Dam Pankhurst Foaled 1917 Color Chestnut Owner Harry Payne Whitney Sex Colt Grandsire Broomstick | Damsire Voter Country United States Species Equus caballus Parents Whisk Broom II Earnings 37,504 USD | |
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Upset was notable as the only horse to have ever defeated Man o' War. Man o' War, who won 20 of his 21 starts, faced Upset in the Sanford Memorial at Saratoga Race Course on August 13, 1919. Losing by a nose, Man o' War was, nonetheless, considered the best horse in the race, as he had been fractious at the starting line, left last and was three to four lengths behind the field. He also carried 15 pounds more than Upset. Post-race analysis was that he would have won the race had it been 20 feet (6.1 m) longer. The loss snapped a six-race winning streak by Man o' War.
Upset was owned by Harry Payne Whitney. The two horses met six more times, including in the 1920 Preakness Stakes, with Man o' War victorious every time.
While it is widely believed that the term "upset", referring to a surprising loss, originated with this horse, that is not the case. The use of the word in horse racing dates to at least 1877, and the meaning "to overturn" or "overthrow" appears to be even older.