He is considered one of the greatest Argentinian racehorses and was known as the "Man o' War of South America"[1] and the "People's Horse".

[2] He is considered a national pride, and received widespread coverage in general and international media, including The New York Times.

In 1910, she was exported to Argentina from Kentucky by Mrs. T. J. Carson,[3] part of the trend of American breeders shipping their bloodstock to foreign countries after passage of the Hart–Agnew Law.

[8][10] Botafogo made a great impression with the win, but didn't race again until May 26, when he won the 1400 meter Clásico Salvador J. Boucou at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo under jockey Jesús Baslías.

Having beaten some of the best regarded two-year-olds in his previous race, Botafogo was considered unbeatable and his presence resulted in no other horses being entered, despite numerous subscriptions.

[15] The first leg of the Argentinian Triple Crown, the Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos was run on August 12.

"[19] At that point, Remanso began to tire, and Botafogo drew away to win by several lengths in 2:05+1⁄5,[18] with a fractional time for 1000 meters of :58+4⁄5.

[20] Botafogo's next race, and the final leg of the Quadruple Crown, was the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini, the first time where he would face older horses.

Leading up to the 3000 meter long race, there was enormous interest,[21] with the stands at Palermo being unable to hold the record crowd of over 30,000.

At the entrance to the final turn, Cabaret had fallen far behind and the rest of the field attempted to challenge Botafogo, but were unable to catch him.

Throughout the stretch, Botafogo easily drew away from the field to the cheers of the crowd, who made an "indescribable clamor" and threw their hats into the air.

[22][23] Soon after the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini, a minor illness kept Botafogo off the track for a few days, which received widespread news coverage.

St Emilión, who had been beaten by Botafogo in the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini, was the only other horse in the race.

The race was no contest, with Botafogo leading the entire way in an "easy exercise gallop" to win in 1:36, breaking his own previous record for the distance.

Once again, the announcement of his entry led to the withdrawal of all other competitors, leaving Botafogo alone to walk over, covering the 3000 meters in an easy 3:12.

On August 15, Botafogo again faced St Emilión, who had recently lowered the record time for a mile, in the Clásico Belgrano.

Botafogo won in an easy gallop, leading the whole way to end several lengths ahead, running the 2500 meters in 2:37+1⁄5.

"[2][35] Saturnino J. Unzué, Grey Fox's owner, took offense at the insinuations, saying to the president of the Jockey Club that he was angered by "certain objections and suspicions related to the race".

Alvear sent a letter to Unzué that was subsequently published in multiple newspapers, claiming that Botafogo's loss was due to "illicit management" and challenging Grey Fox to a match race, m$n10,000 a side, under identical conditions to the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini.

Unzué accepted, and the race was set for November 17, two weeks after the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini.

[8] La Prensa called it "the most important race in the memory of horse racing in our country", La Capital said "'the entire world' is interested in this important match,"[2] El Turf called it "the most interesting and sensational of late",[36] and La Razón said that it was "the only talk in sporting and social circles because of the position of their respective owners; even the most distinguished ladies of our society participate in the general enthusiasm".

[37] The crowd's response was immense and instantaneous, flooding out onto the course and preventing Grey Fox from reaching the finish line.

The Buenos Aires Herald wrote that "To describe the delirium, the enthusiasm, the manifestation of insanity that dominated the largest crowd that had ever gathered in the Palermo racecourse is far outside the possibility of mere words."

People pulled hairs from Botafogo's mane and tail as mementos, and the national flag was laid over him.

Haras Ojo de Agua offered m$n600,000 payable over several years along with breeding rights for three mares.

[41] Martínez de Hoz, president of the Buenos Aires Jockey Club and owner of Haras Chapadmalal, eventually purchased Botafogo for £40,000,[42] or about $200,000.

[1] Botafogo died of colic on April 21, 1922, at Mar del Plata Stables near Buenos Aires.

[47] As of 2022, the Gran Premio Botafogo is a Group 3 race for horses three years old and up in Argentina, run over 2000 meters on a turf track at Hipódromo de San Isidro.