Grover G. "Bud" Delp

Biography

Eclipse Award winner Grover Greer “Bud” Delp saddled his first winner at Maryland’s Laurel Park in 1962 and won his first meet training title there a year later. He went on to win seven training titles at Pimlico and six at Laurel, and also led the standings at Arlington Park, Atlantic City, Bowie, Delaware Park, Fair Grounds, Gulfstream, and Monmouth.

Best known as the trainer of the great Spectacular Bid, Delp conditioned the Hall of Fame son of Bold Bidder through three championship seasons. As a 2-year-old in 1978, Spectacular Bid set one track record and equaled another en route to earning the Eclipse Award for Champion 2-Year-Old Male. As a 3-year-old, Spectacular Bid won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes and added wins in the Hutcheson Stakes, Fountain of Youth, Florida Derby, Blue Grass Stakes, Marlboro Cup, and Meadowlands Cup to be named Champion 3-Year-Old Male. At age 4, Spectacular Bid won all nine of his races, set four track records, and was named Champion Older Male and Horse of the Year. He was retired with a record of 26-2-1 from 30 starts.

Delp’s success, however, was not limited to Spectacular Bid. He campaigned 68 stakes winners and won 3,674 races from 17,911 starts with purse earnings of $40,999,099. He trained four horses that earned $1 million or more: Spectacular Bid, Include, Dispersal, and Sunny Sunrise.

In 1980, Delp won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer. A lifelong resident of Maryland, Delp died at his home in Ellicott City in 2006 at age 74.

Achievements

Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer — 1980

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the 1979 Kentucky Derby — Spectacular Bid
Won the 1979 Preakness Stakes — Spectacular Bid