Product Description

The true story of three men and their dreams for a racehorse -- Seabiscuit -- that symbolised a pivotal moment in American history, as the twentieth century's greatest nation found the courage to bet on itself to win against the odds. Now a major motion picture directed by Gary Ross and starring Toby Maguire and Jeff Daniels.

In 1936 the habits of 19th-century America were finally consigned to history just as Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind was published. In their place, modern America was born. But what defined this new era? Nothing more than the story of Seabiscuit, a stunted colt with asymmetrical knees that had for two years been hacked around no-good race tracks which led to permanent leg damage. Yet by 1937 Seabiscuit could draw crowds of 60,000 and had more newspaper column inches devoted to him than Mussolini, Hitler or Roosevelt, his popularity peaking during his appearances at the Santa Anita Handicap. America had gone to the races for the first time since the Depression and fallen in love with a misshapen colt of great character. Now it wanted a winner. Seabiscuit is also the story of three men: Tom Smith, a former Wild West Showman was the trainer; Red Pollard, abandoned by his poverty stricken family at a race track became the rider; and Charles Howard, a pioneer car manufacturer in San Francisco in the 1920s was the owner and financier. These three combined to create the legend of Seabiscuit and epitomise a dream for the emerging new America.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #282751 in Books
• Published on: 2003-10-20
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 448 pages

Customer Reviews

unlikely heros
Seabiscuit is the touching story of three miss-fits inspiring the US nation during the depression. A wonky horse, trainer and hard luck jockey team together to win some of the most prestigious races on the US circuit and in doing so rally the spirits of the American public in a way reminiscent of the England Rugby World Cup frenzy.
The characters are superbly crafted and you feel an empathy with them as their lives unfold before you. There is a very strong need to know what happens next when reading the book.
It is a fabulous story showing that even during the hard times the love of family, friends and good old fashioned hard work can turn your luck around.

and with five furlongs to go...
As a child horseracing always struck me as a matter of terminal boredom, particularly on rainy Saturday afternoons when the TV seemed to be dedicated to solely that sport... Not surprisingly, I ventured into Seabiscuit with some trepidation and without having seen the film! The result was a massive surprise!

Seabiscuit is a story of grit, courage and character and written by an author who knows that it's going to be tough reading a couple of hundred pages about races on various racecourses in the US. However, somehow the book moves along at quite a pace - at times exciting, at times informative and at times just descriptive, but all the way through you get the feeling of expectation building up. There is a palpable excitement as Seabiscuit heads for the greatest race of his life despite the difficulties that surround him, his trainer and his jockeys. This deserves to be read even if you don't much go for horseracing.

Couldn't put it down
This book is addictive and spellbinding!
I bought this book in the airport while waiting for a flight and had finished it by my return flight the following day - I could not put this book down!
It tells the story of Seabiscuit and all those that impacted on his life, far more gripping and eye opening than the film.
I passed it to my brother a constant reader of books and he was speechless he had not expected such a fascinating read.
Buy it! Its an excellent read.