Man O'War (1917-1947)
Man O'War (1917-1947)
1940, cast 1946
bronze and glass (eyes) on granite pedestal
equestrian statue(tte)
Dimensions (HxWxD): 101 x 27 x 124 in.
on front of sculpture base, incised lettering: MAN O'WAR
signed on rear of sculpture base, incised lettering: HERBERT HASELTINE/MCMXLVI
© Artist : Fair Use (Section 107, Copyright Act 1976)
Provenance
- 1940, Sculpture made
- 1946, Sculpture cast
- 1947, Man O'War buried in an oak casket at Faraway Farms, near Lexington, KY, sculpture dedicated
- 1977, Sculpture moved to the Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, and Man O'War reinterred beneath it
Bibliography
- Smithsonian Institution Research Information System (SIRIS) (accessed August 29, 2017)
Comment
- Smithsonian Institution Research Information System (SIRIS) (accessed August 29, 2017):
This sculpture marks the grave of Man O'War marks who was born on March 29, 1917 in Lexington. His parents were Fair Play and Mahuba. He was sold to Mr. Samuel D. Riddle for $5,000 and began racing at the age of two. As a three-year-old, Man O'War won every race he entered, including the Preakness, the Belmont, and the Travers. He set numerous new track records. In January of 1921, when no one else would race him, Man O'War retired to stud. He was permanently stabled at Faraway Farms near Lexington where an estimated two million people went to see him during his lifetime. He died in 1947, one month after the death of Wil Harbut, his groom, constant companion and caretaker of 17 years. Man O'War was buried in an oak casket at Faraway Farms in 1947. In 1977 the sculpture was moved to the Kentucky Horse Park and Man O'War was reinterred beneath it.