Battleship

Here's a picture of Man o' War's kid, Battleship, a true steeplechaser! He was only 15.2 hands, like my little Violet, but a total powerhouse! He won the American Grand National, but then went on to become the first U.S. bred, owned, and ridden horse to win the English Grand National in 1938! He died in 1958 at the age of 31 and was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1969. His final record was 55: 24-6-4. When he retired, he only sired 57 foals, but 20% of them were stakeswinners, including Shipboard and War Battle who were also amazing steeplechasers!

He was nicknamed the American Pony, but he managed that 4 mile long, 30 obstacles which make up the Grand National like the champion he was! In the link below, it describes the grueling complexity and danger of the Grand National. You will come to see that Battleship had a big, glowing, brave heart! My girls share in his royal blood!
http://www.spiletta.com/UTHOF/battleship.html
or
http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Battleship.html
or
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battleship_(horse)
or
http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall/horse.asp?ID=25

Man o' War's burial site and statue

I've mentioned this fact before, but one of my favorite sacred places on earth is the entrance into the Kentucky Horse Park. They have special graves and markers for famous horses and jockeys. And above this all is a wonderful statue and the burial site of Man o' War, the number one racehorse of all time -- ol' Big Red!

He is the father of many important horses, including Battleship who won the 1938 Grand National steeplechase, my Violet's War Admiral who won the 1937 Triple Crown, and the grandsire of Seabiscuit through his kid Hard Tack, and the great-grandsire of Kelso, 5X Horse of the Year!

Two of Man o' War's children are buried at his feet, War Relic (his best sire) and War Admiral, Violet's own Triple Crown Winner.

I know I say it all the time, but can you believe that my Violet is related to two Triple Crown winners? Her own sweet War Admiral was only 15.2 hands, so you know he had a big giant heart to win races like he did! And let's not forget that her Count Fleet just romped through his Triple Crown, and won the Belmont by 25 lengths! Then he produced Count Turf to win the Kentucky Derby (a third boy in a row in that family to win the Derby) and Violet's One Count who won the Belmont Stakes. Namaste to all of these family relatives, including Seabiscuit, War Admiral and Man o'War, pictured here in all their young fiery glory!

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=663