He was also an outstanding broodmare sire whose influence is still felt today in descendants such as Triple Crown winners American Pharoah and Justify.

[4] Most sources say that War Admiral also inherited his sire's fiery temperament,[3] which manifested chiefly in his reluctance to load in the starting gate.

Conway stayed with Riddle after Feustel's retirement, and trained several of Man o' War's most successful offspring.

As a two-year-old in 1936, War Admiral won three of six races including the Great American Stakes and Eastern Shore Handicap.

[2] In 1937, War Admiral started his three-year-old campaign by winning two races at Havre de Grace, including the Chesapeake Stakes.

War Admiral went off as the favorite, and, despite delaying the start for several minutes, won in wire-to-wire fashion with Pompoon 1+3⁄4 lengths back in second.

[6] Neville Dunn, sports editor for the Lexington Herald, wrote, "A little brown horse that takes after his mammy in size but runs like his daddy charged to victory in the 63rd Kentucky Derby… and he won so easily, so effortlessly, that 65,000 fans nudged one another in the ribs and said, 'I told you so!

But the victory came at a price: War Admiral had struck the quarter of his right front fore-foot when stumbling at the gate, which left a gaping wound.

[11] In 1938, War Admiral won eight major races, including the Whitney Handicap and Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Samuel Riddle asked that the race be run without a starting gate in light of War Admiral's problematic history.

This cross produced the champion filly and Horse of the Year Busher (ranked #40 in Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century), as well as stakes winners Searching, Busanda and Mr.

[14] Although War Admiral's sire line no longer exists, he remains a significant influence in modern pedigrees due to his daughters.

Descendants in the female line include the likes of Swaps, Buckpasser, and Numbered Account, as well as two Triple Crown winners, Seattle Slew and Affirmed.

In 1937, Riddle commissioned equine artist Martin Stainforth to paint War Admiral's portrait, a version of which can be found in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.