Come on Seabiscuit! by Ralph Moody

Author:Ralph Moody
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bison Books
Published: 2022-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

6

WHEN A Thoroughbred stallion has won an unquestionable championship, he is usually retired by the end of his fourth year. This is particularly true if his legs and joints are not entirely sound, for his value as a sire is considered to be much greater than the amount he could win thereafter. But when Seabiscuit was shipped back to California, Mr. Howard announced that he would be a “fighting champion” as long as he could be raced without serious injury to himself.

There were three reasons for the decision — three goals which his own-folks coveted for him. One of them was, of course, a match race with War Admiral. The second was the honor of winning the Santa Anita Handicap — an honor that had been snatched from him at the last moment, and which they were sure he could now win. The third was that he might prove himself the all-time stake-racing champion by topping Sun Beau’s lifetime winnings of $376,744. This last seemed little more than an idle dream to other horsemen, for Seabiscuit’s total winnings were only $210,000, he was known to have gimpy knees and tendons, and there was believed to be a jinx on breaking Sun Beau’s record. Phar Lap had died when within $40,000 of it, and the great Equipoise, the only horse ever to come closer, had broken down in the attempt. Besides, no race horse had ever won anywhere near $165,000 after becoming five years old.

Seabiscuit’s own-folks didn’t argue the point, but laid their plans carefully. He was in excellent condition and needed no complete rest, so he would be kept in light training, then sharpened up for the four big California handicaps. These four races would bring his total earnings well above Sun Beau’s — if, as expected, he won them all. If not, there would be plenty of lesser California races open to him, but he would be started only when track conditions and handicap weights were favorable. Shipping him to the East would not be risked again unless a definite meeting with War Admiral could be arranged.

All the Howard horses were raced in Mrs. Howard’s name. For two years she had set her heart on winning the Santa Anita Handicap, and Mr. Howard was determined that she should not be disappointed a second time. He had every confidence that Seabiscuit could win the classic if the track were dry and fast. But he couldn’t be expected to win on a wet track while carrying top weight, and in early March rain might be expected in Southern California. To make doubly sure that Mrs. Howard should not be disappointed in her second try for the world’s richest racing prize, Mr. Howard spent far more than the amount of that prize for horses to back up Seabiscuit. One of them was Fair Knightess, the powerful filly that had threatened to steal the Massachusetts Handicap, and that had proved herself capable of making fast time on a muddy track. Another was Chanceview, recognized as one of the best sloppy-track runners in the country.

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