Owner/Breeder, Consignor Carolyn Rogers Dies

Carolyn Rogers, a longtime owner, breeder, buyer, seller, and patron of the Thoroughbred industry, died Feb. 14 in Leesburg, Va., at the age of 88. 

 

Just a day before, Rogers had cheered on her homebred Lovable Lady to a commanding four-length victory at Laurel Park in the fourth race. Rogers and her late husband, Sam Rogers Jr., owned White Oaks Farm in Virginia and had been mainstays at the major East Coast sales and races since the early 1960s. 

 

Rogers, who at one time had been a licensed Thoroughbred trainer, grew up in Winston-Salem, N.C., and was active in Saddlebred and Hunter shows where she showed oon the Eastern Indoor circuit at locations such as Madison Square Garden and the Canadian Royal Winter Fair.  

 

Together with her husband of 68 years they bred, raced, or pinhooked over 50 stakes winners including Summer Guest, Sharp Cat, Grab the Green, Splendid Try, Diamond Stripes, Recapturetheglory, Changing World, Advice, Irish Playboy, and Miss Golden Circle. In addition, they are tied for the longest consecutive yearling consignors at Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga yearling sale at 50 years. 

 

Rogers was preceded in death by her husband four months ago, and is survived by three children: Lyn Rainbow (Bill) Acorn Farm, Ocala, Fla., Susan Parks(Ken) Leesburg, Va., and Sam Rogers III (Matthew Hamblet) Jefferson, Md., as well as four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren..

 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests consideration of a donation to Old Friends Farm near Georgetown, Ky. where their homebred Diamond Stripes now resides. 

 

Funeral services have yet to be finalized, but will be organized by Hall Funeral Home in Purceville, Va.