I just spent the last three days almost totally engrossed in this book after discovering it in the New Books section of my library. Anyone who is interested in Man O'War, American horse racing, Seabiscuit, etc should check this book out - Dorothy Ours has done extensive research on Man O'War and, just as important - the people surrounding Man O'War - key players such as Louis Feustel, Johnny Loftus and Clarence Kummer. Ms. Ours fills in the blanks as to the possible reason for "Red"'s one loss to Upset in the 1919 Sanford; goes into greater detail on Red's two stablemates, Major Treat and Golden Broom (although I know it's fiction, I had always assumed that the Walter Farley version of Golden Broom's fate (that he never ran again after the Sanford) was correct - however, Golden Broom did race again, he just never won again). While the storyline is not as compelling as "Seabiscuit" - as has been stated in previous reviews, this is not a rags-to-riches tale - I believe it must be regarded as the definitive work on Man O'War.

True - the book does not refer (except in passing) to his stud career (other than his 25+ years as Kentucky's #1 tourist attraction). However, that information (as well as a detailed breakdown of his lineage) can be found in the 1950 biography by Cooper & Treat (recently reprinted in paperback).

Highly recommended and a great gift for the racing fan!

I loved "Seabiscuit" as I had always admired the horse for his come-from-behind tactics and his rags to riches story. Man O' War was the total opposite...and maybe that's the one and only shortcoming of any book telling about him.....he almost always won, so you kind of "know the ending."
This book did a great job of giving the reader the feel of the period of history in which Man O' War raced...a world without movie cameras, photo finishes, strict drug laws, and starting gates. I've also always had a soft spot in my heart for Sir Barton, who broke his maiden in the Kentucky Derby and went on to win the Triple Crown, even though it wasn't called that at the time. I was kind of surprised to see that he was often drugged up when he ran...but then, the use of cocaine was not so looked down upon amongst people as it is today (the original lyrics to Cole Porter's song were "I Get No Kick from Cocaine"). This book really fills in a lot of information that one doesn't get from reading the simpler histories of horse racing.

I now know so much about horse racing, at least during the 1920s, that it is a little unsettling. Dorothy Ours did a fabulous job of weaving the undercurrents of greed, malice, honor, dysfunctional personalities, and stark honesty (not especially common) of the horse racing world of the time around that incredible being, Man O War. I suppose you could say that she used Man O War, his accomplishments and talents, as a backdrop for illumination to highlight the condition of humanity, then and now. Honesty does not always get its reward, nor honor its justice. Capability does not always get its glory. Greed, avarice,malice do not always get their just desserts. It is a bittersweet picture of reality. Still, the wonder of the horse shines.

While this book will be compared to Lauren Hillenbrand's Seabiscuit, probably to its detriment, it is exciting in its own way. Seabiscuit told a rags-to-riches story. Man O'War's story was a riches-to-riches tale and so lacks some of the suspense.

I am a geezer who, at age 7, actually saw Man O'War "in person" the year before he died so the book had special meaning for me. Even though I have read other books on Big Red, this one was wonderfully detailed with racing lore and life among the rich in that era.

I'm from Michigan and my parents took me, a horse-crazy girl, to Kentucky to visit the horse farms of the area which one could do back then. One could even drive through most of the pastures, stopping to open and close the gates on the way. You could walk through the barns and many grooms would lead out a prized and loved horse for you if you showed knowledge about and interest in horses. I still remember seeing Man O'War. He was in a four-stall stallion barn with three other horses- his sons War Admiral and War Relic and a stable pony. The other horses were shown to us first and then the groom stepped to THE stall and opened the door for those of us waiting in the barn aisle. The adults in front saw that I couldn't see and let me stand in front. There was Big Red with his head high in the air, giving us a disdainful glance. He knew why we were there and it really was all about HIM.

This book brought all those memories back and gave me new insights. Not as fine a book as Seabiscuit, but a good story of racing and sport in the 10s and 20s.