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Lexington in Fayette County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
 

Man o' War / Man o' War (1917-1947)

 
 
Man O' War (1917-1947) Marker (Side A) image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 28, 2021
1. Man O' War (1917-1947) Marker (Side A)
Inscription.
Chestnut, 16.2 hands tall, foaled 1917 by Fair Play-Mahubah, by Rock Sand
Of all the great horses which have thundered over the American Turf, Man o' War remains the standard by which thoroughbreds are judged. Foaled east of this marker, on the farm then known as August Belmont's Nursery Stud, Man o' War was purchased as a yearling at Saratoga by S. D. Riddle and was trained by Louis Feustel. A 2-year-old champion, he won 9 of 10 races, finishing second once to Upset, a horse he defeated soundly in their 6 other meetings. As a 3-year-old in 1920, he was unbeatable in 11 races; he did not run in the Kentucky Derby but won the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. He set or equaled 8 track records, establishing American records for 1, 1⅛, 1⅜, 1½ and 1⅝ miles, winning the latter by 100 lengths. In his last race, he defeated older champion Sir Barton, first Triple Crown winner, by 7 lengths, and was retired as a 3-year-old with then-record earnings of $249,465 from his 20 victories in 21 races. He then became one of America's greatest sires.

Champion and Sire of Champions
Standing at S. D. Riddle's Faraway Farm about 10 miles east of this marker, Man o' War, "as close to a living flame as a horse can be," passed on his great racing ability to his progeny. Man
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o' War topped the sire list in 1926 when his offspring earned a then-record $408,137 in purses. In his 22 years at stud, Man o' War sired 379 foals, of which 220 were winners, and an extraordinary number, 64, were stakes winners, including War Admiral, 1937 Triple Crown winner and leading sire of 1945; Battleship, winner of the 1934 Grand National in America and of the 1937 Grand National Steeplechase in England; American Flag, Crusader, Bateau, Scapa Flow, Edith Cavell, Maid at Arms, and Florence Nightingale. Man o' War also sired Blockade, three-time Maryland Hunt Cup winner; and Holystone, a race winner later developed into a champion show jumper. Although limited by the quantity and quality of mares bred to him, Man o' War still proved to be an exceptional sire.
 
Erected 1972 by Kentucky Historical Society and Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 1635.)
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: AnimalsSports. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1917.
 
Location. 38° 5.987′ N, 84° 30.827′ W. Marker is in Lexington, Kentucky, in Fayette County. Marker is on Georgetown Road (Route 25) ¼ mile north of Citation Boulevard, on the right when traveling north
Man O' War (1917-1947) Marker (Side B) image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 28, 2021
2. Man O' War (1917-1947) Marker (Side B)
. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lexington KY 40511, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Artistides (approx. 0.8 miles away); Lexington Colored Fair Association / Successful Enterprise (approx. 1½ miles away); Dr. Luke P. Blackburn Correctional Complex / Blackburn Correctional Complex (approx. 1½ miles away); Coldstream Farm (approx. 1½ miles away); Glengarry Field-Cool Meadow / Fasig-Tipton Since 1898 (approx. 1.9 miles away); Lexington's First Airport (approx. 2.3 miles away); Colored Orphan Industrial Home (approx. 2½ miles away); Masterson's Station (approx. 2½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lexington.
 
Also see . . .  Man o' War (Wikipedia). (Submitted on April 3, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
 
Man o' War / Man o' War (1917-1947) Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 28, 2021
3. Man o' War / Man o' War (1917-1947) Marker
Looking north on Georgetown Road.
Man o' War in action image. Click for full size.
Brown Brothers - New York Public Library digital collection, 1920
4. Man o' War in action
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on April 3, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 3, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 221 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 3, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

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May. 10, 2024