Seabiscuit

Product Description

The true story of three men & their dreams for a racehorse -- Seabiscuit -- that symbolised a pivotal moment in American history as the 20th-centurys greatest nation found the courage to bet on itself to win against the odds. Now a major motion picture directed by Gary Ross & starring Toby Maguire & Jeff Daniels. In 1936 the habits of 19th-century America were finally consigned to history just as Margaret Mitchells 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 leading to permanent leg damage. Yet by 1937 Seabiscuit could draw crowds of 60 000 & 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 & 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; & Charles Howard a pioneer car manufacturer in San Francisco in the 1920s was the owner & financier. These three combined to create the legend of Seabiscuit & epitomise a dream for the emerging new America."