SARATOGA SPRINGS — The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame unveiled its new exhibit, Man o’ War at 100, on Wednesday in the museum’s Contemporary Racing Gallery. The exhibit’s debut coincides with the 100th anniversary of Man o’ War’s foaling date of March 29, 1917 at Nursery Stud in Kentucky.
The exhibit features iconic artwork, prestigious trophies, rare photographs and multimedia and numerous other artifacts relating to one of the most accomplished and popular racehorses in American history.
A winner of 20 of his 21 lifetime starts, Man o’ War was owned by Samuel D. Riddle and trained by Hall of Famer Louis Feustel. He suffered his lone career defeat in 1919, finishing second to Upset in a controversial running of the Sanford Memorial Stakes at Saratoga.
Retired to stud with record career earnings of $249,465, Man o’ War sired Hall of Fame members War Admiral, Crusader and Battleship. A total of 81 Hall of Fame racehorses can trace their lineage back to Man o’ War.
Man o’ War died at the age of 30 on Nov. 1, 1947. The elaborate funeral service was broadcast on NBC Radio and nine eulogies were given. He was buried at Faraway Farm and later moved to the Kentucky Horse Park, where he is immortalized under a larger-than-life-sized statue by renowned sculptor Herbert Haseltine.
The exhibit will remain open at the museum, located at 191 Union Ave., through 2018.
