Man O’ War was a tall, muscular stallion with unbeatable power and strength and a competitive spirit that filled the hearts of horse racing fans with awe and admiration. He was called the “King of the two-year olds” by a New York Times journalist and the famed jockey Johnny Loftus claimed Man O’ War was the greatest colt he had ever ridden.
Man O’ War named in Honor of World War I Soldier
Man O’ War was born just before midnight on March 29, 1917. His owner, August Belmont II, son of the founder of Belmont Park, was fighting in France in World War I. Belmont’s wife named the horse “My Man O’ War.” A year later, Belmont sold most of his horses and Man O’ War was purchased by Samuel Riddle, who also owned and raced Man O’ War’s son, War Admiral. Man O’ War was raised on the Glen Riddle Farm in Pennsylvania.
Man O’ War’s Pedigree
Man O’ War’s family tree reads like a history book of equine royalty. His father was Fair Play, a large, powerful, and temperamental horse who sired numerous stakes winner and champions. Man O’ War was trained by Louis Feustel, who also trained Fair Play. His mother was Mahubah, a very gentle horse who was the daughter of the equally gentle Rock Sand, winner of the 1903 British version of the Triple Crown. Man O’ War’s ancestors included one of three stallions thought to be the founders of the thoroughbred line.
Man O’ War Begins his Career when the Horse Racing Industry is Failing
Horse racing was a corrupt industry at the turn of the century and numerous scandals led to the end of legal gambling in most of the United States in 1910. It was legalized once more in 1913, but many racehorse stables had closed or moved overseas. In 1914, the start of World War I placed the horse racing industry on hold. Man O’ War began his career in 1919, one year after the war came to an end. Thoroughbred racing did not attract many fans at this time, but Man O’ War’s powerful build and mind-boggling speed renewed the public’s interest in the sport.
Man O’ War was a Large Horse with a Large Appetite
Man O’ War was chestnut, or reddish-brown. He was also called “Big Red,” but this was more for his size than his color. He was a remarkable 16.2 hands tall and weighed 1,125 pounds when he was just three years old. Samuel Riddle was concerned from the start by the horse’s large size and his love of eating, a habit Man O’ War inherited from his father, Fair Play, and passed on to his grandson, the champion thoroughbred Seabiscuit. Man O’ War ate 12 quarts of oats each day, one fourth more than any other horse at the ranch where he was raised and far more than the average horse. Apparently he needed his energy--his graceful, yet potent stride could reach as much as 25 to 28 feet!
Man O’ War’s Record Times and Earnings
Man O’ War had such a mighty stride that eventually no one wanted to race against him. Though he only raced for a short time, he held the American records for the fastest mile, 1 1/8 miles, 1 3/8 miles, 1½ miles and 1 5/8 miles. He also had record earnings of $249,465. He won 20 of the 21 races he entered, and the race he lost was very controversial. There was no starting gate at the time and the jockey was still turning Man O’ War when the race began. Man O’ War was backwards when the race started and he still came in second. Ironically, the race was won by a horse named Upset. Upset never beat Man O’ War in any other race.
The Death and Legacy of Man O’ War
The death of Man O’ War is as legendary as his magical career. He died of a heart attack at thirty years old on November 1, 1947, shortly after the death of his longtime trainer and friend, Will Harbut. Man O’ War was the patriarch of a long line of champion racehorses, including 64 stakes winners, Triple Crown winner War Admiral, and Man O’ War’s equally-famous grandson, the depression-era champion Seabiscuit, who died the same year as his grandfather. Man O’ War was inducted into the National Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame in 1957. He was also chosen as the century’s number one racehorse by the international weekly thoroughbred news publication Blood-Horse Magazine’s List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century.
Resources:
Dunstan, Roger. “Gambling in California.” California Research Bureau: The California State Library. Retrieved August 23, 2009.
“Hall of Fame Inductees.” National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Website. Retrieved August 23, 2009.
“Man O’War is King of Two Year Olds.” New York Times: August 23, 1919. New York Times Online Archives. Retrieved August 23, 2009.
Schwartz, Larry. “Man O’War Came Close to Perfection.” ESPN.com. Retrieved August 23, 2009.
The Staff and Correspondents of The Blood-Horse magazine. Thoroughbred Champions: Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th Century.
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