1919 Belmont Futurity

Title

1919 Belmont Futurity

Subject

Photography of horse sports

Description

This photograph, taken on September 13, 1919, at the Belmont Futurity (raced to the right, or clockwise), features the American Thoroughbred John P. Grier (Eddie Ambrose up) trailing Man o’ War (Johnny Loftus up) in Man o’ War’s final start of his two-year-old season. Man o’ War won the 1919 Belmont Futurity by 2½ lengths.

Newspaper headlines from around the world heralded Man o’ War (1917-1947) as “matchless,” the “wonder horse,” a “speed miracle,” and “peerless.”

After winning 20 of his 21 races, Man o’ War, owned by Samuel D. Riddle and trained by Louis Feustel, retired to stud duty in Kentucky. He was the leading North American sire in 1926. He remained a prominent Kentucky tourist attraction during his retirement years, and his funeral was broadcast live across the country.

Man o' War's statue and remains at the Kentucky Horse Park continue to draw thousands of visitors to the Bluegrass every year. A century after his birth, he is still ranked by many as the greatest American racehorse.

Loftus, a top U.S. jockey in the 1910s, rode Man o' War in each of his ten starts in 1919 - Loftus' final year racing. In addition to his two victories in both the Kentucky Derby (1916, 1919) and Preakness Stakes (1918, 1919), Loftus also took the Belmont Stakes in 1919. Other notable wins include the Travers Stakes (1916), Hopeful Stakes (1913, 1919), Jerome Handicap (1916), Withers Stakes (1916, 1919), Toboggan Handicap (1916, 1919), Gazelle Handicap (1917), Kentucky Oaks (1917), and Empire City Handicap (1919). Loftus was inducted in the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame in 1959.

Creator

Charles Christian Cook

Date

1919-09-13

Rights

These digital resources may be freely searched and displayed. Permission must be received for subsequent distribution in print or electronically. Physical rights are retained by the Keeneland Library. Copyright is retained in accordance with U.S. copyright laws.

Format

black and white photograph

Type

still image

Original Format

glass plate negative

Files

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

Citation

Charles Christian Cook, “1919 Belmont Futurity,” The Keeneland Library, accessed March 28, 2024, https://keenelandlibrary.omeka.net/items/show/400.

Output Formats