Months After Natural Calamity Struck Churchill Downs, This Champion Race Horse Became ‘The Finest’ Kentucky Derby Winner in 1937

In the year 1937, an unfortunate natural disaster struck the Midwest and the Southeastern states. More specifically Kentucky and Indiana. The Ohio River flooded on January 31st, 1937. The widest point of the river lies just north of Louisville. Therefore, of all other places in Louisville, a large brunt of the flood was born by the Churchill Downs Racetrack. But as the water receded from the stadium in time, people witnessed one of the finest performances by a champion horse at the Kentucky Derby that year.

There were doubts if the Kentucky Derby might happen in its course time since the Churchill Downs was still flooded with water. Thankfully, the water drained out before the competition and the audience got to see one of the fastest thoroughbreds of the 1930s – War Admiral.

War Admiral – One of Kentucky Derby’s fastest racehorses ever

War Admiral was born in 1934 and by 1937, had won the ‘Horse of the Year’ award. The then 3-year-old was the son of another legendary horse, ‘Man o’ War’, and was homebred by equestrian Samuel D. Riddle. Riddle had also raised Man o’ War, but refused to travel to Louisville with him for the 1920 Kentucky Derby. This is because he believed 3-year-olds shouldn’t travel that far from New York to Kentucky. 17 years later he made an exception for War Admiral, and it turned out to be a fruitful affair.

The water had receded and every horse racing lover was excited to be at Churchill Downs in the early summer of 1937. And Wild Admiral was present. In a YouTube video titled, “The Kentucky Derby: Greatest Moments”, the narrator said, “The finest Derby winner of the 1930s might’ve been that streak of dark lightning named War Admiral”.

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War Admiral went in the race as the favorite. And with no surprises, emerged victorious, leaving behind the racehorse Pompoon by a one-and-three-quarters length.

Before Seabiscuit, War Admiral was nearly invincible

The flooding of the Ohio River had wreaked much havoc in the entire city of Louisville. Although slightly effective, War Admiral’s win at the Kentucky Derby provided town folks with some joy amidst their despair. People flocked everywhere to see the race. As the race started, War Admiral was off to a flying start, and the video showed many people running to keep up with the champion horse in the race. “The fastest colt ever to blaze across the American turf”, said the narrator in the YouTube video, as the footage from the real race was shown.

War Admiral blazed his way through the Derby and the Triple Crown Series and became a well-known celebrity horse. However, later on, he would find his match in Seabiscuit, another thoroughbred racehorse. Their race would be known as the ‘Match Race of the Century’ in 1938. It would later form the basis for the Tobey Maguire film ‘Seabiscuit’ in 2003.

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Both Seabiscuit and War Admiral left behind an unparalleled legacy. However, despite that, neither of them would be the first to win $US 1 million prize money. That record would go to Citation in the 1948 Kentucky Derby. The event has only grown from there and there’s much anticipation this year as well.