Our favourite horses.. number 4.. Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit (23 May 1933 – 17 May 1947) was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse in the United States. He was a small horse and yet, despite a low-key start to his racing career, he went on to become a champion and a symbol of hope to many Americans during the Great Depression. Most of you will be familiar with the 2003 film, Seabiscuit, about his life. His story is a great story and the film is a real tear-jerker! Seabiscuit, himself injured, and a convalescing jockey called Pollard recovered together at the owner, Howard's, ranch. Slowly, both horse and rider learned to walk again and slowly but surely, he began to ride Seabiscuit again, first at a walk and later at a trot and canter. Howard was delighted at their improvement, as he longed for Seabiscuit to race again. Over the autumn and winter of 1939, Seabiscuit's fitness seemed to improve by the day. By the end of the year, Seabiscuit was ready! By the time of his comeback race, Pollard had persuaded Howard into allowing him the ride. The pair won their third race, beating Seabiscuit’s erstwhile training partner, Kayak II, by two and a half lengths! One race was left in the season. A week after the San Antonio, Seabiscuit and Kayak II both took the gate for the Santa Anita Handicap and its $121,000 prize. 78,000 paying spectators crammed the racetrack, most backing Seabiscuit. Pollard found his horse blocked almost from the start. Picking his way through the field, Seabiscuit briefly led. As they thundered down the back straight, Seabiscuit became trapped in third place, behind leader Whichcee and Wedding Call on the outside. Trusting in his horse's acceleration, Pollard steered between the leaders and burst into the lead, taking the firm ground just off the rail. As Seabiscuit showed his old surge, Wedding Call and Whichcee faltered, and Pollard drove his horse on, taking the Hundred Grander by a length and a half from the fast-closing Kayak II. Pandemonium engulfed the course. Neither horse and rider, nor trainer and owner, could get through the sea of well-wishers to the winner's enclosure for some time.
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