Man O War, Belmont Stakes, 1920
by Thomas Pollart
Title
Man O War, Belmont Stakes, 1920
Artist
Thomas Pollart
Medium
Photograph - Mixed Media, Art, Photograph, Painting, Digital Art, Print
Description
Digitally enhanced. The 1920 Belmont Stakes was the 52nd running of the Belmont Stakes. It was the 14th Belmont Stakes held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York and was held on June 12, 1920. With a field of only two horses, heavily favored Man o' War won the 1 3⁄8–mile race (11 f; 2.2 km) by 20 lengths over Donnacona. Public Domain .
Man o' War's time of 2:14.2 set a word record for 1 3⁄8–mile.
Man o' War who made his debut at Belmont Park on June 6, 1919, winning by six lengths. Three days later, he won the Keene Memorial Stakes, followed by another win 12 days later in the Youthful Stakes at Jamaica Racetrack. Two days later, he swept to victory in the Hudson Stakes at Aqueduct to complete four wins in just 18 days. On July 5, he won the Tremont Stakes at Aqueduct, then was shipped to Saratoga where he won the United States Hotel Stakes.
Man o' War, (Lexington, Kentucky, March 29, 1917, Nursery Stud, November 1, 1947) is considered one of the greatest Thoroughbred race horses of all time. During his career just after World War I, he won 20 of 21 races and $249,465 in purses.
Man o' War was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1957. Soon after, the Man o' War Stakes was created in his honor. In the Blood-Horse magazine ranking of the top 100 U.S. Thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century,
In Man o' War's only loss, the Sanford Memorial Stakes, he was still circling with his back to the starting line when the barrier was raised (though some accounts say he was turned only slightly sideways). What is undisputed is that Man o' War had a terrible start, and the normally front running colt found himself far behind the other starters. Jockey Johnny Loftus then put Man o' War in a bad position, getting boxed in by other horses. Despite this, he came close to winning, losing by a neck while conceding 15 pounds to the horse who beat him.
The crowning achievement of Man o’ War’s career came in a match race against the top-rated older horse Sir Barton that would decide Horse of the Year.
Racing at Kenilworth Park in Ontario, Man o’ War kicked dust in Sir Barton’s face, whipping him by seven lengths. Despite the jockey’s broken stirrup, he took more than six seconds off the track record.
Man o' War was ranked No. 1. He was also ranked No. 1 by the Associated Press as the greatest horse of the 20th century in a separate poll. He was also ranked No. 1 greatest horse in racing history by Sports Illustrated (panel of 7) in 1992.
During 23 years as a stallion, Man o’ War produced 64 stakes winners, including Hall of Famers Crusader, Battleship and War Admiral (Riddle’s 1937 Triple Crown winner). The fillies he sired became outstanding broodmares who produced 124 stakes winners.
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February 23rd, 2018
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