Seabiscuit

In the early 1930s, four disparate lives will come together to create one of racing history's greatest legends. Charles Howard, a self-made millionaire, copes with the accidental death of his young son by immersing himself in racing. He meets Tom Smith, a seemingly washed-up race horse trainer unable to adapt to a modern world. Nevertheless, Howard is impressed by Smith and his abilities, and he hires him as head trainer for his racing stable. While scouting for new horses, Smith spots Seabiscuit, a small, gangly colt who, despite being the grandson of the legendary champion, Man O'War, has descended to the lowest ranks of the claiming race circuit. But Smith sees potential in the horse and convinces a skeptical Howard to buy him.

A defiant and temperamental Seabiscuit refuses to let anyone ride him until one day Red Pollard, a down-on-his-luck jockey, wanders into the Howard Stable. Like Smith, Red has a gift working with difficult horses. He and Seabiscuit immediately take to each other, and Smith hires him. Under Tom’s training, Red and Seabiscuit begin winning races and breaking records.

Seabiscuit becomes a national hero to a Depression-weary America. To prove Seabiscuit a true champion, however, Howard proposes a match race against War Admiral, the greatest race horse of the time. War Admiral’s owner, Samuel Riddle, considers Seabiscuit inferior and is uninterested in a match race. But after intense public pressure, he finally agrees. Just before the big race, Red Pollard suffers a horrendous riding accident that nearly severs his leg. His long-time friend and jockey legend, George "The Iceman" Woolfe replaces Red in the match race.

Factual error: Many of the main characters are using modern-day binoculars (black, plastic) throughout the entire movie.

More mistakes in Seabiscuit

George Woolf: Pretty small, ain't he?
Red Pollard: He's gonna look a lot smaller in a second, Georgie.

More quotes from Seabiscuit

Trivia: The saddle worn by Seabiscuit for some of his races is, in fact, the same saddle worn by Phar Lap, who was Australia's, if not the world's, greatest racehorse ever. Billy Elliot, who rode Phar Lap to victory in the Agua Caliente (the world's richest horserace at the time), gave the saddle to George Woolf after Phar Lap died (under mysterious circumstances) in California.

More trivia for Seabiscuit

Question: Does anyone know what historically happened to Red's parents?

Answer: I have tried to look this up, and there is no record of Red's parents. Most likely they just died of old age.

More questions & answers from Seabiscuit

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