Man O\' War

Man O' War (1917-1947) is one of the most famous racehorses of the 20th century in the flat races. Born with Lexington, in the Kentucky, resulting from Fair play , an important standard, and of Mahubah (by Rock'n'roll Sand ), he is often regarded as the best horse of the history of the American races.

Career of races

Raised in the Kentucky by August Belmont Jr. (whose father gave his name to the Belmont Stakes), Man O' War was named thus by the woman of this last, in homage to her husband left on the French face during the First World War. In 1918, Belmont decides to sell its breeding, and the Yearling passes on the boxing ring to Saratoga, where Samuel D. Riddle acquires it for 5.000 dollars. The foal is sent to Glen Riddle Farm, in the Maryland. Involved by Louis Feustel, Man O' War makes of impressive in June 1919 at the beginning of with Belmont Park, being essential by six lengths, then connects by a victory crushing in Keene Memorial Stakes.

This year, the horse was going to only know and single defeat of its career, in Sanford Memorial Stakes. She is explained easily: at the time, the departure was given to the rubber band, and the race started whereas the horse, completely to the stop, turned the back on the track. Party far behind the group, it moreover was particularly badly assembled by its jockey panicked by this catastrophic departure. Too much in a hurry to return close to the head, Loftus gave an execrable course to the champion, who finished despite everything very extremely with a half-length of the winner, some Upset , passed with the posterity for this feat of arms - the expression “upset” sometimes indicating, in sport, the fact that a favorite is beaten by an outsider with the general surprise. At the end of its 2 years year, Man O' War , called " Big Red" , was nevertheless the undeniable leader of his generation, having gained nine of its ten races.

In 1920, Johnny Loftus is lived refused the renewal of its license of jockey. It was replaced on the saddle of Man O' War by Clarence Kummer. Louis Feustel refused to engage his wonder in the Kentucky Derby, estimating premature to make run in May one 3 years out of the 2000 meters of Churchill Downs. Moreover, its owner did not like to run in Kentucky. On the other hand, Big Red gained the Preakness Stakes (on 1800 m at the time) then the Belmont Stakes (over 2300 m at the time), and this by twenty lengths, by pulverizing the record of the race into 2 ' 14" 20. It enriches its prize list by accumulating the victories in particular in Dwyer Stakes, them Through Stakes, Stuyvesant Handicap, the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Invincible, it made flee competition, so that it did not have any adversary declared the day before Lawrence Realization Stakes, until the valorous Hoodwink , considered to be one of the best horses of the country, raises the glove. Man O' War preceded it 100 lengths (some say more), that is to say more the wide variation ever recorded in the history of the races. The phenomenon buckled its 2600 m into 2 ' 40" 80, a record which always holds on the hippodrome of Aqueduct. Man O' War bade its farewell with Windsor, in Canada, in Kenilworth Park Gold Cup, which was the first entirely filmed horse-race history. The ace was opposed to the champion Sir Barton , the first winner of what was going to become the triple crown American. Man O' War was essential on the idle, with seven lengths in advance.

With the stud farm

Withdrawn in Faraway Farm, in Kentucky, Man O' War was going to appear like a reproducer of very first plan, very influential. And this same if its owner did not make only wise choices concerning the jumentery which was presented to him. It generated one of the great champions of the history, War Admiral, victorious of the triple crown in 1937, and rival eternal of legendary the Seabiscuit, itself resulting from a son of Man O' War , Hard Track . Also let us quote American Flag and Crusader , which removed the Belmont Stakes in 1925 and 1926 and was devoted, each one in their turn, better 3 years American. The named second moreover was elected horse of the year. Man O' War was withdrawn from goes up in 1943.

Many champions, such Go France, go down from Man O' War , which died at 30 years the venerable age, in 1947. Buried initially in Faraway Farm, it was then moved with beginning of the year 70, at the same time as his son War Admiral, in Kentucky Horse Park' S Hall off Champions, with Lexington, where other aces come to finish their days. Its tomb is decorated of a statue to its effigy, carried out by the sculptor Herbert Haseltine.

Honors and rewards

Winner of 20 of his 21 exits, Man O' War established three American world records, two records, and three records of hippodrome. Admitted in 1957 with the Hall off Famed, it occupies the first rank of the classification of the 100 better horses of the history of the American races at the 20th century established by the magazine Blood-Horse. Man O' War Handicap Handicap celebrates it each year.

At the time of its 21st birthday, an emission was diffused with the national scales since Faraway Farm. Several works are devoted to him: published in 1950, Man O' War , signed by Cooper Page and sports correspondent celebrates it Roger Treat, is traditional kind. Walter Farley, the author of the famous series the black Standard , published another biography. The last in date, written by Dorothy Bear, is entitled Man O' War: In Legend Like Lightning (2006).

Origins

External bonds

Statistical of career
Biographical note on [[Find has Grave]]

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