Racing career as a 3-year-old

Man o' War carried still more weight in his second racing year. He did not run in the Kentucky Derby. Though he did win the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, the "Triple Crown did not exist at that time. There was no added incentive for the owner to run Man o' War against the objections of owner, Samuel Riddle, who felt the first Saturday in May was too early for a three year old horse to run 1 1/4 mile.