Man o’ War’s Farewell: The Day America Mourned Its Greatest Thoroughbred
Lexington, Ky. — On November 1, 1947, Man o’ War, the towering chestnut who redefined American horse racing, died at age 30 at Faraway Farm. Within days, the most famous Thoroughbred of his era received a farewell unlike any other: he became the first horse believed to be embalmed, placed in a solid oak casket lined with owner Samuel Riddle’s black-and-gold racing silks, and laid in state just outside his stall so the public could say goodbye.
More than 2,000 mourners—many accounts place the figure around 2,500—filed past the coffin in silence. The funeral was carried live nationwide on NBC Radio, a rare broadcast tribute that underscored his reach beyond the racetrack.
Man o’ War’s passing came only weeks after the death of his beloved groom, Will Harbut, and closed the chapter on a career that saw “Big Red” win 20 of 21 starts, set records, and inspire a devotion few athletes—human or equine—ever achieve.
Originally interred at Faraway Farm in 1947, Man o’ War and his monumental bronze by sculptor Herbert Haseltine were moved in 1977 to the Kentucky Horse Park, where his gravesite greets visitors near the park’s entrance. Today he rests alongside his Triple Crown–winning son War Admiral and other notable offspring—a permanent shrine to power, grace, and American sporting history.