secretariet

[magical thyme]

3. Man O'War

the first Big Red. IIRC, nearly lost to the flu as a yearling (flu is *very* serious in horses). Seabiscuit's grand-daddy, War Admiral's daddy, and found in many pedigrees today.

He not only mopped up his competition, he was the sire and grand sire of many top race horses. So he passed along what he had, the mark of a truly great horse.

Although Sea Biscuit wins having the *best* movie! Loved that. The scene of the horse falling over backwards on his jockey...I was nearly crushed some years ago when my now deceased gelding flipped. I managed to jump free (sprained my knee badly in the process...the most athletic feat I've ever managed was getting free of a thousand pound horse falling backwards. the momentum against you is enormous). My horse landed next to me and before I could crawl away, he rolled on top of me and then dug his elbow into my back, between my shoulder blades, as he hoisted himself back to his feet. For about 15 minutes or so, I was a quadriplegic, no feeling or movement below my neck. Gaaaah. Fractured sternum. Deep tissue bruises in my thighs that surfaced months later. Lots of pain when feeling returned.

Anyway, the first time I saw that scene in the movie...it was so realistic I flashed back and melted down. Nearly had to leave the theater.