Seabiscuit
An American Legend
Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand is set in the depression era 1930s at a time when horse-racing is at the peak of its popularity. This story is full of perseverance and optimism when faced with different obstacles. It is full of details, and easy to understand. Even non horse-racing readers will be able to understand it. The story follows three lead characters involved with the horse. They are Charles Howard, the owner, Red Pollard, the jockey, and Tom Smith the horse trainer.
Seabiscuit is a horse that no one wants. He was a small horse who had problems with crooked legs and a moody attitude which people thought made the horse untrainable. Charles Howard and Tom Smith saw untapped talent in the horse and tried many different techniques to train the horse. That changed when they met Red Pollard.
From the beginning, Red and Seabiscuit had an instant friendship. When anyone else would try to ride him, he would buck and throw them off. Red was able to get Seabiscuit to like and trust him. He even gave the nickname Pops to the horse. Once Seabiscuit adjusted to track life, they noticed he had speed and would often beat track records. Seabiscuit would go on to win almost every race he entered, either placing first or second. He always ran a close race.
As his popularity grew, the media picked up on Seabiscuit and followed him around the country. He was marketed as the Horse of the Century until another horse name War Admiral came on the scene. War Admiral became Seabiscuit�s direct competetion. The owners even bet a hundred thousand dollars on a race between the two. Being that this was depression times, this amount was unheard of. Seabiscuit wins the race, and becomes a legend. He is basically retired except for a few insignificant races. In the last race he was in Seabiscuit actually broke a few bones in his legs. This was the end of his career.
The important topic that the author is trying to prove is that untapped talent can come from anywhere. Even a horse with crooked legs can be a winner when people put the time and effort into training the animal. Not just a simple story about horse-racing, this book can be seen as an inspiration.
The author also points out that even during the depression era, one can find hope. This horse captivated the country at a time when many people had nothing else and were down on their luck. He became a symbol of possibility. He grabbed their imagination and gave people the sense that problems can be solved. The author also shows the reader that everyday people can become heroes. By working together, they overcame their different backgrounds and rallied around the horse. They were all able to profit and live through the depression. At the same time they gained friendship with Seabiscuit and each other. Together, they all became legends.
The author portrays the sport of horse-racing in an accurate fashion. She goes into details on how jockeys prepare themselves for racing and how horses are trained. She explains different techniques on how to make them faster and stronger. Some of these methods are still used today. She blends in the horse-racing facts well with the story of Seabiscuit.
Laura Hillenbrand�s book makes the 1930s come to life. Many horses have been compared to Seabiscuit, yet none have come close to reaching his status or popularity. Readers will find themselves rooting for Seabiscuit. She blends the horse-racing life together with a compelling story that every reader will enjoy.