Born on May 23, 1933 at Claiborne Farm (Kentucky), Seabiscuit was not a colt with an elegant appearance, energetic temperament and competitive instinct, typical characteristics of thoroughbreds. Rather, he was a lazy horse, who took pleasure in eating, frolicking, and sleeping excessively.
In those times when the United States was facing the most devastating economic crisis of the 20th century, that of 1929, which had a profound impact on the spirit of American society, Seabiscuit became a symbol of struggle, improvement and hope along with his rider Red. Pollard.
Despite Seabiscuit’s apathetic character and little interest in training, Jim Fitzsimmons, his first trainer, recognized that Seabiscuit had potential as a racehorse. However, he used him only as a sparring partner for Omaha, the 1935 Triple Crown champion. Relegated to covering for injured horses, Seabiscuit did not win any of his early races and became an object of ridicule. and contempt.
In the summer of 1936, he was acquired by automobile businessman Charles Howard for $7,500, a considerable amount for a horse that had not yet won a victory. Fitzsimmons was the one who influenced his price, because he sensed that, if a coach dedicated time and attention to him, he would awaken his full potential.
He wasn’t wrong. Under the tutelage of Tom Smith, Seabiscuit learned what he should do and how he should behave. The thoroughbred took the training that would prepare him to win very seriously.
Smith hired jockey Red Pollard and soon the pair were claiming first victories, such as the Detroit Governor, Scarsdale and the exciting Bay Bridge race. In the latter, Seabiscuit had a difficult start, but made up for lost time and in an impressive final sprint, he won by five lengths. Running at the pace of the group and then developing a dizzying final acceleration and leaving everyone behind became Seabiscuit’s style, which so delighted horse racing fans.
In February 1937, the businessman and trainer focused on the celebrated Santa Anita Handicap race, where Seabiscuit was the favorite. However, without knowing why, the thoroughbred slowed down the stretch and Rosemont overtook him at the finish line. It was then that Red Pollard confessed to them that he had lost sight in one eye during training. A horse threw a rock at him and hit him in the head, causing a brain injury. Pollard kept this fact a secret, knowing that if it were discovered, his career as a jockey would be over. However, in that same year, Seabiscuit won eleven of the fifteen races in which he participated.
In 1938, in full success, Pollard suffered a fall at the Knightess Fair, while competing with another horse owned by Howard. He was crushed by the animal and suffered fractures to his ribs and arm. Once recovered, he began to work with a colt, but in training he threw him, got caught in the stirrup and broke his leg. The accident seemed to put an end to his career as a jockey.
The businessman hired George Woolf to whom Pollard transmitted his knowledge of Seabiscuit’s character and the best way to guide him in racing.
Among the victories of that era, there are two head-to-head. The first, held at the Del Mar Racecourse for charity purposes against the horse Ligaroti. Seabiscuit won clearly, despite the tricks of his opponent.
The second and most anticipated, before War Admiral. The so-called “Race of the Century” brought together some 40,000 fans at Pimlico Racecourse. Another 40 million, including Pollard, who was in the hospital, followed her on the radio. War Admiral started with impressive speed. His followers and the bookmakers considered him the winner. Unexpectedly, Seabiscuit deployed his speed from the start, instead of keeping up with the group’s pace. Halfway through the race, heeding Pollard’s advice, Woolf held the horse back so that he could see his rival and be motivated to run faster. The thoroughbred distanced himself from War Admiral in the final stretch and claimed victory with a difference of four lengths.
Named “Horse of the Year 1938”, Seabiscuit suffered a serious ligament injury to his left front leg. The recovery of both the horse and Pollard, who also struggled with alcoholism, was uncertain. Thanks to the help of a local doctor, who re-broke his leg, and a brace that facilitated his recovery, the rider was able to ride Seabiscuit again.
Towards the end of 1939, surprisingly, the pair Pollard and Seabiscuit again competed in the La Jolla Handicap. Two parallel lives met again on the track, as if the improvement of one fed that of the other. With an incredible comeback, Seabiscuit took third place; He regained his great form again. He definitively demonstrated this in the San Antonio Handicap after beating his old training partner, Kayak II, by two and a half lengths, and a week later, winning the Santa Anita Handicap, the race that had eluded him. until then.
Seabiscuit retired with a total of 33 wins. He had managed to establish himself as one of the best racehorses of all time. A true legend that had a deep impact on the American people.
This inspiring story can refer us to certain interpretations of Nietzsche’s concepts of self-improvement, superman, will to power, the meaning of which is still under discussion.
For the philosopher, adversity, moral and social restrictions, pain, fear, sadness, in short, our own internal weaknesses must not be avoided, but rather faced to grow and evolve.
Instead of succumbing to despair and nihilism, the superman faces the world with courage and determination, seeking to achieve excellence. Seabiscuit and Pollard fought and found her. It was not easy to recover from the serious injuries they suffered, nor to overcome the rider’s alcoholism or the limitation of a horse who was defined as a loser. Both grew against adversity, becoming a championship team that provided hope to a nation that so needed it at a time when it was going through the Great Depression.
The superman appears in Thus Spoke Zaratrusta as one who strives to create his own set of values, to transcend beyond good and evil. Nietzsche was concerned that in a time where Christianity had lost influence, man would fall into existential anguish. How could I bear the meaninglessness of life? The German philosopher proposes to overcome the limits of Judeo-Christian culture and build our own values ??to develop as individuals, to become who we really are and live authentically.
In this story, horse and rider embodied that spirit whose greatness was postulated by one of the most influential thinkers of the 19th century.
