Who Was Seabiscuit?

In the middle of the worst depression in U.S. history, one young racehorse lifted a nation's spirits. Seabiscuit was born in 1933 on a farm in Kentucky. Though bred for racing, he was weak and undersized. He slept too long and ate too much. Against the odds, he began to win local races. He was given a new coach who trained him to race in larger circuits. Soon enough, this scrappy horse began beating the best racehorses in the country. He became a media darling and won national competitions. In 1938 he was voted U.S. Horse of the Year. Seabiscuit's undying spirit and come-from-behind story made him a celebrity and hero for millions.James Buckley, Jr. has written more than 50 books for kids, including Who Was Ernest Shackleton?

Who Was Seabiscuit?

On a foggy morning in summer 1936, horse trainer Tom Smith stood by a Boston racetrack called Suffolk Downs. He was looking for horses that his stable owner could buy. Smith watched horse after horse walk by. The horses’ riders, called jockeys, wore colorful silk shirts and bright white pants. The horses were nearly all tall, strong-looking, and elegant. They had long, straight faces and looked around proudly. Their breath came out in misty puffs in the morning air.

Smith had seen a thousand animals like them in his long career helping horses learn how to race.