Man O War- Greatest horse ever?

As this Triple Crown season is now over, we must remember the horse who is one, if not the greatest racehorse of all time- Man O War. Man O War has served as the basis of today's thoroughbreds and he was as beautiful as he was fast. He was the son of Fair Play and Mahubah, and was foaled on March 17, 1917 at Nursery Stud Farm located in Lexington KY. His sire Fair Play was highly successful on the race track and as a stud, producing successful racehorses such as Man O War, Chance Play and Chance Shot. Fair Play was born in 1905 , was known to have the bad temper his sire and mother had ( Bend Or, Hastings). Fair Play was full of energy, courage, speed and had a beautiful physical conformation. Mahubah races 5 times with career earnings of $390 before being retired. Man O War possessed some of the bad temper his sire had and constantly was destructive in his stall. His owner , Mr Riddle once said " He fought like a tiger, he screamed with rage, and he fought us so hard it took several days until we could handle him safely : The first time a jockey got on Man O War, he was thrown 40 feet but his jockey finally broke him into his saddle. As a two year old Man O War proved he would be a outstanding race horse. In his first race he won by 6 lengths, and three weeks after that win he ran and won the Keene Memorial Stakes. His only career loss came in his 2 year old campaign, in the Sanford Memorial Stakes, by a half length. As a 3 year old he was 16.2 hands tall and was not entered into the Kentucky Derby because his owner did not like Kentucky and felt it was too early for his colt to race at the derby distance. However, he did run and win the Preakness Stakes, and set the course record of 1. 51. After the Preakness, he went on to win the Belmont by 20 lengths and finished the year by winning the Travers, Jockey Cup Gold, Dywer Stakes. He won so many races and became so well known that no one wanted to race him , and in the Lawrence Realization Stakes, Riddle's niece entered Hoodwinked in order for Man O War to run in the race. Hoodwinked prooved to be no contest for Man O War, and he won the race by 100 lengths. Man O War retired after 2 racing seasons with a 20-21 record and began his career as a stud. Man O War proved to be very successful in stud producing winners such as Seabiscuit, Hard Tack , War Admiral. One of his most recent successful descendants include Tiznow , winner of the BC Classic 2 times and who currently resides at Winstar Farm in Lexington KY.

So is the greatest horse of all time against Secreatariat? I put both of them close together and actually in the same group because both horses had a freakish performance in their career. The freakish performance for Man O War came when he won that race by 100 lengths and for Secretariat- the winning of the Triple Crown and Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths. Although I would love to see a repeat of these two fabulous athletes, I do not believe we will see a horse like them for a long time.

But if I had to pick one horse for the title of greatest horse alive, it would be Man O War. The reason? Man O War won a race by 100 lengths and had a career of 20-21 starts , something most horses cannot achieve. I have never heard of a horse besides Man O War, winning a race by 100 lengths, and I believe he was the greatest horse of all time. Now I am not bashing Secretariat, but I name him greatest TRIPLE CROWN winner of all time.