Grover Greer "Bud" Delp was an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Hall of FameThe National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
ThoroughbredThe Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorseHorse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
trainerIn horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
best remembered for his conditioning of Hall of Fame colt,
Spectacular BidSpectacular Bid was an American Thoroughbred race horse. "The Bid" as he was known was one of the most dominant gallopers of his time...
.
Bud Delp began his career as a Thoroughbred trainer in 1962 and in 1980 was voted the
Eclipse Award for Outstanding TrainerThe Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor for trainers. Created in 1971, it is part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually.Its Canadian counterpart is the Sovereign Award for Outstanding Trainer....
. Delp, along with
John J. Tammaro, Jr.John J. Tammaro, Jr. was an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.Born in Baltimore, Maryland into a horse racing family, John Tammaro was still a young boy when his father died from injuries suffered in a racing accident at Belmont Park...
,
King T. LeatherburyKing T. Leatherbury MBA is an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer who ranks third all-time in wins among U.S. trainers....
and
Richard E. Dutrow, Sr.Richard E. "Dick" Dutrow, Sr. Richard E. "Dick" Dutrow, Sr. Richard E. "Dick" Dutrow, Sr. (March 8, 1937 - February 19, 1999 was an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. Dutrow, along with King T. Leatherbury, John J. Tammaro, Jr. and Hall of Fame inductee Bud Delp, were known as Maryland...
were known as Maryland racing's
"Big Four"The Big Four of Maryland Thoroughbred racing were four American Thoroughbred horse trainers who dominated horse racing in the state of Maryland in the 1960 and 70s and who helped modernize flat racing training....
who dominated racing in that state during the 1960s and '70s and who helped modernize
flat racingFlat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
training.
During his career, Bud Delp's horses won 3,674 races and earned purses totaling nearly $41 million. In 2002, an honor he said he was most proud of, Delp was inducted into the United States'
National Museum of Racing and Hall of FameThe National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
.
Delp remained a lifelong resident of
MarylandMaryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
and died in 2006 at his home in Ellicott City, aged 74.