Considered the greatest racehorse of all time and the horse by which all others are measured, Man O' War died in 1947 of a heart attack at the age of 30 and was buried at Faraway Farm in Lexington where he stood at stud. He was reinterred at the Kentucky Horse Park in 1978 and today his famous statue stands atop his burial site.
Over 2000 people attended his funeral which was broadcast around the world. He was honored by being the first horse to be embalmed and buried whole. His casket was lined with his racing silks.
Not only was he the greatest racehorse, standing 16.2 hands tall with an incredible stride of 28 feet, he was a sire of sires. In the 22 years he stood at stud, he produced 379 foals. Of those 220 grew up to be winners and 64 of those were stakes winners including the great War Admiral, winner of the 1937 Triple Crown.
His friend and groom, Will Harbut, said it best, ""He's got everything a hoss ought to have, and he's got it where a hoss ought to have it. He's the mostest hoss that ever drew breath." Man O' War died one month after Will Harbut passed away.