Man o' War: Chained Lightning

Thank you for joining us in making our film! Man o’ War, the greatest racehorse to ever set foot on the track. A stallion so wild, his owner Sam Riddle, said he fought like a tiger when he was being broken. When Man o’ War finally relented, he was still like chained lightning. His trainer Louis Feustel once directed his jockey to let “Big Red” loose. When he did, he shot off like a cannon. All other times on the track, he won without running full speed. Only once did he come in second to a horse named Upset, and that was due to circumstances beyond his control. Man o’ War beat Upset in other races with ease. His story has been told only in books, but never a feature length documentary film. We bring his life, his legacy, and his legend to you through interviews with family members, experts, rare footage, photographs, and recordings. Man o’ War’s story is much more than his historic racing career. It's the mystique that surrounds him to this day. It is also about the people around him who adored him, rode him, took care of him and made him the greatest racehorse in history. We also find a gentle side of Man o’ War, who’s nervous demeanor meant needing a companion for comfort. His friend, a gelding named Major Treat, was by his side throughout his racing career, and then again when he was retired. But Man o’ War needed a human friend. This time his heart turned to comfort of his longtime groom, Will Harbut. Their special bond was unforgettable until Harbut succumbed to a series of strokes. Man o’ War died nearly 30 days later. It was said he died of a broken heart. Join us, whether you are an equine lover or just a fan of a great hero story. The inspirational story of Man o’ War is practically guaranteed to increase your love of horse racing.