Man o' War (racehorse)
Man o' War was an exceptional racehorse, renowned for his dominance in the sport during the 1920s. Foaled in Lexington, Kentucky, he was the offspring of prominent racehorses Fair Play and Mahubah. Purchased by Samuel Riddle in 1918, Man o' War began racing in 1919, quickly establishing himself by winning his debut at Belmont Park by a significant margin. Throughout his career, he won 20 of the 21 races he entered, including prestigious events like the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, where he set multiple speed records. Although he never raced in the Kentucky Derby, he notably defeated its 1920 winner, further cementing his legacy.
After retiring in 1920, Man o' War transitioned to a successful breeding career, siring over 300 foals, many of whom became accomplished racehorses themselves. His lineage contributed to the racing world with notable offspring like Seabiscuit. In recognition of his remarkable contributions to horse racing, he was inducted into the National Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame in 1957 and honored with a race named after him at Belmont Park in 1959. Man o' War remains a significant figure in horse racing history, symbolizing both athletic prowess and the revival of the U.S. racing industry post-World War I.
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Man o' War (racehorse)
Identification: American racehorse
Born: March 29, 1917, Lexington, Kentucky
Died: November 1, 1947, Lexington, Kentucky
One of the most successful racehorses of the 1920s, Man o’ War won nearly every race he entered. His athleticism boosted morale and attendance at races and helped the U.S. racing industry recover from the effects of World War I and the antigambling sentiment of the previous decade.
Foaled at Nursery Stud in Lexington, Kentucky, Man o’ War was the progeny of the successful racehorses Fair Play and Mahubah. Samuel Riddle purchased Man o’ War in 1918, and his racing career began the next year. He won his debut race at Belmont Park in New York, finishing six lengths ahead of his competitors. He continued to dominate races that year, only being defeated once.
In 1920, Man o’ War ran eleven races, winning all of them. He began the season by winning the Preakness Stakes and went on to set the U.S. speed record for one mile at the Withers Stakes. Finishing twenty lengths ahead of the second-place horse, he achieved a world record running the Belmont Stakes. Man o’ War set another world record at the Dwyer Stakes. Returning to Belmont Park, he won the Lawrence Realization with a lead of one hundred lengths, setting an additional world record. He achieved another U.S. record at the Jockey Club Stakes. Man o’ War’s other races included the Stuyvesant Handicap, the Miller Stakes, and the Travers Stakes. Although Man o’ War never entered the Kentucky Derby, he defeated the 1920 winner, Paul Jones, at the Potomac Handicap, setting a track record.
Man o’ War ran his final race on October 12, 1920, finishing seven lengths ahead of Sir Barton at Kenilworth Park in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. After defeating Sir Barton, Man o’ War was retired from racing and began a career as a stud. His offspring sired during the 1920s included Belmont Stakes winners American Flag and Crusader, as well as the 1929 Kentucky Derby victor, Clyde Van Dusen.
Impact
Over the course of two decades, Man o’ War sired more than three hundred foals, many of which became successful racehorses in later years and produced noteworthy offspring such as Seabiscuit. In 1957, Man o’ War was inducted into the National Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame in recognition of his achievements on the racetrack, and in 1959, a race at Belmont Park was named in his honor.
Bibliography
Bowen, Edward L. Man o’ War: Racehorse of the Century. Lexington, Ky.: Eclipse Press, 2008.
Cooper, Page, and Roger L. Treat. Man o’ War. Yardley, Pa.: Westholm, 2004.
Ours, Dorothy. Man o’ War: A Legend Like Lightning. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2006.