Roamer was bred in Kentucky by the sons of Colonel Ezekiel Clay of Runnymede Farm, who had raced some of the best of American racehorses in the 19th century; Hall of Famer Ben Brush who won the 1896 Kentucky Derby; Hall of Famer Hanover who was the Leading sire in North America four times, Runneymede who was second in the 1882 Kentucky Derby behind Apollo, and Hall of Famer Miss Woodford who won 16 consecutive races and was the first American horse to earn over $100,000.

(Miller, one of the founders of Life magazine, was a classmate of Teddy Roosevelt at Harvard, and in 1900 helped purchase and revive the Saratoga Race Course.)

He also finished ahead of another Hall of Famer, Old Rosebud, in the Yonkers Handicap, placing second in his final start ever.

In August 1918, at the age of seven, he attempted to beat the great Salvator's 1890 record mile of 1:35 1/4, which was set on a straight course.

On that New Year's Eve, his owner Andrew Miller suffered a fatal heart attack.

Roamer was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York, in 1981.