeat the great Sysonby, earning that famous victory in the 1904 Futurity at Sheepshead Bay. In 1905, Artful defeated Beldame and Delhi, the winner of the 1904 Belmont Stakes, in the Brighton Handicap. Tanya, meanwhile, became only the second filly to win the Belmont when she achieved the feat in 1905. A filly did not win the Belmont again until Rags to Riches more than 100 years later in 2007. As a juvenile, Tanya added wins in the Hopeful, Spinaway, and National Stallion. Rogers won the Belmont for H. P. Whitney again in 1906 with Burgomaster.

Rogers also played a major role in the success of Clifford, one of the top horses of the 1890s. Rogers became Clifford’s trainer during the horse’s 4-year-old season in 1894. Throughout the next four years, Clifford won 23 of 37 starts for Rogers and finished out of the top three only once. During his time with Rogers, Clifford defeated Henry of Navarre in the Second Special at Gravesend in 1894 and Ben Brush in the 1897 Long Island Handicap. 

Both Artful and Clifford were inducted into the Hall of Fame. 

Achievements

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the 1889 Preakness Stakes — Buddhist
Won the 1905 Belmont Stakes — Tanya
Won the 1906 Belmont Stakes — Burgomaster

Other Highlughts 

Won the Suburban Handicap — 1886, 1898
Won the Second Special — 1894, 1895
Won the American Derby — 1884
Won the Kentucky Oaks — 1884
Won the Monmouth Cup — 1887 
Won the Long Island Handicap — 1897
Won the Withers Stakes — 1900
Won the Brooklyn Handicap — 1903
Won the Metropolitan Handicap — 1903
Won the Futurity Stakes — 1904
Won the Hopeful Stakes — 1904
Won the Spinaway Stakes — 1904
Won the Brighton Handicap — 1905