365 Days in Horse Country – Seabiscuit
One of the most well-known racehorses of all time was a little bay stallion named Seabiscuit. A grandson of Man O’War, Seabiscuit began his career in 1935, in the midst of the Great Depression. He started out as unimpressive, and he didn’t really begin to come into his own until he went into training with Tom Smith. Within a few years, Seabiscuit had proven himself to be the top money-winning Thoroughbred of all time. He also beat the great War Admiral, sired by Man O’War, in a match race. The horse’s popularity was stunning, and he was such a celebrity that when he finally died in 1947, the location of his grave had to be kept a secret.
Seabiscuit’s fame was resurrected in 2001 when Laura Hillenbrand wrote the best-selling, nonfiction work “Seabiscuit: An American Legend”. The book took off, earning racing writer and first-time book author Hillenbrand national fame. In 2003, a film was made from the boo, starring Jeff Bridges and Tobey Maguire. The movie was nominated for seven Academy Awards, and it gave the sport of horseracing a much-needed shot in the arm.
Michael