Man O' War (Paperback)

~ Page Cooper (Author), Roger L. Treat (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Page and Cooper tell us everything anybody would want to know about this ‘mostest hoss.’" -- New York Times

"This biography of Big Red makes its paperback debut. This edition includes an index for the first time. A winner" -- Library Journal

Product Description

Man O’ War, or "Big Red" as he was affectionately called, was the greatest racehorse that ever lived. In 1919 and 1920, he won 20 of 21 starts and set eight records, including three world records, while conceding as much as 30 pounds to his rivals and still beating them by large margins. His time in the Belmont Stakes stood for an incredible 50 years. Man O’ War’s last contest, and greatest achievement, was a match race against Sir Barton, the first Triple Crown winner, where he vanquished the Canadian horse by seven lengths. He was sire to War Admiral, Crusader, and Battleship, and was grandsire to Seabiscuit, who perhaps most of all inherited the indomitable spirit and great heart of the champion.

With his distinctive blazing white star on his forehead and deep red coat, Man O’ War was a major star in the first half of the twentieth century, and his popularity is credited with reviving the scandal-ridden sport of horseracing. Bought for $5,000 by Pennsylvania horseman Samuel Riddle, Man O’ War ended up winning more money than any horse up to that time. He lost only once, in a controversial race, and was so good that his odds of losing races reached an astronomical 100-1, even though he was heavily handicapped with more weight than any of his challengers. Rather than jeopardize the health of his horse under such enormous weights, Riddle retired him at the age of three. Man O’ War lived for 27 more years and sired 379 foals, 61 of which were stakes winners. He became a legend in his lifetime, retired to Kentucky, cared for by his groom, Will Harbut, and visited by millions.

In Man O’ War, the classic biography by Page Cooper and Roger L. Treat, Big Red emerges as an unforgettable animal full of personality, good looks, and blazing speed. It is a dramatic story, as in race after race, other stables try to beat the magnificent horse with the tremendous stride and determine just how fast he can really run. Page and Cooper present Man O’ War vividly and authentically, as he was seen by those who trained and loved him, and whose hearts rode with him as he raced to victory.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Westholme Publishing (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594160058
• ISBN-13: 978-1594160059
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #147,450 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended, September 29, 2004

By	A reader from Chicago - See all my reviews

This book is clearly the best account of Man O' War written. It reads briskly like a novel, it is full of energy and excitement, and ends with an excellent section detailing Big Red's lineage and performance. As you come to the book's close you will feel sadness when he passes away because the horse raced so well and then went on to live an incredibly long life that you come to know him as a real being, not some sort of aloof creature. Page and Cooper's book is a great tribute to this magnificent animal. For anyone of any age who likes a good story, a good book, and definitely anyone who enjoys horses, this account is sure to become a favorite. One of the best books I've read this year.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not just for Man O'War fans, October 12, 2005

By	Cynthia (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This book is a reprint of a 1950 title that I had never run across before, and it's quite fascinating. Though a paperback, it includes some great photos I hadn't ever seen. It also includes more information than I had previously seen on some of Man O'War's competitors, and a wonderful sire-by-sire section at the end which traces Man O'War's lineage back to the Godolphin Arabian. It has more detail than I could've imagined existed on some of these horses. Highly recommended!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE best book on Man O'War. PERIOD!, January 15, 2006

By	KC "KC" (CA) - See all my reviews

OMG...I just now found out about this REPRINT! I am SO EXCITED. I have read this book many times when our library actually had TWO copies in circulation. Of course, like most of the really great horse books in our library system, both copies were 'lost' by someone who checked 'em out (riiiiiight). Dang, I HATE that...arrrggh.

Anyway, I've come across used copies for sale but they're always so freaking expensive - I could never bring myself to spend all that MONEY. So it's a GREAT thrill to see this wonderful book - which has everything you could possibly want in a book about that great, legendary horse - at around $10 or so here on Amazon! Yay!

Like Walter Farley's "faction" version of the great horse's life, the authors used the unpublished manuscript "Turf Career of Man O'War" a good deal but the book also includes a COMPLETE list of his progeny, auction prices, race records, mares bred to, etc. AND every single one of the Daily Racing Form official charts for his 21 races. Amazing, and great reading. Of course something to keep in mind was when the book came out in 1951, there were still a lot of folks alive who remembered seeing "Big Red" in person, and the horse himself had just died four years before, a lot of key people were still alive and so on. This book is like a rich slice of chocolate cake, immensely delicious and satisfying!

If you haven't figured it out by now, I recommend this book :)