The Bottom Line
One of the greatest Thoroughbreds of all time is Man o'War. From the classiest bloodlines of the time, the chestnut with the longest stride won 20 of his 21 starts, and probably would have won the Triple Crown had his connections not skipped the Kentucky Derby. Racing historian Dorothy Ours, through the most comprehensive research ever done on this subject, educates racing fans not only on this greatest of racers and stallions, but also about life in America during the early part of the 20th century. Strongly recommended to all fans of racing history.
Pros
- The most comprehensive work on Man o'War ever seen
- Paints a vivid picture of what the fans saw and felt at the time
- Interesting 16-page photo section ties the work together
Cons
- This is a masterpiece. We found no fault in Ours' work.
Description
- Ours clearly was influenced by Laura Hillenbrand's Seabiscuit, as this book is written in a similar style.
- She takes the time to introduce the readers not only to the horse but to the human characters so important to the story.
- Unlike other racing history books, she does not merely gloss over each race result like a Racing Form past performance line.
- Instead, she sets each race like a scene in a movie, describing the atmosphere experienced at the track by the huge crowds.
- As the legend of Man o'War grew, so too did the audiences that came out to see him.
- Ours' research on Big Red is thorough, in-depth, with no stone left unturned.
Guide Review - Man O'War: A Legend Like Lightning
Man o'War was racing's first media superstar in the modern sense of the word. He commanded mainstream interest beyond the horse racing community by his shiny red appearance, size, and the sheer power he displayed on the track. As his legend grew so too did the size of the crowds that came out to see him, but inversely, the number of horses that faced him soon reduced to just 1 or 2 competitors. With these "man vs boy" match races, the result was a foregone conclusion. The challengers had no chance against the monster, and Man o'War would won by open lengths. So, the crowds found their excitement and suspense not on the finish line but on the toteboard. With modern electric toteboards still years away, a worker would hang numbers up to announce the running time of the race. He would post the minutes, seconds, and fifths, as the crowd's cheers got louder knowing that Man o'War broke yet another stakes, track, or world record.Ours diverged from traditional racehorse biographies by not dedicating much space to Man o'War's stud career. She instead discusses the people and what happened to them afterward. For example, groom Will Harbut convinced many visitors that Man o'War's only loss, in the Sanford, was a fixed race. This mystery has gone unsolved to this day.
The book includes a 16-page photo section in the center with black and white photos of Man o'War and his human connections, the author's comments about who the "best racehorse ever" is, and an appending listing his race record, speed records, and pedigree.
