New-York tribune., 1920-12-26
Racing History
Is Made Again
Bv Man % War
S. c. Riddles Superhorse
Was Pounds Better Than
Any Other Thoroughbred
By W. ]. Macbeth

ncccssit, must center around Samuel C.
Rallies grea, three-year-old colt, Man
0 War. now retired permanently from
the turf to go into private stud in Ken
lucky. For Man o War. in proving
himself the wonde, horse Of living
recollection, proved pounds better than
any other thoroughbred in ira .ning and
robbed the three-year-old division of all
show OF competition.
The racing season just past was by
far the mos; profitable and enterta n
ing the metropolitan tracks have wit
messed since the heyday OF the open
ring Never before were seen such 20
markable midweek attendances, v>.~
on every holiday and on every Sat4t
day the small courses were packed TO
Belmont Park was taxed to its utmost
capacity. More than $4,000. for instance,
paid admission to Belmont Park on
Memorial Day
Those IN control Of racing might
have been somewhat more diligen, in
guarding ts interests. More or less
scandal talk associated itself with the
game during the season The fault
seemsd to lie in lack of initiative in
the Nands. Rough riding was rarely
disciplined and on many occasions pal
pable fouls we're disrega rded, even when
committed under the very noses OF the
snatching and saddle cloth pulling
than ever seen on a halfmilc "out
law" track. and not until almos, the
end Of the season did the officials make
any pretensc at needed corrections.
Furthermore, certain stables escaped
despite the most astounding reversals
o. form. The steeplechasing was par
ticularly offensive
Officials Finally Awoke
But toward the end of the season.
when the long -tiring public finally
gave evidences of quitting in disgust
after they had roundly hssed and
booed the officials publicly several
times those in control OF the sport
awoke to the crying need Of furnish
ing that paying public better protec-
ton. Throughout the closing weeks
he sport improved greatly. And there
will give the promoters another chance
next year. Certain it is racing can
not long survive lack of concern rs
characterized the work Of the officials
III the Early part VI the 1920 racing
season about New York.
Perhaps .he greatness of Man ~ War
was greater safeguard To the name
and reputation Of the game than any
other factor. This handsome chestnut
son Of Fair Play -Mahubah stood Tor
the sport Of kings Just where Babe
Ruth stood for baseball. His every
advertised appearance attracted
crowd that taxed accommodations at
Belmont Park as we'll as Saratoga
Man @ War during his campaign as
It three year-old won no less than
$l60-940 for his owner Samuel c. Rid
die. and brought his total winnings
for two years to $244.265. This won
dcrful achievement Of two years put
Man o. War fourth among the winners
of all time and perhaps, thoug' Nun
o. War was the PRINCIPAL breadwioner
Of the Fiddle stable made the popular
Philadelphia sportsman leader among
the winning stables Of the year.
There is little doubt that if MIR.
Riddle had not decided to retire Man
o. War at the end Of his three year, old
year the Fair Play colt before the end
, another season could have broken the
worlds record for winnings held by
the great lsingiass at S2SS,000. as he
had less than $4,000 to earn to gain
The honors. One of Man O. Wars
easiest victories landed him the rich
est Purse Of hi+ career. That was the
match race against }. K l. Rosss four
| vear-o'd Sir Barton at Koni worth.
: near Windsor Ont For his victory.
which was only an exercise gallop all
he way. Man o. War drew down the
, $1,000 gold cup.
Met Every Possible Test
1t is difficult to estimate the real
class Of Man O War Certainly he
was in class all by himself in a
+ three year old company. He not only
bea: al the best Of the three year olls
Off for weeks afterward. From the
time he won the Preakness and $23. 900
on May l8 at Pimlico until he topped
on his great racing career with a
hollow victory over Sir Barton on a
weight for nge proposition. Man o War
met every possible test to which q
preat thoroughbred could be subjected
and so easily as to leave tho experts
doubtful as to his real ability. On
m weights would give his rivals q
great chance Man o War won with
such ridiculous ease no one could es
Innate his real form
There was only one possible eycep-
| tl"a the memorable race between Man
o. War and John P Grier in the Dwyer
Stakes at Aqueduct on July 10 This
was race at mile and an eighth in
which John Crier. racing TO tn
outside the entire journey, matched
stride for stride with the super horse
Until almost sixteenth from hrme
There Grier cracked as if short under
the terrific pace, for the pair had shat
tered every record up to the m Il and
q sixteenth and Man o War. eased ot
the finish, set new American record
Tor the distance at ;49 IS
Man o War was straight, Tcutnee
Louis Feustcl claims only one. this
past season in the Potomac Han.
dicap st Havrc de Grace on Scpter,brr
-, under the crushing weight Of l28
pounds. MIR Whtney's Wtlda,r
weighted lightly. came with Il rush vt
the end and almost nipped the. nm
oenten threc-year old
lhe Stwo-vear racing was som.
what unsatisfactory az ew Juveniles
maintained their best form fot INV
long stretch There was an unusual
lot Of fine two year-olds, but NON. stood
out az Man o War had hstood cut tho
year previously. Walter J Salmon. -
ccmparative newcomer to the turf won
the priced Futurity with Step Lightly
i!ls II, hliy Careful, dubbed Miss Man o.
war was the carly sensation Of the
year aud won seven straight starts
y r>t