Man o’ War

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Man o’ War was an extraordinary American Thoroughbred racehorse widely regarded as one of the greatest racehorses of all time. Foaled in 1917, he was bred by August Belmont Jr. and owned by Samuel D. Riddle. Nicknamed “Big Red” due to his chestnut coat and imposing physique, Man o’ War dominated the racing scene in the early 1920s under the training of Louis Feustel.

Man o’ War’s racing record was nothing short of spectacular. He won 20 of his 21 career starts, with his only loss coming in a race aptly named the Sanford Memorial Stakes, where he was boxed in at the start and faced away from the barrier when it was raised. Despite this sole defeat, Man o’ War’s achievements were unprecedented. He set multiple speed records and often won races by enormous margins, sometimes as much as 100 lengths. Although he did not compete in the Kentucky Derby, he won both the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes in 1920. His victory in the Belmont was particularly impressive, as he won by 20 lengths and set a new American record for 1 3/8 miles. After his racing career, Man o’ War became a successful breeding stallion, siring numerous champions including War Admiral. His impact on the Thoroughbred breed and American racing was so significant that he was ranked number one in Blood-Horse magazine’s list of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century.