Editing Man o' War (section)

==Background==
Man o' War was a [[Chestnut (horse coat)|chestnut]] horse with a [[Horse markings#Facial markings|white star and stripe]] on his forehead. He was foaled at [[Nursery Stud]] near [[Lexington, Kentucky]].<ref>{{cite web|author1=Tim Talbott|title=Man-O-War|url=http://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/325?tour=19&index=13|website=explorekyhistory,ky.gov|access-date=September 6, 2015}}</ref> He was bred by [[August Belmont Jr.]], whose father's accomplishments were recognized through the naming of the Belmont Stakes in 1867. Belmont Jr. was an equally notable horseman who served as the chairman of [[The Jockey Club]] from 1895 until his death in 1924. [[Belmont Park]] was named in the family's honor when it opened in 1905.<ref>{{cite web|title=August Belmont II|url=https://www.racingmuseum.org/hall-of-fame/august-belmont-ii|website=www.racingmuseum.org|access-date=March 21, 2017}}</ref>

[[File:Man o' War with trainer Joseph Bryan Martin.jpeg|thumb|left|Man o' War at Nursery Stud]]
Man o' War was sired by [[Fair Play (horse)|Fair Play]], a multiple stakes winner who finished second in the 1908 Belmont Stakes to the undefeated [[Colin (horse)|Colin]].<ref name=FairPlay>{{cite web|last1=Hunter|first1=Avalyn|title=Fair Play (horse)|url=http://www.americanclassicpedigrees.com/fair-play.html|website=American Classic Pedigrees|access-date=March 21, 2017}}</ref> Man o' War was the second foal out of [[Mahubah]], a lightly raced mare by [[Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing#English Triple Crowns|English Triple Crown Champion]] [[Rock Sand (horse)|Rock Sand]].<ref name="Mahubah">{{cite web|last1=Hunter|first1=Avalyn|title=Mahubah (horse)|url=http://www.americanclassicpedigrees.com/mahubah.html|website=American Classic Pedigrees|access-date=March 21, 2017}}</ref> Not long after the [[Colt (horse)|colt]] was foaled on March 29, 1917, Belmont Jr. joined the [[United States Army]] at age 65 to serve in [[France]] during [[World War I]]. While he was overseas, his wife named the foal "Man o' War" in honor of her husband.<ref>{{Harvnb|Ours|2006|pp=18, 286}}.</ref> Originally, the Belmonts intended to race Man o' War themselves. However, in the summer of 1918 with the ongoing war effort, they decided to liquidate their racing stable. At the [[Saratoga Springs, New York|Saratoga]] yearling sale, Man o' War was sold at a final bid of $5,000 ({{Inflation|US|5000|1918|r=-3|fmt=eq}}) to [[Samuel D. Riddle]], who brought him to his [[Glen Riddle Farm]] near [[Berlin, Maryland]]. The underbidder at the auction was [[Robert Livingston Gerry, Sr.|Robert L. Gerry, Sr.]], who is reported to have said to his wife, "Forty-five hundred is enough to spend for any yearling."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Maguire|first1=John|last2=Cassidy|first2=John|title=Railbirds Take a Back Seat to the Real Gamblers at Saratoga; Prices Expected to Soar|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1980/07/27/140304322.html?pageNumber=256|website=The New York Times (TimesMachine - subscription may be required)|access-date=March 27, 2017|language=en|date=July 27, 1980}}</ref> Two years later in 1920, Riddle declined an offer of $400,000 for the horse.<ref name="400K">{{cite web|title=REFUSES $400,000 FOR MAN O' WAR;|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1920/10/15/archives/refuses-400000-for-man-o-war-riddle-declines-huge-sum-for.html|website=The New York Times|access-date=March 28, 2017|date=October 15, 1920}}</ref>

At maturity, Man o' War stood {{hands|16.2 + 1/2}}, with prominent [[withers]] and a high [[Equine conformation#Croup and .22hip.22|croup]], but was sometimes faulted for a dipped back that grew more pronounced with age. He had virtually flawless legs and solid bone, traits he passed on to his offspring. He had a slightly Roman nose and notably high head carriage.<ref name=ACP /> His nickname was "Big Red", though his coat had tinges of yellow and gold. An energetic, spirited horse, he is often pictured standing very still and gazing off into the distance,<ref name="Livingston2017">{{cite web|last1=Livingston|first1=Barbara|title=Chasing Man o' War's ghost|url=http://www.drf.com/manowar|website=Daily Racing Form|access-date=March 25, 2017|language=en|date=March 24, 2017}}</ref> described as the "look of eagles".<ref>{{cite web|title=1936 Conformation, Man o' War · Man o' War: In Others' Words · The Keeneland Library|url=http://keenelandlibrary.omeka.net/exhibits/show/manowar/retrospective/1936conformationmanowar|website=keenelandlibrary.omeka.net|access-date=October 1, 2017}}</ref> His stride was measured at 28 feet and, to this day, is believed to still be the longest of all time.<ref name=HOF />