Man O’ War Collectibles

Man O’War has been a part of Kentucky lore for more than a hundred years. First he was a champion racehorse, born and bred in The Bluegrass State. Then in his retirement, he found a home at Faraway Farm in Lexington where his stud career flourished. His monument stood at its original location for nearly 30 years (1948 – 1977) until it was relocated to the Kentucky Horse Park. Here are a few items I found online featuring imagery commemorating those three decades in which the bronze statue could be seen at Big Red’s ‘first’ final resting place. These are not a part of my personal collection.

All of these, except two as noted *, display the words “KENTUCKY” and “The Blue Grass State.” Various renderings of Man o’War’s statue are displayed in the center inside a horseshoe. Many feature a similar design with state landmarks including My Old Kentucky Home, Churchill Downs, Ruins of Karnak at Mammoth Cave National Park, State Capitol Building, Lincoln National Memorial/ The Birthplace of Lincoln, and Natural Arch at Natural Bridge State Park.

The frosted drinkware feature icons such as the State Bird – Cardinal, the State Flower – Goldenrod, Cumberland Falls, Lincoln National Monument in Hodgenville, the State Capital in Frankfurt, the Great Kentucky Damn and Lake, Churchill Downs, and a quintessential Kentucky Colonel.

The two red plates which leave out “The” in “Blue Grass State” also feature the The Great Seal of Kentucky with the words “Commonwealth of Kentucky” and the motto “United We Stand Divided We Fall.” The official seal was adopted in 1792, six months after Kentucky gained statehood. It pictures two men, one in buckskin, and the other in more formal attire.

7 inch plate with red design featuring Kentucky Blue Grass State, Man O'War Statue, and state landmarks — 7in plate with red design*

10 inch plate with gold rim featuring Kentucky Blue Grass State, Man O'War Statue, and state landmarks — 10in plate with gold rim*

6.25 inch plate from 1970s featuring Kentucky The Blue Grass State, Man O'War Statue, and state landmarks — 6.25in plate from 1970s

9.25 inch plate with silver pattern featuring Kentucky The Blue Grass State, Man O'War Statue, and state landmarks — 9.25in plate with silver pattern

5 inch frosted tumbler in blue featuring Kentucky The Blue Grass State, Man O'War Statue, and state landmarks — 5in frosted tumbler in blue

5in frosted tumbler in green featuring Kentucky The Blue Grass State, Man O'War Statue, and state landmarks — 5 inch frosted tumbler in green

3 inch frosted jigger in red featuring Kentucky The Blue Grass State, Man O'War Statue, and state landmarks — 3in frosted jigger in red

5.5 inch tall, 2.75 inch diameter frosted coffee or milk cup in black featuring Kentucky The Blue Grass State, Man O'War Statue, and state landmarks — 5.5in tall, 2.75in diameter frosted coffee or milk cup in black

9 inch plate with gold metallic paint in Victorian pattern around inside edge featuring Kentucky The Blue Grass State, Man O'War Statue, and state landmarks — 9in plate with gold metallic paint in Victorian pattern around edge

9 inch plate with dark design on inside rim featuring Kentucky The Blue Grass State, Man O'War Statue, and state landmarks — 9in plate with dark design on inside rim

10.25 inch plate with double ring leaf design featuring Kentucky The Blue Grass State, Man O'War Statue, and state landmarks — 10.25in plate with double ring leaf design

7 inch red transferware souvenir plate featuring Kentucky The Blue Grass State, Man O'War Statue, and state landmarks — 7in red transferware souvenir plate

Ceramic creamer pitcher with gold trim featuring Kentucky The Blue Grass State, Man O'War Statue, and state landmarks — Ceramic creamer pitcher with gold trim

7 inch dish bowl with four roses and white & gold trim featuring Kentucky The Blue Grass State, Man O'War Statue, and state landmarks — 7in dish bowl with four roses and white & gold trim

5.5 inchashtray featuring Man O'War statue adorned with horseshoes — 5.5in ashtray featuring Man O’War statue adorned with horseshoes

Souvenir drinking glass featuring Kentucky The Blue Grass State and Man O'War Statue at Lexington — Souvenir drinking glass featuring Man O’ War Statue at Lexington

Vintage decorative souvenir plate with silver trim featuring Kentucky The Blue Grass State, Man O'War Statue, and state landmarks — Vintage decorative souvenir plate with silver trim

9 inch Homer Laughlin plate, white china with pink edge design and gold trim, manufactured May 1957 in Newell, West Virginia, Plant #6 featuring Kentucky The Blue Grass State, Man O'War Statue, and state landmarks — 9in Homer Laughlin plate, white china with pink edge design and gold trim, manufactured May 1957 in Newell, West Virginia, Plant #6

9 inch decorative plate with silver inlay design featuring 'Kentucky The Blue Grass State' plus 'Man O'War' statue and 7 state landmarks — 9 inch decorative plate with silver inlay design featuring ‘Kentucky The Blue Grass State’ plus ‘Man O’War’ statue and 7 state landmarks

6 inch ceramic jug/crock with cork displaying Kentucky - The Blue Grass State and the Man o'War statue within a golden horseshoe — 6 inch ceramic jug/crock with cork displaying Kentucky – The Blue Grass State and the Man o’War statue within a golden horseshoe. Cork marked ‘Portugal’ and jug marked ‘Made in U.S.A.’ on bottom.

10 inch Richard Fay Co souvenir plate displaying Kentucky - The Blue Grass State and the Man O'War Statue - Lexington plus 6 landmarks — 10 inch Richard Fay Co souvenir plate displaying Kentucky – The Blue Grass State and the Man O’War Statue – Lexington plus 6 landmarks.

9 inch vintage aluminum bottle opener - Kentucky The Blue Grass State, Cardinal State Bird, Man O'War Statue — 9 inch vintage aluminum bottle opener – Kentucky The Blue Grass State, Cardinal State Bird, Man O’War Statue

3 inch cup and 5 inch saucer displaying Kentucky The Blue Grass State with Man O'War Statue inside a golden horseshoe plus state landmarks — 3 inch cup and 5 inch saucer displaying Kentucky The Blue Grass State with Man O’War Statue

MAN-O-WAR, THE WONDER HORSE - BRED IN OLD KENTUCKY glass tumbler 1917-1947

4.75 x 2.5 inch glass tumbler memorializing “MAN-O-WAR, THE WONDER HORSE – BRED IN ‘OLD KENTUCKY'”

“Greatest race horse the world has known. One of the world’s greatest sires. Foaled March 29, 1917. Died November 1, 1947 at his home Faraway Farm, property of Samuel D. Riddle, Lexington, Ky.”

* There is another version of this glassware using the same image but celebrating Man O’War while he was still alive. [see photo]