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From a young age, Man o’ War was known to be difficult to handle. He often bit, kicked, and showed dominance toward handlers and other horses. Many records noted that he had a “spirit too big for his body,” a spirit that could not even be contained by his athletic build.

Trainers described him as a highly dominant horse, hard to restrain, and always wanting to lead, even when walking to the paddock.

Man o’ War was not only strong — he was extremely intelligent. He quickly read situations, recognized patterns, and knew what was happening around him. Many jockeys said that he seemed to “know he was better than his rivals.”

However, that intelligence came with a consequence: he became easily angry when frustrated. Some of his famous habits included grinding his teeth while waiting at the start, stamping his hooves when feeling restricted, and increasing his own speed when he sensed another horse trying to pass him. He was like a world champion who never accepted second place as an option.

In races, Man o’ War’s nature transformed into pure power. A horse that big should have been hard to control, yet he combined strength and aggression with extraordinary focus.

Many of his rivals admitted that it was almost impossible to stay too close to him. Man o’ War showed an intensity that made other horses “give up” mentally even before the finish line.

Man o’ War’s jockeys, Johnny Loftus and later Clarence Kummer, often said that riding him was not merely guiding, but negotiating. Man o’ War was not carried — he had to be persuaded. He would only cooperate if he respected the person controlling him. His nature demanded a jockey who refused to play it safe, one who was brave, strong, and ready to face high tension.

The combination of his fiery temperament and unmatched performance led to Man o’ War being recognized as: the Greatest Horse of the 20th Century by the Associated Press, the Best Racing Horse in U.S. History by many racing historians, and a legendary sire who produced dozens of champions, including the father of War Admiral, the 1937 Triple Crown champion.

In the final years of his life, Man o’ War became a tourist magnet. People came from all over the country just to see the King standing proudly at his farm.

(Source: ESPN, Kentucky Horse Park, Wikipedia, Britannica)