Man o' War's 17th

Most racehorses celebrate the same birthday--Jan. 1, when, in the U. S. stud book, all horses foaled before the preceding July 1 become a year older. Not so a racehorse like Man o' War whose birthday falls on March 29. Last week's, at Lexington, Ky., was his 17th.

Man o' War retired in 1920, after winning 20 of his 21 races, and $249,465 in prize money. Since then he has sired 131 colts; for his stud services his owner Samuel D. Riddle gets $5,000. Man o' War's offspring have won more than $1,800,000. As to their character, horsemen differ. Some of them are considered to inherit the cantankerous, gloomy disposition of their father while racing. Man o' War, still called "Big Red" by stable boys, was a glutton and had to wear a muzzle between meals to prevent him from swallowing stones, sticks, or bits of harness. Grown milder and 160 lb. heavier with age, he is now more tractable and far wiser. He drinks water from a golden cup which was one of his prizes. On his birthday last week, he behaved as usual--ate four quarts of oats, galloped four miles, sunned himself in paddock for two hours. A cake containing 17 carrots instead of candles, presented to Man o' War by the Lexington Board of Commerce, was eaten by his grooms.

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