Man o’ War Receiving Visitors
Man o' War is pictured with Will Harbut and an unknown visitor in uniform at Faraway Farm. Man o’ War received roughly 50,000 guests each year, totaling an estimated 1.5 million visitors during his post-racing years in Kentucky (1921-1947).
The first statement below, from Bluegrass horseman Ira Drymon, was delivered at Man o’ War’s funeral service at Faraway Farm on November 4, 1947. The second was recorded during a B. K. Beckwith interview with Man o’ War’s trainer, Louis Feustel. The final commentary is an excerpt from the New York Times sports writer Arthur Daley’s 1947 tribute to Man o’ War.
"Few will remember him as a foal, a yearling, or even on the race track, but many thousands will remember him as they saw him and recognized in him at once the spark of greatness.
"Truly, Man o’ War was a memorable horse. Almost from the beginning he touched the imagination of men and they saw different things in him. But one thing they will all remember, that he brought an exaltation into their hearts.”
- Ira Drymon, 19471
“There was never a thing in the world that you wanted him to do that he would not try to do it better. If you asked him to walk, he’d fight to jog; if you asked him to jog, he’d grab the bit and gallop; and if you wanted him to gallop, he’d say ‘to hell with you’ – and run.”
- Louis Feustel2
“There never was quite as remarkable a steed as Man o’ War…
"No horse ever stirred the emotions or gripped the imaginations of the public the way he did. He was the symbol of racing perfection. He set records almost every time he started and such was his supremacy that he thrice was held at the astronomical odds of 1-to-100.”
- Arthur Daley, 19473
1. New York Times (November 5, 1947). “Extol Man o’ War at Burial Service: Nine Speakers Take Part in Elaborate Rites for Big Red at Faraway Farm”
2. B. K. Beckwith (1967). Step and Go Together. South Brunswick, New Jersey: A.S. Barnes, p. 52
3. Arthur Daley (November 5, 1947). “The King is Dead,” New York Times