Seabiscuit is one of the most talked about race horses in the history of the United States. Born and bred in Kentucky in 1933, he was a small horse, and his size made a career in racing almost unlikely until he started coming out of nowhere to win races. He would go on to solidify his reputation as a good runner and an inspiration for many Americans as they coped with the fallout and economic plunder from the Great Depression. He has been the subject of many books, documentaries and films and is considered a folk hero in the US to date.
Owned by Wheatley Stable and trained by “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons, Seabiscuit was known to be good at the tracks but lazy. As a result, very little attention was given to his training, and the owners made numerous attempts to sell him after he came up short in tens of races. He was eventually bought by Charles Howard for $8000.
The turnaround
Seabiscuit’s new owner wanted a winner out of him, and he paired him with winners and found a top jockey in Red Pollard from Canada. This was the beginning of success for a horse that was much rebuked and considered a little more than a joke. Between 1937 and 1940, Seabiscuit put together sensational displays and made his old owners wonder where they missed the train. He won the Massachusetts Handicap ,the Boston Handicap, the Santa Anita Handicap ,the Hollywood Gold Cup and plenty more. After an injury in 1939, Seabiscuit came back strongly in 1940 and took several races before he was retired. He is said to have, at the point of retirement, been the leading money winner in history, having accumulated $437,730 from his races. His stud career was a smashing success, with 108 foals on the record. In the 7 years Seabiscuit was a stud, people poured in from all of the United States to see him.