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Man
o' War, born at August Belmont II's Nursery Stud in 1917, was a son of the leading
sire Fair Play, and Mahubah, a daughter of the English Triple Crown
winner Rock Sand [GB].
Man o' War's sire, the golden
chestnut Fair Play, was
an exceptional racehorse, however his race record was affected by
one of those extraordinary strokes of luck that seem to plague
horses of above average ability -- namely, he arrived in the same
year as a superstar. Fair Play had the misfortune of being
born in the foal crop of Colin,
 one of the best
American racehorses of the 20th century. He spent much of his
two and three year old seasons chasing Colin, then was exported to
England to try his luck there. By that time, temperamental
Fair Play was somewhat jaded and track-sour. His races were
far below the caliber one would expect from his earlier form.
Belmont returned Fair Play to the USA for breeding. At stud, Fair Play's success was phenomenal, and he is considered
one of the pivotal American sires of the turn of the century, along
with Domino and Ben Brush. Apart from his swift youngsters who
had the ability to pass on their speed, Fair Play sired exceptional
jumpers. This talent was passed to Man o' War as well.
Fair
Play's moody temperament was an inheritance from his sire.
Hastings, winner of the Belmont Stakes, was very fast with lots of
stamina, but proved difficult to train. He was a rogue who
tried to savage other racers and attacked his handlers repeatedly. Hastings
was the half-brother of another
classic winner, Kentucky Derby winner Plaudit.
Fair Play's dam, Fairy Gold was an exceptional breeder, producing
champions Friar Rock and Golden Measure [GB], stakes winner Fair
Gain, winner Flittergold, stakes-placed Farrier, producer St. Lucre,
and was the second dam of stakes winners Rock View and Dark Legend.
Mahubah, Man o' War's dam, was lightly raced, only starting five
times, winning once. This followed a pattern established by
August Belmont, her breeder. He wasn't particularly interested
in racing his fillies, preferring to concentrate on breeding them.
Mahubah's confirmation resembled that of her sire Rock Sand.
She was gentle, but exceedingly nervous (Man o' War was said to
have inherited Mahubah's tendency to fret. When stabled, he
paced his stall. When laying down to sleep, Man o' War would
chew his hooves, much like a nervous person might chew their
fingernails.) The only horse Mahubah was bred to was Fair
Play. Her dam, Merry Token, was a stakes winner. Merry
Token, like her daughter, was a bay. Mahubah
had a stakes-winning half-brother named Sand Mole who became a sire
of modest stakes winners.
Fair Play and Mahubah gained great fame in the
horseracing world as the sire and dam of Man o' War, but he wasn't
their only issue.
At the time of Man o' War's birth in 1917, he had one
sibling, an older sister named Masda. She was born in 1915 and was
extremely fast. She won a number of races, including stakes races. She
was considered exceptionally swift, but very temperamental. As a
broodmare, she produced three stakes winners in Dazzler, Meada and
Incandescent. Her son Brilliant was stakes placed. Meada was the
sire of champion Delegate. Incandescent was the second dam of
Triple Crown winner Assault. Irish champion Solford is also one of
Masda's descendants. Miesque [FR], champion in the United States
and France, is another.
Man o' War's brother Playfellow, born in 1918, was a disappointment. He ran sensationally in his first two starts
as a two year old, smothering his opposition with a burst of
speed. His time for the mile (1:36 3/5) was remarkably fast
for the era. As his career progressed he slowed down and lost to
inferior horses. Playfellow never regained his brilliant form
or won again. The day Man o' War won the Lawrence Realization
Stakes by an estimated 100 lengths, Playfellow came in last in the
preceding race. He didn't produce much as a stud either,
although admittedly he had a limited opportunity to do so.
In 1919 Man o' War's brother My Play was born. My Play
was a extremely quick colt too, though he matured later than his
siblings. He was an excellent handicap horse. Among other stakes
wins, My Play won the prestigious Jockey Club Gold Cup. In the stud
My Play had a very short career, starting at the age of six and
dying at the age of eleven, but he was the sire of the 1933 champion
three-year-old colt Head Play. Head Play's granddaughter
Spectacular was the dam of Horse of the Year Spectacular Bid.
Another descendant, My Play's granddaughter Floradora, was the dam
of champion Star Pilot.
The last offspring of the Fair Play/Mahubah cross was
the delicate filly Mirabelle, born in 1920. Mirabelle was raced
twice, unplaced, at two. She was highly nervous and an erratic
breeder. Her best offspring were a pair of geldings.
Mahubah became barren in 1921 and never foaled again,
despite every attempt made by experts in the industry. When the
Nursery Stud was dispersed in 1925, Mahubah, Fair Play and
Mirabelle all went to the same bidder, Elmendorf Farm. The
owners of Elmendorf Farm, the Wideners, treated Man o' War's family
like royalty. Mirabelle was pastured with her pensioned mother to keep Mahubah
company.
Fair Play died in 1926. Mahubah died in 1931. They are
buried next to one another on Elmendorf Farm. A statue of
golden Fair Play gazes haughtily over the countryside. Mahubah
is buried at his feet. |
