Lexington in Fayette County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Man o' War
Fair Play - Mahubah, by Rock Sand
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Races Won by Man o' War
Photographed by Michael Stroud, July 1985
1. Man o' War side of the marker
Man o' War
Greatest race horse and leading money winner of his day. Winner of twenty of twenty-one starts with lifetime earnings of $249,465. Foaled March 29, 1917, at August Belmont's Nursery Stud a few miles away. Sold at auction as yearling for $5,000 to Samuel D. Riddle, his owner throughout his racing career and later retirement. "Big Red" sired 62 stakes winners, his get earning over $3.5 million. War Admiral, Triple Crown winner, was most famous of his offspring. Man o' War died November 1, 1947; lies buried beneath this statue by noted sculptor Herbert Haseltine.
Races Won By Man o' War
2 year old, 1919
Futurity Tremont Grand Union Hotel U.S. Hotel Hopeful Youthful Hudson Purse Race, at Belmont Keene Memorial
Won all entered as a 2 year old, except second in Sanford Memorial.
3 year old, 1920
Belmont Potomac Dwyer Preakness Jockey Club Stuyvesant Kenilworth Gold Cup Travers Lawrence Realization Withers Miller
Won all entered as a 3 year old, eight in record time.
Erected 1968 by The Thoroughbred Club of America, Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 1215.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic
this page online
Location. 38° 8.959′ N, 84° 31.209′ W. Marker is in Lexington, Kentucky, in Fayette County. It is on Iron Works Pike. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4089 Iron Works Pike, Lexington KY 40511, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Isaac Burns Murphy (within shouting distance of this marker); Man o' War/Isaac Burns Murphy Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Descendants in Man o' War's Memorial Gravesite (within shouting distance of this marker); African Americans in Racing (within shouting distance of this marker); The Mostest Hoss (within shouting distance of this marker); Getting Ready (within shouting distance of this marker); Will Harbut and Man o' War (within shouting distance of this marker); Secretariat (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lexington.
More about this marker. Man O'War passed away at the age of 30 as the result of a failing heart. His lifetime companion and groom, Will Harbut, had died
Photographed by Michael Stroud
2. Races Won by Man o' War side of the marker
Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia entry for Man o' War. (Submitted on January 15, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)
2. Wikipedia entry for Samuel D. Riddle, Man o' War's owner. (Submitted on January 15, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.)
3. Wikipedia entry for August Belmont, Man o' War's orginal breeder. (Submitted on January 15, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)
4. Wikipedia entry for Kentucky Horse Park. Location of the Man o' War Monument. (Submitted on January 15, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)
Additional commentary.
1. Interesting facts on Man o' War
– Man o' War was bred by the son of the Belmont Park founder, whom the Belmont Stakes was named after.
– Man o' War did not win the Triple Crown.
– Man o' War set American records in races at 5 different distances.
– Big Red lost only one race to horse, ironically named Upset.
– Man o' War won by 100 lengths in one of those record-setting races.
– Big Red
Photographed by Michael Stroud, July 1985
3. Man o' War Monument
– An Associated Press poll in the 1950s voted Man o' War the greatest thoroughbred of the first half of the 20th century.
– Man o' War beat the first Triple Crown winner, Sir Barton, in Man o' War's last race.
– Man o' War ironically never raced in Kentucky but spent the majority of his life in the state.
– Samuel Riddle, Big Red's owner, was offered a blank check for ownership of the horse, and Riddle turned it down.
— Submitted January 15, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.
Photographed by Michael Stroud
4. Kentucky Horse Park
Photographed by Michael Stroud
5. The Heart Of Race Horse Country
Credits. This page was last revised on February 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 15, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 3,637 times since then and 102 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 15, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
