How The Great Man O War Lives: Interesting Details Of The Care And Attention Bestowed On Americas Foremost Thoroughbred, Daily Racing Form, 1920-06-29

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HOW THE GREAT MAN 0 WAR LIVES INTERESTING DETAILS OF THE CARE AND ATTENTION ATTENTIONBESTO BESTO WED ON AMERICA S FOREMOST FOREMOSTTHOROUGHBRED THOROUGHBRED NEW YORK N Y June 26 Man o War will never be permitted to leave this coun ¬ try He belongs to the people of the United States who love a good horse quite as much as he docs to me I regard myself merely as a custodian having him in trust for the benefit of the American thoroughbred of the future futureThe The above sentiment was uttered by Samuel D Riddle of Glen Riddle Pa owner of the frcat threeyearold shortly before he went to the post for the Stuyvsant Handicap at Jamaica on Tuesday last Last year bafore Man o War had shown himself to be the superhorse he is somebody asked his owner to put a price on him At that time Mr Riddle said He is above price to all of us He will fulfill his destiny as a race horce and afterward if he lives the breeders of the country will have a chance to send their good mares to him himAfter After the race for the Belmont Stakes in which Man o War established a record of 2 14 for a mile and threeeighths Mr Riddle was again asked to name a figure at which he would transfer the champion One man proffered a blank check and asked Mr Riddle to fill it out as it was not a matter of price to the individual who was seeking to acquire what the best judges declare to be the most perfect horse of his kind in the world today To all such the owner of Man o War turned a deaf ear determined that the public at large should have a chance to share in the horses greatness greatnessMrs Mrs Riddle is equally as fond of Man o War as her husband and she always comes from Pennsylvania whenever the colt is carded to race She is proud of the stalwart chestnuts prowess and takes the keenest interest in everything pertaining to his welfare Like her hus band she is also proud of the place the son of Fair Play has won in the affections of the people Coming over on the train today said Mrs Riddle on Tuesday there were a number of Philadelphians who werc making the journey for the purpose of seeing Man o War alone One gentleman said he had never been at a horse race in his life but he had read find heard so much about the colt that he wanted to see him in action actionFcr Fcr the benetit of the thousands who have marveled at his speed and rare beauty and for the enlightenmentj f the other hundreds of thousands of Americans who love a good Ahorse and haveJHJardvMSn 6 War heralded as thelie5tiofhistyirethat tinscountry has yet produced a description of how he lives is interesting Man o War is trained by Louis Feustel one of the most competent of our younger school of trainers His personal caretaker is Frank Loftus who would not change his job for any position in the land When at exercise or in the work of training Olive Gordon is the lad upon his back The horse is housed in the same sized stall as any of the Riddle animals but his box is always next to that used as sleeping quarters by foreman George Conway and there is somebody near him night and day He is bandaged all round at all times except when racing and when he walks his legs have the protection of boots bootsThe The amount of provender consumed by Man o War reveals the source of the marvelous energy which makes the colt seem more machine than horse so powerful and tireless is his stride Ho was at first inclined to eat too hurriedly and in order to compel thorough mas lication and assimilation of his food Louis Feustel conceived the idea of feeding him with a bit in his mouth Cut hay was also mixed with the oats and the superb condition of the champion attests the efficacy of the treatment treatmentMan Man o Wars first meal is at 330 in the morning and it consists of two and a half quarts of clipped oats mixed with a little cut hay When this has been consumed the colt is left to luxuriate in his deep bed of sweet rye straw until 730 oclock when his bandages are removed his lithe body is massaged with a hair brush and the kinks are taken out of his silken mane and tail by the use of a dandy brush of corn broom His feet are washed and his face eyes and nostrils sponged after which the final polish is put on his chestnut coat with the aid of a soft cloth Loftus and the colt are great chums There is a real bond of JiiTection between them The man realizes that a priceless animal has been intrusted to his care and the horse appears grateful for everything that is done for him by his human com ¬ panion Man o Wars disposition is perfect and in the stable he is as docile as a big dog He is Red to Loftufc no matter what he may be to anybody else and answers that name wilh promptitude He has been taught to fetch and carry his keepers hat and likes to perform ror visitors He shows his affection for Loftus in many ways and is also fond of Barry an Airedale dog which spends much of his time in the horses box All horses are fond of sugar and Man o War will beg for a lump but his favoriate delicacy is an orange orangePromptly Promptly at 8 30 Man o War who is a member of Feustels second set is out for his mornings airing Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays he is jogged for a half mile and cantered a nile and a half On Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays which are his work mornings he is al ¬ lowed to spurn the earth with those nimble feet which carry him over the ground so swiftly hat the experts say all existing records are at his mercy whenever Mr Riddle sees fit to permit him to go after them On returning to his quarters if the day is warm his body is washed with a mixture of alcohol arnica and witch hazel Every particle of perspiration and dirt is removed and the bloom of his coat is like satin The round sound feet arc picked clean of dirt or refuse The hoofs arc washed and he is put away in a new bed which has been arranged in his absence Man o War is now left to enjoy the comforts of his home until 11 30 when if he is not to race that day he is fed four and a half quarts of oats wilh cut hay hayOn On days when Man o War is worked he is given walking exercise from 4 to 4 30 and at 515 he gets his final ration for the day It consists of five quarts of oats and cut hay and the big colt doesnt leave a vestige of it so good is his appetite At 830 his trainer bids him sood nightThree night Three times a week Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays the evening meal is varied a mash of crushed oats and bran which is prepared in the morning with scalding water and left to steam for several hours being substituted The proportions of this mash are five quarts of oals to one and H half of bran Three times a week for a period of ten days with a tenday interval in between a tonic composed of equal parts of cream of tartar oilmeal and sulphur is given givenMan Man o War has his own water bucket and there is always a supply of the fluid where he can slake his thirst His feed box is scalded daily in order to keep it sweet and clean If the weather is cool at night he is clothed in the softest of cottons and in frigid temperature this is replaced by woolens At all times he is cared for and treated like the regal aristocrat he is


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Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800