Everything Horsies

Man o' War
man0war.jpg

They didn’t race him.
They unleashed him.

Man o’ War didn’t just run — he scorched the Earth beneath his hooves. A fire-blooded titan born in 1917, in the shadow of World War I, his name was no accident. He galloped like war itself — powerful, relentless, and unforgettable.

From his debut, he was a phenomenon. He won 20 of 21 starts, and in the one race he lost? He gave the field a 100-yard head start — and still nearly caught the winner.

They tried to contain him with heavy weights, with poor starts, with challengers thrown at him from every corner of the country. Nothing worked. He demolished records, stretched margins, and turned tracks into stages for his fury.

His most iconic moment?
The 1920 match race at Kenilworth Park against Triple Crown winner Sir Barton — the best of the best. But it wasn’t a duel. It was a coronation. Man o’ War galloped away like a crimson tempest, leaving Sir Barton trailing in awe.

And yet… they retired him early. Why?
Because there was no one left to beat.

In the decades that followed, he became a legend at Faraway Farm, greeting thousands of visitors. Veterans bowed to him. Children gasped at him. Even those who never saw him remembered the name like scripture.

He didn’t need the Triple Crown.
He didn’t need approval.
He was the standard.

To this day, Man o’ War remains the flame that lit American racing’s soul — and every time a great horse hits the track, his shadow gallops beside them.
 
katlupe said:
Man o' War
View attachment 438674

They didn’t race him.
They unleashed him.

Man o’ War didn’t just run — he scorched the Earth beneath his hooves. A fire-blooded titan born in 1917, in the shadow of World War I, his name was no accident. He galloped like war itself — powerful, relentless, and unforgettable.

From his debut, he was a phenomenon. He won 20 of 21 starts, and in the one race he lost? He gave the field a 100-yard head start — and still nearly caught the winner.

They tried to contain him with heavy weights, with poor starts, with challengers thrown at him from every corner of the country. Nothing worked. He demolished records, stretched margins, and turned tracks into stages for his fury.

His most iconic moment?
The 1920 match race at Kenilworth Park against Triple Crown winner Sir Barton — the best of the best. But it wasn’t a duel. It was a coronation. Man o’ War galloped away like a crimson tempest, leaving Sir Barton trailing in awe.

And yet… they retired him early. Why?
Because there was no one left to beat.

In the decades that followed, he became a legend at Faraway Farm, greeting thousands of visitors. Veterans bowed to him. Children gasped at him. Even those who never saw him remembered the name like scripture.

He didn’t need the Triple Crown.
He didn’t need approval.
He was the standard.

To this day, Man o’ War remains the flame that lit American racing’s soul — and every time a great horse hits the track, his shadow gallops beside them.
Click to expand...
Thank you for this article@ I've heard of Man 'O war but I didn't know all these details What a tremendous horse ❤️
 

Friesian
002264_13ISF-3059_Teade_TerriMiller-SQUARE.jpg
 
katlupe said:
Man o' War
View attachment 438674

They didn’t race him.
They unleashed him.

Man o’ War didn’t just run — he scorched the Earth beneath his hooves. A fire-blooded titan born in 1917, in the shadow of World War I, his name was no accident. He galloped like war itself — powerful, relentless, and unforgettable.

From his debut, he was a phenomenon. He won 20 of 21 starts, and in the one race he lost? He gave the field a 100-yard head start — and still nearly caught the winner.

They tried to contain him with heavy weights, with poor starts, with challengers thrown at him from every corner of the country. Nothing worked. He demolished records, stretched margins, and turned tracks into stages for his fury.

His most iconic moment?
The 1920 match race at Kenilworth Park against Triple Crown winner Sir Barton — the best of the best. But it wasn’t a duel. It was a coronation. Man o’ War galloped away like a crimson tempest, leaving Sir Barton trailing in awe.

And yet… they retired him early. Why?
Because there was no one left to beat.

In the decades that followed, he became a legend at Faraway Farm, greeting thousands of visitors. Veterans bowed to him. Children gasped at him. Even those who never saw him remembered the name like scripture.

He didn’t need the Triple Crown.
He didn’t need approval.
He was the standard.

To this day, Man o’ War remains the flame that lit American racing’s soul — and every time a great horse hits the track, his shadow gallops beside them.
Click to expand...

My son’s father & I were newly married (1970) when we vacationed in Kentucky and one of the sites we went to visit was the Man o’ War memorial. I did not want the bus tour. I wanted to walk to the statue and take it all in - as if Man o’ War would be waiting to blow in my ear.

To the great embarrassment of my new husband, I was sitting on the edge of the pedestal and bawling my head off when the tour bus went by -
 
IrishEyes said:
Even though I no longer ride due to vertigo, if I saw this boy I'd be wanting him! Look at that chest, wonder if he has Quarter Horse breeding.
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He looks like a Draft/Cross to me. Judging by creases in his neck, he needs to lose some weight and someone needs to worry about his diet.

I have had two horse with Metabolic issues. One foundered and the rotation was so serious I thought I would lose him, but a great lameness vet and a fantastic therapeutic farrier pulled him through. He had ten more years of quality life before I lost him to colic at age 27.

Joker was 26 in this photo. He had also developed Cushings by this time and was on Prascend. Joker was the Job of horses — not a mean bone or hint of bad attitude in him❤️❤️. He was a Heritage-bred Tennessee Walker.

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