Man o' War, Private Showing (2)
Title
Man o' War, Private Showing (2)
Subject
Photography of horse sports
Description
Photograph of the American Thoroughbred Man o' War with his groom Will Harbut at a private visitor showing at Faraway Farm in May of 1942.
Will Harbut was Man o' War's groom at Faraway from the fall of 1930 until the spring of 1946.
Man o’ War was moved to Faraway Farm in 1922, and he spent the remainder of his life there. For much of the year, Faraway Farm received visitors eager to see Man o’ War every day. Many of these visitors signed the stud barn guest book, and estimates suggest Man o’ War received more than 1.5 million visitors over the course of his 25 years at Faraway.
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.
Will Harbut was Man o' War's groom at Faraway from the fall of 1930 until the spring of 1946.
Man o’ War was moved to Faraway Farm in 1922, and he spent the remainder of his life there. For much of the year, Faraway Farm received visitors eager to see Man o’ War every day. Many of these visitors signed the stud barn guest book, and estimates suggest Man o’ War received more than 1.5 million visitors over the course of his 25 years at Faraway.
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.
Creator
Bert Clark Thayer
Date
1942-05
Rights
This digital resource 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
acetate negative
Files
Collection
Citation
Bert Clark Thayer, “Man o' War, Private Showing (2),” The Keeneland Library, accessed May 23, 2025, https://keenelandlibrary.omeka.net/items/show/414.