As a two-year-old, he was initially overshadowed by his stable companion Raise a Native before emerging as one of the year's leading juveniles with a win in the Champagne Stakes.
[1] He entered into the ownership of Louis Wolfson's Harbor View Farm and was trained by future National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inductee Burley Parke.
[2] In the summer of 1963, the leading two-year-old in Parke's stable was Raise a Native, who was undefeated in four races and was regarded as the best horse of his generation before his career was ended by injury in early August.
Ridden by John L. Rotz, Roman Brother tracked the leaders before taking the lead early in the straight and drawing away from his ten opponents to win by four and a half lengths.
[14] Although Raise a Native and Hurry to Market topped the polls for the title of American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt, Roman Brother was reported to be the biggest money winner of his generation in 1963.
After finishing third on his debut, he won the seven-furlong Bahamas Stakes over seven furlongs at Hialeah Park, surviving a rough race to win in a time of 1:23.2.
[17] In the Flamingo Stakes on March 3, Roman Brother was matched against Northern Dancer, another unusually small thoroughbred, in what was described in the press as a meeting of the "Mighty Mites".
In April, Roman Brother moved north and finished third to Mr Brick and Quadrangle in the Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Four days later, Roman Brother was drawn on the outside of the twelve-runner field for the Kentucky Derby, for which Hill Rise was made favorite ahead of Northern Dancer.
Parke only ran the gelding because The Scoundrel had been injured, but Roman Brother took the lead on the turn into the stretch and drew clear to beat Mr.
In August, Roman Brother ran fourth behind the filly Tosmah in the Arlington Classic and then contested the American Derby at the same track three weeks later.
[23] In October, Roman Brother was moved up in distance for another meeting with Quadrangle in the Lawrence Realization Stakes over one and five-eighth miles at Aqueduct.
[27] After a five-month break, Roman Brother, ridden by his new regular jockey Braulio Baeza, returned in July to win an allowance race at Aqueduct and then ran second to Pia Star in the Brooklyn Handicap, with Kelso in third.
With Kelso ruled out for the season with an eye injury[28] Roman Brother dominated the rest of America's older horses in October, winning all three of his races.
[5] On his final race of the season, Roman Brother moved onto turf and was made favorite for the Washington, D.C. International Stakes at Laurel Park Racecourse.
[35] Roman Brother sustained an injury to his left ankle in the race, which forced him to miss an intended run in the Widener Handicap.
His rival Northern Dancer, who like Roman Brother was foaled on May 27, 1961, had been euthanized exactly 16 weeks earlier on November 16, 1990, due to complications also from colic.