Man o’ War stands as an icon in the annals of horse racing, revered as the most famous Thoroughbred to have ever lived. The Kentucky Horse Park honors this legendary equine with a striking bronze sculpture and a memorial situated at his final resting place. This esteemed location, near the park’s entrance, is also the burial site of his notable son, the Triple Crown winner War Admiral, along with several other distinguished offspring. Nearby lies the grave of Isaac Burns Murphy, a celebrated African-American jockey.
Among the many horses etched into American hearts, one name resonates above all: Man o’ War.
To have known Man o’ War was to have experienced something truly special. This was far more than just another racehorse. Foaled on March 29, 1917, at the Kentucky Nursery Stud owned by August Belmont II, Man o’ War was one of 1,680 Thoroughbreds born that year. His sire, Fair Play, by Hastings, was known for a difficult temperament but possessed exceptional ability to carry weight. To counterbalance Fair Play’s disposition, Belmont strategically bred him with Mahubah, a mare by the British Triple Crown winner Rock Sand, whose lineage was characterized by even temperaments and intelligence.
Mrs. Belmont christened him “My Man o’ War,” a fitting name for a horse born during wartime. Belmont’s foresight as a breeder proved invaluable, even if not directly measured in monetary terms. Due to his service in the Army in 1918, Belmont arranged for his entire crop of yearlings to be sold at Saratoga.
Big Red’s Yearling Sale and Early Training
At the Saratoga sale, Man o’ War was purchased by Samuel Riddle, a prominent horseman from Pennsylvania, for $5,000. Riddle, a shrewd observer, recognized that if the magnificent chestnut yearling did not excel on the racetrack, he might possess the qualities for success in show jumping. The young stallion was then transported to Riddle’s training facility, “Glen Riddle,” in Maryland. Under the tutelage of Louis Feustel, a trainer who had previously worked with Mahubah, Fair Play, and Hastings, Man o’ War developed into the imposing figure known as “Big Red.”
Upon his departure for his inaugural race at Belmont Park, he was accompanied by a retired bay hunter named Major Treat. This loyal companion would remain with Man o’ War throughout his illustrious racing career.
A Racing Career Defined by Dominance
On June 6, 1919, with jockey Johnny Loftus in the saddle, Man o’ War made his debut at Belmont Park, securing a commanding victory by six lengths with what appeared to be effortless ease. From the outset, he demonstrated a strong preference for leading the race, disliking any horse running ahead of him. A popular anecdote recounts a spectator’s inquiry to a groom about the horse’s lineage, to which the groom famously replied, “He’s by hisself, and there ain’t nobody gonna get near him.” For the remainder of his career, Man o’ War competed exclusively in prestigious stake races. As his string of victories grew, so did the weight he was assigned, a testament to his exceptional performance. By his fourth race, he was carrying 130 pounds, a considerable weight for a two-year-old.
His sixth race, the Sanford Memorial, marked the only blemish on his otherwise perfect record. A poor start resulted in him being ten lengths behind the field, and once he closed the gap, he found himself boxed in. He was ultimately defeated by a horse ironically named Upset, whom Man o’ War would go on to beat on six subsequent occasions. Despite this single setback, Man o’ War’s remarkable performances during his two-year-old season earned him the prestigious title of Horse of the Year.
A Record-Setting Three-Year-Old Campaign
The year 1920 saw Man o’ War embark on an undefeated streak as a three-year-old. He shattered the American record for the mile, clocking in at an astonishing 1:35 4/5, a time two-fifths of a second faster than the previous record. Remarkably, his jockey, Clarence Kummer, had eased him up during the race. Later, in the Belmont Stakes, he covered the 1 3/8-mile distance in 2:14 1/4, a record that stood for an impressive fifty years. By the time of the Dwyer Stakes at Aqueduct, Man o’ War faced only one competitor, John P. Grier, a formidable horse from the Whitney Stables. In this highly anticipated race, Grier challenged Man o’ War, prompting Kummer to employ the whip for the first time. Man o’ War responded with a burst of speed, clinching victory and setting a new American record of 1:45 1/5.
The pinnacle of Man o’ War’s extraordinary career arrived in a highly publicized match race against the celebrated Canadian horse Sir Barton, the inaugural winner of the Triple Crown. On October 12, 1920, in Windsor, Ontario, the two titans of the turf met. Man o’ War emerged victorious by a commanding seven lengths. Throughout his career, “Big Red” competed in 21 races, winning an astounding 20 of them.
Watch a segment of Man o’ War’s famous match race with Sir Barton.
