75-year ago today: Seabiscuit vs. War Admiral (Nov 1, 1938)

[Glimmerglass]

The Guardian (UK) Nov 1, 2013: Seabiscuit vs War Admiral: the horse race that stopped the nation

The match race dominated the news leading up to the event. The country awaited the showdown between two great horses. Vanderbilt feared that Pimlico, which could handle a crowd of about 15,000 comfortably, couldn’t handle the crush of people that would want to see the race. So he scheduled it on a Tuesday, figuring the work day would keep the crowd down.

But the country stopped for Seabiscuit vs. War Admiral. More than 40,000 people descended on the Baltimore track. An estimated 40 million more – including FDR – were listening on the radio.

Today is first day of the two-day Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita, if the history holds true, is unlikely to reach even close to 40,000 fans. A big change in 75 years …

Saratogian: Friday marks 75th anniversary of Seabiscuit/War Admiral clash

Yes folks saw the movie but a few bits lost in the telling …

Each carried 120 pounds (the lightest weight for Seabiscuit in many races)

Seabiscuit won by four lengths in the new track record time of 1:56 3/5 for a mile and three-sixteenths.

War Admiral completed his season with a victory 11 days later in the Rhode Island Handicap at Narragansett Park.

[WildandWickedWarmblo]

Yes, well, good for Seabiscuit, bad for our relative War Admiral. However, the big WA did win the triple crown, just saying!

[Laurierace]

They did a remake of this race when the Seabiscuit movie was coming out. They used the real call of the race and attempted to keep the horses roughly the same place as they were for the real race. They didn’t even come close but it was still very moving to hear that call and look out at two horses on my favorite track in the country.

[Foxtrot_s]

Proud to say my horse has Seabiscuit in her twice - Sea Angel and Sea Garden.

[ParadoxFarm]

I enjoyed reading the articles. Thanks for posting.

I think I’ll rent the movie this weekend.