Born: 1933
Died: 1947
Trainer: Tom Smith
Owner: Charles Howard
Jockey: Red Pollard, George Woolf
Breeder: Mrs. H.C. Phipps, Wheatley Stable
Probably the most famous race horse in history, Seabiscuit garnered more attention than in 1938 than people. At the peak of his career, Seabiscuit was the biggest newspaper story in the US, receiving more print than anyone else. President Roosevelt ranked second, and Adolf Hitler was third. In a time of American innocence Seabiscuit captured the world’s attention by being the ultimate underdog.
Seabiscuit by most horse standards was undersized and crooked legged. He was trained by a virtual mute and ridden by a half blind former prize boxer. Seabiscuit defied all odds to win which is why he will go down in American folklore as a champion.
Born from the mare Swing On and sired by Hard Tack (son of Man O' War). The bay colt grew up on Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky.
Initially he was trained by the legendary Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons, who saw some potential in Seabiscuit, but felt the horse was lazy. With most of his time taken training Omaha, Seabiscuit was relegated to a punishing schedule of small races. In his first ten races he failed to win, and most times finished well back. As a 3 year old, Seabiscuit raced thirty-five times, coming in first five times and running second seven times. Still, at the end of the racing season, he was used as a work horse. The next racing season, the colt was again less than spectacular and his owners unloaded the horse for $8,000, to automobile entrepreneur Charles Howard.
Trained by Tom Smith who found a down and out jockey named Red Pollard who was one of seven children born to a bankrupt brick manufacturer. Pollard spent many years at around the lowliest racetracks trying to get as many mounts as he could. No one knows why Smith stuck with Pollard who was 5’7" and blind in one eye. Without bifocal vision, he lacked depth perception and couldn't tell how far ahead of him horses were.
Once Howard bought Seabiscuit for some miraculous reason Seabiscuit began winning race after race. While riding another horse, Pollard fell and shattered his collarbone and could not race against the east coast War Admiral in a one on one match. Instead Seabiscuit was ridden by George Woolf in what some would call the race of the Century.
Race of the Century: Seabiscuit versus War Admiral one on one at Maryland's Pimlico Racecourse.
At the start of the race Seabiscuit ran away from the Triple Crown Champion. Despite being drawn on outside Woolf led by over a length after just 20 seconds. Halfway down the back straight, War Admiral started to eat back into the lead, gradually pulling level, and then slightly ahead. Following advice he had received from Pollard, Woolf allowed his horse to see his rival, and then asked for more effort. Two hundred yards from the finish Seabiscuit pulled away again as the competition proved too much for War Admiral, and continued to extend his lead over the closing straight, finally winning by four lengths.
Seabiscuit sired 108 foals, including two moderately successful racehorses, "Sea Swallow" and "Sea Sovereign". On May 17, 1947 Seabiscuit dead of a heart attack at the age of 14.
Pedigree:
Seabiscuit, b.c.
foaled 1933 |
Hard Tack, 1926 |
Man o' War, 1917 |
Fair Play, 1905 |
Mahubah, 1910 |
Tea Biscuit, 1912 |
Rock Sand (GB), 1900 |
Tea's Over , 1893 |
Swing On, 1926 |
Whisk Broom, 1907 |
Broomstick, 1901 |
Audience, 1901 |
Balance, 1919 |
Rabelais (GB), 1900 |
Balancoire (Fr), 1911 |
Racing Record:
Year |
Age |
Starts |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
Earnings |
1935 |
2 |
35 |
5 |
7 |
5 |
$12,510 |
1936 |
3 |
23 |
9 |
1 |
5 |
28,995 |
1937 |
4 |
15 |
11 |
2 |
1 |
168,580 |
1937 |
5 |
11 |
6 |
4 |
1 |
130,395 |
1937 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
400 |
1937 |
7 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
96,850 |
Total |
|
89 |
33 |
15 |
13 |
$437,730 |
Career Highlights:
At 4 years old:
- Champion Handicap Male
- 1st - San Juan Capistrano H
- 1st - Massachusetts H
- 1st - Brooklyn H
- 1st - Yonkers H
- 1st - Bay Meadows H
- 1st - Riggs H
- 1st - Butler H
At 5 years old:
- Horse of the Year
- 1st - Pimlico Special (match race with War Admiral)
- 1st - Hollywood Gold Cup
- 1st - Bay Meadows H
At 7 years old:
@dannysheridan1
