quality about Man o' War that lives on one hundred
years after he first graced the Bluegrass. But exact-
ly what was it about Big Red that routinely causes
him to top "greatest ever" racehorse rankings, even
eclipsing more modern Thoroughbreds that are still
relatively fresh in the public's collective conscious-
ness, like American Pharoah or Secretariat?
"I think Man o' War was kind of the 'perfect storm'
in a positive way," explained Ed Bowen, a Kentucky
racing historian and author of the Man o' War vol-
ume in the Thoroughbred Legends book series. "He
was an absolutely, astoundingly good and glorious
racehorse. Even people who saw him later in his
life as an aged stallion speak with such awe about
his charisma. He came along at a time when Amer-
ica had this incredible boost in world prestige and
self-importance, when World War I had just con-
cluded and we were on the cusp of the Roaring
Twenties. There was a great social burgeoning and
prosperity, right when Man o' War started running,
and at that same time, all of the major sports had
their iconic immortals coming to the fore. You had
Jack Dempsey in boxing. Red Grange in football.
Babe Ruth in baseball. And for horse racing, that
iconic figure was Man o' War. It was a time of great
vitality in America, and we took an enhanced sense
of pride in our sports stars."
Bred by August Belmont Jr., Man o' War was foaled
March 29, 1917, at Nursery Stud near Lexington.
His sire, Fair Play, and his dam, Mahubah, provided
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