Man O' War

Died 1947 - Lexington, Kentucky

Perhaps the most famous racehorse in history (and certainly the one with the best name) was Man o' War, undisputed king of the turf during the gambling-happy roaring twenties. He was a large and imposing horse, and even when he was alive he was a tourist attraction, drawing visitors from across the country to pay homage at his farm. Racing historians say that the only reason Man o' War never won the Triple Crown is because his owner refused to race him in Kentucky.

Man o' War is buried beneath a larger-than-life bronze statue of himself at Kentucky Horse Park, surrounded by the graves of several of his 379 children (he was a prolific stud, unlike today's limp champions). As a unique honor, Man o' War's entire body was embalmed and placed in a giant casket lined with his racing colors. Over 2,000 mourners attended the elaborate funeral.

Not only did Man o' War live nobly, he died nobly as well. His groom and pal, Will Harbut, died suddenly in October, 1947. Man o' War was so crestfallen that he pined away, and less than a month later he died of a broken heart.

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