Man o' War Overshadowed Sir Barton
Two-Year-Old's Fame, 1920 Match Race Outshone Tripe Crown Champion
Jun 30, 2007
Triple Crown Spotlight Series:Sir Barton
TC Champions: Rankings
With the speedy duo of Isinglas and Hanover in his two grandparentages, Sir Barton displayed his own turn of foot in the American Triple Crown, circa 1919.
No Financial Return
A $10,000 purchase at the two-year-old Saratoga sales, Sir Barton returned a mere $4,113 in competitive races in 1918, his two-year-old season. He went winless in six starts. Worse, he ran off the board five times. His lone accomplishment at age two was a meager second place finish in the Belmont Futurity.
Man o' War Rising
In the meantime, the Riddle barn was raising and schooling a maturing colt named Man o' War, with whom Sir Barton would have a date in history.
The Sir Rising
First, came Sir Barton's astounding three-year-old season. From a roughly recognizable racer in 1918, he emerged as a champion performer in his next year. In 13 starts in 1919, the Sir won eight, had no off the board runs, three seconds and two third places. His season earnings ballooned to $88,250.
The chestnut colt climbed into the limelight. Still, he was overshadowed by Riddle's Man o' War, who looked unstoppable in 1919 at age two. Man o' War lost once that year, to a horse named Upset. In his three-year-old campaign, Man o' War was not entered in the Kentucky Derby. Therefore, he could not achieve the Triple Crown status the Sir enjoyed.
Match Race Fever
That circumstance only served to further whet the racing world's appetite for a match race in 1920 between the two giants. By then, Man o' War was soaring as everybody's champ, and the Sir's stardom had acquired tarnish as he won just five of 12 starts.
Sir Barton was unpredictable once again, sore hooved, and cranky. But much bally-hooed wins in the fall by both barns put the two champions on the track at Kenilworth Park, Canada, October 12, 1920.
It was Man o' War in a cakewalk.
Sir Barton's intended rider, Earle Sande, opted out, apparently with a case of the nerves brought on by the heavy publicity surrounding the moment. Frank Keough replaced him.
Man o' War shook lose at the outset in the 1-1/4 mile contest. In track record time, he dispatched the Triple Crown winner by seven lengths.
The Sir Served
At stud, the Sir was barely successful, producing little distinguished stakes winners, Easter Stockings, Cudgeller, Nellie Custis, and Chancellor. He was turned over to the U.S. Cavalry for a time to serve as a remount stallion.
Man o' War Attained Legendary Status
Man o' War sired 1937 Triple Crown winner War Admiral and many stakes winners through several generations. He became one of America's thoroughbred legends.
Sir Barton was The Sir of 1919
Sir Barton raced under-applauded in Man o' War's shadow, before the Eclipse Awards were conceived, before the Triple Crown was recognized and named as such. Yet, his 1919 season was one for the ages.
