1919 Belmont Futurity

This photograph features John P. Grier (Eddie Ambrose up) trailing Man o’ War (Johnny Loftus up) in the 1919 Belmont Futurity, Man o’ War’s final start of his two-year-old season. Man o’ War won the Futurity by 2 1/2 lengths. 

The New York Herald excerpt below recounts Man o’ War’s Futurity run; the Turf and Sport Digest excerpt provides a summary of Man o’ War’s two-year-old season. 

 

Cook 634 - 1919-09-13 John P Johnny Loftus Jockey on Man o' War winning Belmont Futurity at Belmont Park.jpg

“He drew No. 8 position, but was not content to occupy it. He was everywhere, behind and in front of the gate, alternating dashes across the track with visits to the inside and outside rails, and only a strong jockey such as his rider, Loftus, was could have curbed his impetuosity.”

- New York Herald, 19191

“That completed Man o’ War’s two-year-old campaign of 10 starts, 9 of which he had won to earn $83,325. Only three juveniles in American racing history then had earned more: Domino with $170,890 in 1893, Colin with $131,007 in 1907 and His Highness with $106,900 in 1891.”

- Frank Talmadge Phelps, 19602

 

1. New York Herald (September 14, 1919). “Man o’ War, 127 Pounds Up, Breezes Home with $27,000 Futurity” 
2. Frank Talmadge Phelps (March 1960). “He Wuz de Mostes’ Hoss,” Turf and Sport Digest