The Story Behind The Horse Racing Movie Seabiscuit
If you are a horse racing fan, for sure you must have heard (or watched) the movie Seabiscuit.
In Depression-era USA, car maker Charles Howard is trying to rebuild his life after the tragic death of his only child and his subsequent separation from his first wife.
Alongside his second wife, Marcela, Charles becomes interested in horseracing, ending up with a team of underdogs who are also chasing their dream of horseracing stardom.
Trainer Tom Smith identifies the small and limping Seabiscuit as a horse that could be capable of becoming a champion, despite his lack of physical attributes.
We don’t want to spoil the film for you, so give it a watch to see how it ends!
The Movie
The film Seabiscuit was released in 2003 with an all-star cast. Hollywood legend Jeff Bridges plays the lead role of Charles Howard, alongside Tobey Maguire as Red Pollard, Elizabeth Banks as Marcela Howard, and Chris Cooper as Tom Smith.
With a star-studded lineup, the film was always bound to do well and was released to both audience and critical acclaim.
Seabiscuit has an audience score of 76% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.3 overall rating on IMDB.
The movie also received many award nominations after its release, including seven Academy Awards and two Golden Globes. Unfortunately for the cast and crew, the film failed to take home a single one.
The Book
While most people know Seabiscuit as a film, it was initially a book titled “Seabiscuit: An American Legend”, before it was adapted into a movie.
Written by American author Laura Hillenbrand, the book is both a retelling of the true story of Seabiscuit and an insight into the world of horse racing.
The way she describes the races has been described as “exhilarating”, and her prose can transport you; as if you were there yourself. That exhilarating feeling is why horse racing is one of the most popular sports to bet on in the world, because you can never predict what will happen, just like the thrilling experience you get playing casino table games at the Platin Live Casino.
The True Story Behind Them
Both the book and the film Seabiscuit are based on the true story of a real horse called Seabiscuit who raced in the late 1930s before retiring in April 1940.
Being a small and noticeably knobby-kneed, his initial trainers didn’t have much hope for the racehorse, despite his thoroughbred background. In fact, he failed to win any of his first 17 races, prompting his owners to sell him to Charles Howard for $8000 in August 1936.
Spoiler alert for those who want to watch the film — Seabiscuit had a glittering career despite his small stature, racking up 14 major wins during his time.
He was the top money-winning racehorse up until the 1940s and notably beat Triple Crown winner War Admiral by over four lengths in a special race between the two. In 1938 Seabiscuit was voted American Horse of the Year.
Conclusion
Seabiscuit is a classic underdog story from a time when hope was in short supply.
It’s easy to see how a story such as Seabiscuit’s would capture the American public’s hearts during the Great Depression, showing the world that you can overcome the hindrances of your upbringing to go on and prosper.
That same sentiment is as prevalent in America today as it was back then, making Seabiscuit a timeless classic.
