Big Red Dynasty

If a man had 277 children he would have something to worry about. But not Man o' War. Munching hay at his homestead at Faraway Farms, near Lexington, Ky., Man o' War, not quite 21,* had last week nothing to worry about--not even the preparations for his big birthday party March 29th--and he had something new (if he had known it) to be proud of.

In his racing days (1919-20), Man o' War, a golden chestnut colt familiarly known as "Big Red," won all but one of the 21 races he started, established five U. S. track records and was said to be the greatest horse in the history of U. S. racing when he was retired to the stud of his owner, Samuel 13. Riddle, in 1921. In the 14 years since his first foals became of racing age (1924), Big Red's progeny have won more money than the sons & daughters of any other sire/- now living ($2,426,446) and he has become the most famed stallion standing in the U. S.

At year's end, three months ago, while Man o' War munched hay, racing authorities were scratching their heads in an effort to decide whether War Admiral, his son, or Seabiscuit, his grandson, was the best racehorse of 1937.

War Admiral, a three-year-old last year, had won every race he started, including the so-called triple crown (Kentucky Derby. Preakness, Belmont Stakes), and wound up the year with earnings of $166,500 in spite of being hors de combat for five months because of a sore foot. His owner, Samuel D. Riddle, and many another thought War Admiral was the greatest horse in the world.

Seabiscuit, a four-year-old last year, was champion of the handicap division, had nosed out War Admiral as leading money winner of the year with a total of $168,580; but Seabiscuit had conclusively shown that he could be defeated--as he was four times out of 15 starts. His owner, Charles S. Howard, and many another, however, thought Seabiscuit was the greatest horse in the world.

Last week, after hoping against hope to see Seabiscuit and War Admiral run on the same turf at the same time, the horse racing world was treated to the next best thing. On the same day, in the two top-ranking races of the winter season (the $100,000 Santa Anita Handicap and the $50,000 WIdener Challenge Cup), Seabiscuit was entered against the best horses running in California and War Admiral was entered against the best in Florida. Both, of course, were favorites.

At Santa Anita, before the race, Owner Charles S. Howard refused an offer of $100,000 for Seabiscuit. Two other Owner Howards had horses running--Maxwell Howard (Stagehand) and Nelson Howard (Gosum)--but the crowd of 50,000 that surged into Santa Anita Park like the newly swollen Los Angeles River (see p. 16), knew the Howards apart. When the race was over, some of the crowd wished that they had confused them. Winner, after an exciting nose-after-nose struggle down the stretch, was not Charles S. Howard's Seabiscuit, but Maxwell Howard's young Stagehand, winner of the Santa Anita Derby the week before (TIME, March 7). Nelson Howard's entry, a long shot among the 18 contestants, finished fourth, two lengths behind Jerry Louchheim's highly touted Pompoon. But Seabiscuit, although he had lost the $91,450 first prize by a nose in a camera finish, had lost little of his prestige. Carrying 30 lb. more than the winner and forcing him to a track record, beaten Seabiscuit seemed to many fans the best horse in the race.

At Hialeah Park, before the race, War Admiral (whose arrival in Miami two months ago caused more excitement than that of any previous visitor except the President of the U. S.), was signed up for the movies. The 20,000 spectators, most of whom had come primarily to see War Admiral in his first big race as a four-year-old, were not disappointed. Oldsters for a moment thought they were watching Big Red, as War Admiral, imitating his famed sire, delayed the race by his shameful behavior at the starting gate, then flashed to the front in the first furlong and stayed there. Breezing down the stretch, War Admiral won as easily as everyone expected. First-prize of $49,550 brought War Admiral's lifetime winnings to $231,625--some $17,000 less than Man o' War's and $12,000 more than Seabiscuit's. Triumphant over his arch-rival in the money-winning race, War Admiral had yet to convince racing fans that he can beat Seabiscuit on the turf.

At Faraway Farms. Man o' War kept on munching hay.

* Oldest living thoroughbred is thought to be 35-year-old Merrick, a neighbor of Man o' War at Lexington, Ky. /-The progeny of the late St. Simon holds the world's record: $2,772,800.

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