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| MAN O'WAR |
| conditions 'equal', Man O'War was given 135 pounds to carry against his lone competition, Yellowhand, who carried 103. But still, no one could catch him. He lead through out the race, never letting Yellowhand get too close, and then drew off to win the Stuyvesant by eight. Next, Man O'War set more national records in the Miller and Travers Stakes at Saratoga (where he was beaten by Upset in the Sandford). In the Lawrence Realization Stakes, Man O'War would beat a horse named Hoodwink by an amazing 100 lengths, and knocking off almost 5 seconds off the American record for 13 furlongs. One week later, Big Red would set another record at Belmont by winning the mile and a half Jockey Club Stakes (by 15 lengths), final time of 2:28 4/5, a time that would later be broken by his own son War Admiral and topped by Big Red #2, Secretariat. Then, once again he was sent to Maryland to race in the Potomad Handicap, at Havre de Grace Track. Here, he would carry his heaviest weight of 138 pounds against 3 other horses, including Derby winner Paul Jones. In his famous wire to wire style, Man O'War put away the field and won the Handicap by just over one length. Out of every race that Man O'War had run, and of every horse he beat, there was one thing he had not yet faced, older horses. So why shouldn't it be that the best three year old race against the best handicap horse. So it was planned. A Match Race, between Man O'War and Sir Barton. It was to be held at Kenilworth Race Track in Ontario, Sir Barton's owner's home. The race was the Kenilworth Park Gold Cup, a 10 furlond race where for once in his life, Man O'War would recieve a break in weights, but only by a few pounds. The Match Race was greatly anticipated, and was even visually recorded, something that rarely happened. Man O'War easily, making his bay rival look like a simpleton. Although there were claims of injuries and foul play on both Man O'War and Sir Barton's parties during the race, there was no doubt that Man O'War would have won no matter what. Man O'War would be retired after this race. There was nothing left for him to prove or conquere. He had set records all over the east coast, beat all the best horses, and had set a new record for money earnings, $249,465. So Man O'War was sent to Kentucky, where he would stand at stud. Even though Man O'War was bred to a selected number of mares each year, he would sire such champions as |
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| War Admiral, and Crusader, as well as American Flag, Battleship and War Relic. His offspring also went on to produce such horses as Seabiscuit, Vagrancy, Battlefield, and the bloodlines carry on into some of the best horses of today. Man O'War would go down in the books as the Greatest Horse in America, perhaps the world. His legend will forever be kept in our hearts and it will keep growing. |
| (1917-1947) |
| Life Time Record: Won: Preakness Stakes Withers Stakes Starts: 21 Belmont Stakes Futurity Stakes 1st: 20 Kenilworth Park Gold Cup Hopeful Stakes 2nd: 1 Travers Stakes Grand Union Hotel Stakes Earnings: $249, 465 Potomac Handicap US Hotel Stakes Lawrence Realization Stakes Tremont Stakes Jockey Club Stakes Hudson Stakes Miller Stakes Keene Memorial Stakes Dwyer Stakes Stuyvesant Handicap Placed: Sandford Memorial Stakes Achievements: Inducted into the Racing Hall Of Fame in 1957. Named Greatest Horse of the Century. |
| Spendthrift Hastings *Cinderella Fair Play Bend Or *Fairy Gold Dame Masham Man O'War Sainfoin *Rock Sand Roquebrune Mahubah Merry Hampton *Merry Token Mizpah |