War Relic (1938–1963) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse.
Background A homebred of Samuel D. Riddle, his sire was Man o' War who was ranked #1 in the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century. His dam was Friar's Carse, the United States' Champion Two-Year-Old Filly of 1925 who was the daughter of Friar Rock, the 1916 Belmont Stakes winner and Horse of the Year. After trainer George Conway's death on June 20, 1939, War Relic's race conditioning was taken over by Walter A. Carter.
Racing career In 1941, the three-year-old War Relic won several top races, including the Massachusetts Handicap, and ran second by a nose to U.S. Triple Crown champion Whirlaway in the 1941 Saranac Handicap but defeated him in that year's Narragansett Special.
Stud record According to the National Sporting Library's Thoroughbred Heritage website, War Relic was the most successful sire of any of Man o' War's sons. Among War Relic's progeny was Battlefield who earned U.S. Champion Two-Year-Old Colt honors in 1950. Intent was another successful son of War Relic both on the racetrack and at stud.http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/ManOWar.html War Relic at the Thoroughbred Heritage website
War Relic's line continues today in modern thoroughbred champions like Tiznow, Colonel John, Well Armed and Bertrando, providing a direct sire-line back to Man o' War.
War Relic died at age twenty-five in 1963 and was buried at his owner's Faraway Farm near Lexington, Kentucky. However, War Relic's remains along with those of War Admiral and Man o' War were eventually moved to a place of honor at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Sire line tree
War RelicSire Line: MatchemGodolphin Arabian Jump SiresAmerican Classic Pedigree: War RelicThe Godolphin Arabian & his descendantsSport Horse Breeder: War Relic Relic Buisson Ardent Roan Rocket Tudor Rocket El Relicario UN Prince Flambeau C Polic Polyfoto Mystic II Babamist Heyday Snowy River Bewley's Hill Freeman's Hill Olden Times Roving Boy Pericles Pieces of Eight Stateff Battlefield IntentAmerican Classic Pedigree: Intent IntentionallyAmerican Classic Pedigree: Intentionally In RealityAmerican Classic Pedigree: In Reality Valid AppealAmerican Classic Pedigree: Valid AppealFlorida Stallion Valid Appeal Euthanized at Age 30 Believe ItLouisiana Stallion Believe It Dead Classic Trial RelaunchAmerican Classic Pedigree: Relaunch Known FactAmerican Classic Pedigree: Known FactChampion Known Fact Dead Court Trial Star Choice Sunshine TodayAward-winning Smile comes back home to TartanAmerican Classic Pedigree: Smile Smile Proper Reality TentamAmerican Classic Pedigree: Tentam Great Neck A Phenomenon Diapason New Connection Ten Gold Pots Group Plan Missle
References