Man O' War: Legendary Race Horse

Considered to be the greatest thoroughbred racehorse of all time, Man O' War won 20 races out of 21 during his career just after World War I.

This Stallion was foaled in year 1917 and was trained by Louis Feustel.

In the early 1900s, there were no starting gates. Man O' War's jockey had to circle around with the other jockeys. They gathered their horses in a line behind a flimsy piece of webbing, known as the barrier and were sent away when it was raised.

The only race that Man O' War lost was the Sanford Memorial Stakes, when he was still circling with his back to the starting line when the barrier was raised. After the jockey got Man O' War turned around, he was already far behind the rest of the racehorses. Despite of that rough beginning, he still finished at Second Place with a half-length behind the First place winner.

Over Man O' War's two-year career, he set three world records, two American records and three track records.

As a sire, Man O' War was impressive as well; producing more than 64 stakes winners and 200 various champions. Two of the more famous of his offspring were Battleship, who won the 1938 English Grand National steeplechase, and War Admiral, the 1937 Triple Crown winner. Another of his offspring, Hard Tack, sired Seabiscuit. His son War Relic was his most successful sire. Tiznow, Honour and Glory, and Bertrando are all sire-line descendants of Man O' War.

This healthy race horse died at the age of 30 in 1947 of an apparent heart attack only one month after his longtime groom, Will Harbut. He was buried at the Kentucky Horse Park where his grace is marked with a statue by American sculptor, Herbert Haseltine.

Man O' War was inducted in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1957. In the Blood-Horse magazine ranking of the top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century, Man O' War was ranked No. 1.