The first two chapters of Seabiscuit, by Laura Hillenbrand, are spent introducing this legendary horse, his owner, and his trainer. The man who eventually buys Seabiscuit is named Charles Howard and he has made his fortune selling cars. His personality is described in detail; he was a personable man, impressive, debonair, understanding, and intelligent. These qualities served him well in the process of building his automobile business in San Francisco, which was a part of the GM franchise, and, later, it expanded to most of the western United States. He was quoted to have said, “The day of the horse is past” (Hillenbrand 9). Howard’s son Frankie tragically died when he crashed one of his father’s cars driving on a canyon road. This event stuck with Howard for the rest of his life, even after he had gotten divorced and his children had all grown. His second wife, who was twenty-seven years younger than him, was named Marcela. Once he had accumulated a large fortune through car sales, he invested in his passion: horses. He owned a large and largely self-sufficient farm called Ridgewood. When Thoroughbred racing started to take off during the Depression because the government lifted the ban on its gambling and taxed the bets, Howard saw an opportunity and a new pastime. Seabiscuit’s trainer, Tom Smith, held many jobs before he ended up working for Mr. Howard. He had grown up around horses and his entire career involved his almost innate means of communicating with them. He spent a number of years working for “Cowboy Charlie” (Ten Ton) Irwin. This job taught him the ins and outs of working in a stable because he did everything from exercising to shoeing to healing the horses under his care. He was a new kind of trainer that the world of racing had never seen before and this uniqueness was what caught Howard’s eye, plus the fact that Smith could turn a lame or troublesome horse into an athlete who would win, consistently. Seabiscuit was descended from Man O’War through his sire, Hard Tack. He did not have the conformation of a racehorse, or the normal temperament. He was extremely lazy and it took a great effort to convince this horse to run. However, when he did, it was something that the world had never seen before. My expectations in reading this book are relatively high given the book’s reputation. I expect it to be a book that keeps your interest the entire time and that the author will balance history and storytelling so that neither is compromised. I also expect that it will be an emotional book for me because horses are very close to my heart. I chose this book because I have read a lot of literature relating to horses, but this is a classic of the equine world I have yet to read. I am also interested in comparing the racing world to my knowledge of the show jumping arena. The themes of work and class are already very apparent in the story. These people are living during the Depression, so money is in the forefront of many minds and this makes work and status more important than it would normally be. The line of working class and upper class is even drawn in the amiable relationship Smith and Howard have as owner and trainer; Howard calls Smith “Tom” and Smith calls Howard “Mr. Howard.” Howard is mostly concerned with his reputation, and in the same vein, his fortune. However, Smith is not as focused on his money, but his work takes up his time and makes up his personality. We are introduced to two men who belong to two different classes and their relationship should turn out to be just as complicated as they were. So far, I am enjoying the book. The subject matter is of great personal interest to me because, although I am well acquainted with the horse world, I do not know much about the world of thoroughbred racing. I would not describe the book as a page-turner quite yet, but it is difficult to judge a book solely from the beginning of the story. I would say that this book is of social and cultural value, but only because I have some idea of the ending. Right now, the author seems to be laying the foundation for and showing the significance of the various characters. This will probably play into the final assessment of whether the book is noteworthy. Simply by virtue of being historical non-fiction, it is an important book because it passes on a true tale. I do not think that this is a “great” book because the writing is not outstanding, but there is still plenty of time for the author to change my mind.
Lexi: Since you already have a great insight to the horse world because of your shows, I was wondering if the treatment if the jockeys in the book came as a shock to you?
in the beginning of Seabiscuit you are introduced to a man named Charles Howard. Charles Howard used to own a bicycle shop,he then turned to selling cars for Buick and GM. Frankie, Howards son died in an automobile accident, this event changed Charles for the rest of his life. Over the years Charles had become very wealthy from selling cars, he now invested his money into horses. when Charles hired Tom Smith to be the trainer for his horses he did not know how well Tom would do his job. before Tom came to work for Charles he had many jobs working with horses so he knew them very well, he could make a losing horse a winning horse.
I chose to read this book for a few reasons. when the movie for seabuscuit came out my grandmother took my whole family to see it, she had read the book and was fascinated by the story. i do not know if she was there when seabiscuit was racing but she felt that the whole family should see the movie and told all of us that to someday read the book. this is probably the biggest reason for my choosing this book, also i chose it becasue of so many reccomendations i have heard and how good it is.
so far the book is nothing amazing, although i think that it could be. the book so far has shown how good the upper class lives and how bad the lower class lives. i am not to where i can not put the bookdown but i am slowly getting there it is an amazing story and i cant wait to read more.
Mary, Yes, the treatment of jockeys was a shock to me; I think this was true for two reasons. The first is that I believe practices in the contemporary racing world are not nearly as extreme now as they were eighty years ago. Secondly, the "horse world" that I am involved with is not the racing world, but the show-jumping aspect of the sport. The requirements for my type of riding are just as athletically demanding, but not nearly as strict when it comes to weight, working, or riding with injuries.
In these next few chapters, the reader is introduced to a jockey’s life, in excruciating detail. We began by learning that the start of a true jockey’s career begins as a bug boy. They worked for their food and a place to stay, but were not paid more than that; they often were housed in the stalls of the horses that they rode. Their trainers had complete control over their lives and the desire to keep their jobs drove jockeys to extreme measures to meet expectations. A crucial element necessary for a jockey or bug boy to stay competitive is a low weight. They would starve themselves, go without water for days on end, and purge with homemade concoctions, all in order to stay as light as possible and have the most chances to ride the most horses. This was just the start of their serious medical issues, a majority of which were left untreated until they became so serious that they incapacitated the rider. Some jockeys suffered everything from broken bones, fractured skulls, concussions, and internal injuries, and they continued to compete. These were accepted realities of the jobs and the bug boys learned these rules at a young age. Bug boys were bought, sold, and traded, and their circumstances varied with the trainers they were obeying. Red Pollard is the jockey that the book is following with particular interest and he became a bug boy in order to earn money for his family. However, he was not even allowed to look at his father, who traveled across the country to see him race, while he rode because his trainer did not allow it. This rough and tumble world of racing is not a pleasant place, nor is it a healthy place for a young boy to grow. However, this was the reality of Seabiscuit’s future jockey and the author has laid the foundation for his career as a tough and battle-hardened competitor. The book is definitely starting to live up to my expectations as it goes further along. It is providing more detail and telling the story more than solely giving historical facts. The writing style has shifted to a more personal and interested one rather than an impassive observer. The details of the horse-related aspect of the story are becoming more prominent and the start of a new tale seems to be in the making. These past pages have served to illustrate the lower/working class people that the story deals with and the revelations are astonishing. The struggle to make ends meet and the personal sacrifice for both family and economic advancement is all-consuming for these people living through the most challenging financial time in our nation’s history. The jockeys described forgo critical medical treatment, sleep, food, water, and free will, all to make ends meet and, even then, they live on the brink of homelessness and hunger. The life of Charles Howard of my previous entry seems part of a different world when compared to this lifestyle. I am enjoying the book more and more as I continue to read. I am beginning to develop a connection to the characters, as they become more fully developed, and I come to understand their lives more fully. I have found that the world of horseracing is very different from the horse world I have always know, but the similarities have also become apparent. The vying for jobs and struggle to survive are foreign to me, but the hidden athleticism and partnership of horse and rider are familiar and accurately described. Some of the most desperate situations during the Depression are examined in this section, so it is historically significant to look at the lives of the people affected most drastically by this crisis. In the same vein, the author described life in very realistic and empathetic terms, so the greatness of the book is certainly improved as a result of this honesty.
In the first few chapters of Seabiscuit, we meet this racehorse, his owner, Charles Howard, and his trainer, Tom Smith. Charles Howard is a man who started off as a small bicycle repair shop owner in San Francisco. At this time, bicycles and horse carriages were the main ways of transportation. Cars were just being introduced to this town, but most people stayed away because of their expensive price tags and because most people did not know how to drive. Howard saw selling cars as an opportunity, so he went to Detroit and came back with some Buick cars. He did not sell a single car until fires took over the town, and cars became the best way to save people. None of the cars were lost, and Charles mad a point to show how efficient cars really were. Soon enough, he was one of the most famous people, and all people wanted to but was cars. He became the largest distributor for GM, but this eventually turned into something terrible. His son Frankie was killed while driving one of the cars, and this is something that would haunt Charles for the rest of his life. Charles later got divorced and married Marcela, his son-in-law's wife's sister. Now with a new wife and lots of money, Charles decided to pursue the investment in horses. The government had lifted the ban on horse racing and gambling during the Depression, so Howard and many others saw this as a different source to become rich. Howard owned a large farm already, so the timing seemed perfect. Then we now meet Tom Smith, Seabiscuit's trainer. He had many different jobs, and everyone always characterized him as the man who didn't talk. The horses seemed to have known him better than any other human. He kept his job at Unaweep for quite awhile, and when that ranch was sold he was left jobless. He was then hired by "Cowboy Charlie" Irwin, who did many shows and needed a good trainer. Smith did his job extremely well, and soon met with Howard. He saw the uncanny ability of Smith, and right away knew he was the best trainer he could get. Smith meets James Fitzsimmons, an amazing trainer himself, and they start working together. Smith is found by Seabiscuit, who came from Man o'War, his sire, Hard Tack. He had stubby legs and walked strangely, but somehow this horse won a race the day he saw Smith. That was the day when Smith knew he could turn Seabiscuit from an invisible horse into the most remarkable race horse the world has seen. My expectations for this book are pretty high for many reasons. First of all, I have heard from teachers and other friends who have read this book that it is very good. Also, people usually say that books are better than the movies they are made into, and since Seabiscuit, the movie, got great reviews, I hope that the book is even better. So far it has not captivated me as I thought it might, but that also may be because it talks about a lot of history and I have been reading the book late at night, so it is hard to concentrate while reading it. Already in the first few chapters are the themes of work and class being depicted. Money is very important to everyone, and even more so now that the Great Depression has started. Image is also important, in how other members of the community and fellow workers view you. Charles Howard wants to be very successful and have his cars and name well-known, and he does whatever he can to play up his rich image. Contrasting him is Tom Smith, how likes to stay away from the public eye and concentrate on his horses more than himself. So far the book isn't quite as good as I thought it might be. As I said before, I have been reading it when really tired, so I haven't been able to concentrate that well, but now as I am finding more time to read it, it is getting better. Even though reading about all the history is somewhat boring, I am actually very surprised at how much I have already learned by just reading a few chapters. The author has really done a great job of incorporated this much history into the book that also pertains to the story at hand.
in our discussion we discussed many things, mainly how peoples actions effected the people around them. One of the main turning points in the book is when Frankie dies. This changed Charles Howard's thinking and he got rid of his cars and focused on horses. Charles Howard's horse trainer Tom Smith had a very uniqui way of communicating with horses. Tom was very quiet, over the years he had been in many different jobs in different stables, so he knew a lot about horses.Charles hired Tom becasue of his ability to transform losing or problem horses into winning horses. during the depression everyone wanted to win money and horse racing was a fun and entertaining way to do it. people needed something to get their minds off of the topic of money. one of our discussion points was hardship. during this time everyone had hardship in their lives, whether it be money or family involed. people went to the race tracks to get away from it all and watch amazing animals and people compete to be the best. being a horse jockey was a very dangerus profession, it was physicalls and emotionally strenuous. Jockey's were very strong athletes who went to drastic measures to lose weight. for many of the jockeys horse racing is all they knew. this is another instance of hardship. Jockey's would do anything to stay on the track and keep racing becasue if they didnt, their lives would become horrible. during the depression many people suffered and went through hardship. for some horse racing was the one thing that they could go watch to get away from it all, it was so important in that time.
individual #2 Austin S. as i read farther into the book i begin to like it more. over the last pages the book deals with the live and the treatment of jockies, it tells how they grow up as bug boys and how red as a young jockey was not allowed to look at his father when he came wo watch him because the trainer said not to. for jockies all they know is horse racing so they will do anything to keep a low weight and keep riding for as long as possible. in order to keep a low wieght jockies will starve themselves. jockies will sustain injuries and keep riding even tho they are hurt. during this time jockies were not much better off than anyone else. jockies woked from race to race and if they did not win they would not get paid they lived on ends meat just like everyone else. as i read farther into the book i get more and more interested, it is still not a page turner but it is definatley getting there.
In the next few chapters, we see what the life of a jockey consists of. This job was not very fun, even from the start. Most of the jockeys started off as workers in farms and they had to work for their food and place to stay to keep their job. In a way they were treated just like the horses, being made to stay in their horses stables sometimes, and having their lives completely controlled by the trainers. Other expectations of being a jockey was that you had to be very small and keep really low weight. They would become anorexic, bulimic, or eat concoctions that made you lose weight. This made the jockeys were liable to all sorts of injuries, and ultimately it is the reason why most jockeys did not live a long life. Malnutrition, broken bones, and the possibility of early death were challenges that jockeys met all their life, and all of this was just so they could ride the most and best horses. Jockeys were sold and traded just like the animals, yet these boys went along with it, for it was their sole dream. Red Pollard is one of the main jockeys in this book, and he became a jockey in order to make money for his family. He went through many difficulties, and he had harsh, strict trainers that controlled him completely. It is amazing to see what these boys, at such a young age, would go through just to help out their family. Not only was this job physically harmful, but it was also emotionally and mentally challenging as well. It is interesting to see how the life of Red Pollard started out since he will soon become Seabiscuit's rider. The book is starting to meet some of my expectations. There isn't as much history as before, and I have found more time to read the book while actually being awake. It goes into great detail about the life of a jockey, and it is interesting to see how much a person would put themselves through just to make money for his family. The themes in this book of work and class are more prominent than ever. People from the working class are ordered around by the wealthy, and they are bought, sold, and traded as though they mean nothing. We also see how brutal the working class truly is. The fact that jockeys would have to starve themselves, be very fragile and susceptible to injury, and would make little money is astounding. This book does do a great job of showing the contrasts between the rich, like Charles Howard, and the workers, like Red Pollard. I am really starting to like this book better, especially since we have gotten to know different characters and the horses much better through lots of detail. Also, there is not as much history as before, so it is a lot faster to read since it is more like just a story now. I didn't know half of this about jockeys and racing before I started reading this book, so it's good that I decided to read this. It is a very interesting story and without really knowing it I am learning a lot of history at the same time.
Something that all three of us noticed was that the book changed from just talking about people's backgrounds to what life was like as a jockey and we were also introduced to the horses. Now there is more to the story than just the history of Charles Howard and Tom Smith. WE also saw the conversion of the three main characters: Red Pollard, Tom Smith, and Charles Howard. All of their lives change, and together the three of them are united in trying to find the best horse in the country and finding one that will always win. Also prominent in the story is the differences in class. Charles has soo much money that he can use it for his entertainment and enjoyment, which is gambling on horse races. Red, on the other hand, is in this business just so that he can make money for his family. He is ready to go through any of the hardships that jockeys face, just so that his family can live a better life. We also see what a good and caring person Tom is because when Red was desperate for work, he gave him the chance to prove himself. Another difference between Tom and Charles is that Tom liked to stay as far as possible away from the media. He just wanted to focus on his job and the horses. Charles, however, loved the media. He wanted more money and fame, and he believed that he could get this through horse racing . The life of a jockey was extremely hard. They had to weigh very little, which would allow their horse to run faster. This means that jockeys would starve themselves, become anorexia or bulimic, and they would do this just to get the chance to ride the most and best horses. Tom and Red had some trouble with Seabiscuit at first. They had to gain his trust and get him to like racing again, which proved challenging. One suggestion made by Tom was to just let Seabiscuit go running on his own, and once he did that, Seabiscuit's love of running returned. This made them all one step closer to discovering the best race horse at the time.
Hannah, I think you are right that he inspired the working class, possibly because he gave them hope. They may have seen their lives in his story. He was not a thoroughbred with fancy conformation or a prestigious pedigree, but he did his job well and people noticed. It is possible that he was so inspirational because of the barriers he shattered.
Lexi, Tom smith has a certain way of training horses and it works. Tom has had many jobs that make him a better all around trainer. another thing that i think helps him train horses so well is that he cares and loves the horses, he is not like everyone else who will kill a horse for having a broken bone or torn muscle. one reason i think that seabiscuit was so sucessful was becasue for the first time in his life he was loved.
The last chapters I have read have really shown how Seabiscuit’s career began and then started to grow rapidly. The true start of this legend was when the three men, whose stories we have been tracking up until this point, all meet one another and go into business together. Red Pollard and his agent are out of luck and looking for work when they come across Tom Smith, who needs a good jockey. Red specializes in troubled horses, so he and Seabiscuit are a perfect fit. Smith was very careful when training Seabiscuit because he knew that this horse was intelligent, but that he also had an attitude problem. The issue was that Seabiscuit would fight his riders and this distracted him from running well. Smith told Pollard to let Seabiscuit go, (run however he wanted), during an early practice session, and the horse finally showed how fast he was. After they gained his trust by treating him with respect and calmed him down by giving him a “roommate” in the form of a small pony, Seabiscuit began to manifest the potential that Smith had originally seen in him. The horse found a competitive pleasure in beating his opponents. He became famous on the eastern and western racing circuits, winning various races and placing well in others, such as his second place finish at the Santa Anita Handicap. Pollard is blinded in his right eye when exercising a horse before he becomes Seabiscuit’s jockey, but he continues to race anyway. This handicap has a somewhat negative effect on his skills as a jockey, but he learns to accommodate it out of necessity. The media have an ongoing struggle with Tom Smith, who uses Seabiscuit’s brother, Grog, to fool them into reporting the wrong practice times. He also works Seabiscuit early in the morning so that his skills are kept private. Charles Howard, on the other hand, caters to the every whim of the media in order to advance his own reputation. This diversion of tactics for the common interest of improving their racing prospects shows just how complex the owner-trainer relationship was. For the first time since I started reading it, I have been truly enjoying the book. I love that we start to see Seabiscuit’s personality, because the personality of the animals in sports where they are key players is often overlooked. A horse it not like a ball; it will not do the same thing every day that you use it. So, it is refreshing to get a realistic perspective on this variable facet of competition and I expected that this book would give this sort of honest insight. It took some time for the story to start moving, but now it is everything I expected it to be, from historically accurate to grippingly entertaining. With the relationships between owner, trainer, and jockey starting to be established, the complexity of class relations also becomes more apparent. Red suffers the most because he is so dependent on his career and its limited income to survive. Tom Smith has the most opportunity to improve his economic situation through the success of his horses. Charles Howard is really just enjoying himself and his good fortune in finding such a unique horse. The three men have established their roles in the business and these placements have very much been determined by money and social standing. I am still enjoying the book a lot. It is just as engaging as it has ever been and I expect that it will keep my interest as I read further. I am beginning to find concrete proof that this is a culturally important and noteworthy book because the historical facts that it is divulging regarding Seabiscuit’s career are very significant in understanding the attitude of many people during this time in American history. The author’s style is developing into a somewhat poetic prose, which only adds to the book’s charm. The subject is serious and tough, but the story keeps the reader pleased in the way that the details are relayed.
The last few chapters that I have read have mainly been about Seabiscuit and his rise to fame. He was helped along in his career by is trainer, Tom Smith, and his jockey, Red Pollard. Seabiscuit had a few slight problems, one of which was that he was sort of stubborn. Something he was known to do was fight with his riders, which ultimately led to him not doing well at all in races. Red was a special jockey, who had a special ability to work out problem horses. Tom was also a very intelligent trainer, and together he and Red were able to make this race horse a winner. One thing that they did was let Seabiscuit run free, which showed them how fast and good he really could be. After gaining his trust and calming him down, Red and Tom were able to rain Seabiscuit as they had never before imagined. They somehow managed to get him to love running and racing again, and soon enough Seabiscuit took much pleasure in beating all of his opponents. He to became obsessed with winning, and together all three of them were a great team. Seabiscuit wins many important and big races all over the country, and he also places high in some of the very competitive races. The book goes on to talk about how Red was blinded in his right eye earlier in his career by another horse he was working with, and even though this proves to be a challenge for him, he overcomes it and has learned how to deal with it. Something that is still apparent in the book is that Tom does not like the media attention, though Charles Howard does. Tom likes privacy, and he doesn't want anyone to know how good Seabiscuit is, because he is afraid of what more attention might do. Charles loves the media, and he does anything to get attention. This shows that there may be some differences between the owner and the trainer, though when all parts of the team work together, they see that they have developed one of the best race horses in the world. I am finally starting to enjoy this book even more. I love reading about how Seabiscuit developed from an uncontrollable horse to a champion. It sort of shows that if you work hard enough at something, then it will pay off in the end and will always benefit you. Seabiscuit is a unique race horse, and I am interested in this part of the book because we are finally seeing what he is really like and everything about him. Class differences are still apparent in this book. Charles is just in the business as an owner because he has lots of extra money that he wants to spend on his entertainment and enjoyment. Red is the hardest worker and is also the most dependent on Charles. It is hard to find good work as a jockey, and there is always competition in this field of work. Tom has a chance to improve his class, but he likes to keep to himself and just focus on his job, which seems to be the thing that makes him the most happy. The book is now starting to meet my expectations. I am still learning some history, though you don't necessarily notice it because the book is much more of a story about Seabiscuit's life than anything else. It is enjoyable to read and it is a great story that is also something that we can relate to. The characters each face many hardships and the book does a good job of showing how to overcome these challenges in everyday life, which makes the book even more enjoyable.crosby87
In the last part of the book, Seabiscuit’s racing career concludes and the three men who participated in creating this legend part ways. Before this ending, however, Seabiscuit makes history by winning thirty-three races and setting thirteen track records at eight tracks over six years. We learn that horses are assigned weights to carry, or imposts, that increase in heaviness if the horse is considered a talented racer relative to the other horses in the field. Seabiscuit was trained to carry heavy imposts so that once news of his prowess spread, he would not be hampered by the additional weight. Many of Seabiscuit’s history-making records were set while carrying significantly heavier imposts than his competitors. After his racing career with jockey Red Pollard took off, the famous races started piling up. He came in second in the Santa Anita Handicap; this loss could have been because of a competitive first place finisher or the fact that Red rode poorly due to his partial blindness. He won many other high-profile races, but none were as widely publicized as his match races against Ligaroti and War Admiral. War Admiral and Seabiscuit were both descended from Man O’War and they raced at the Pimlico Race Course. Seabiscuit won against both Ligaroti and War Admiral, and as a result, was named Horse of the Year. He eventually won the Santa Anita Handicap (the Hundred Grander) after he and Red had faced many ups and downs in their joint career, as well as suffered many injuries. The jockey George Woolf would ride Seabiscuit when Red kept injuring himself and thus Woolf became a sort of understudy who has been called up as this national drama reached its final and climactic moments of victory. This book went beyond my original expectations. I thought that it would glance over the details of a jockey’s life and the equine aspect of the sport, but these elements were discussed in detail, which served not only to educate the reader, but also to make the world from 80 years ago seem realistic enough to keep your interest. The book had an engaging style that did not make the historical facts seem boring, rather, they were artfully woven into the storyline and the entire piece grabbed and held my attention. The theme of work and class continued to affect the lives of the three main characters, even as their professional lives ended. Red continued to race, despite the way it tortured his body and the uncommonly high number of falls he suffered. Smith trained for Elizabeth Graham for a number or years before he was suspended for a year. He was accused of drugging his horses by the racing officials, but was rehired by Graham after his suspension expired. After he left this job, he trained a small number of horses until he died of a stroke. Charles Howard took Seabiscuit home to his ranch, Ridgewood, after he made the executive decision to end his racing career after he won the Santa Anita Handicap. Their classes and incomes determined how these men lived, spent the final years of their lives, and died; the closer to lower/working class one is, the more work is necessary to earn a living. This turned out to be a very interesting book. I liked it a lot, both for its writing style and for the content. It was a page-turner at the most exciting and a dramatic points in the story, but the fact that it is nonfiction takes out some of the element of surprise. The social and cultural value of this book is especially emphasized in the final few chapters when the beginning of WWII is discussed, as well as the end of the Depression. Seabiscuit not only boosted morale, but he also inspired people on a fundamental level to rise above their situations and achieve greatness even if no one else believes it to be possible. It is a great book because it is such a riveting account of history and the writer has eloquently molded facts and personality into a superb work.
Our group discussion focused how the book finished and how the author tied up all the loose ends of the story. We found it strange that the three men disbanded their partnership so abruptly, but we also realized that this occurred because they no longer had a horse to hold them together. Even after the fame died down and they went their separate ways, their personality traits remained the same. Smith still hated attention and preferred his quite equestrian lifestyle. Red’s toughness and love of the sport stuck with him until he died. Howard maintained his business and his bubbly personality; he stayed in the racing spotlight with a number of other successful horses. We talked about how it was surprising that Seabiscuit’s foals did not have very successful racing careers. We were all inspired by the strength and determination evident in the comebacks Seabiscuit fought to achieve. We felt that the book did meet our expectations in a number of areas. It was slow in the beginning, but it soon became much more interesting and we enjoyed the story more as it went along. We liked how Hillenbrand pulled history and storytelling together. In addition, the varied style was enjoyable to read. For example, she would have a moving and historically accurate passage, but then switch to a personal description of one of the main character’s quirks. We analyzed the concept of work and class a lot, because we now could see how this theme led to the story’s conclusion. Red’s life, and the lives of his wife and children, all depended on his job, so even though he risked his life and health, riding well after his body was fully capable, it was necessary to support his family. Even Tom Smith had to work harder than people like Charles Howard because he was not given such a privileged lifestyle. However, the hope that Seabiscuit’s story, and the stories of the men who made him great, inspired multitudes of middle and working class Americans to overcome the woes of the Depression and face the coming challenges with the strength and confidence Seabiscuit exhibited on the track. Everyone found the author’s style pleasing and memorable. Overall, we found the book enjoyable and interesting. We saw the cultural value in its motifs and the research behind the writing. We also think that the story will stand the test of time because the lessons and inspirational ideas it embodies are universally applicable.
The end of Seabiscuit truly signifies the end of the relationships that were formed and the story of this amazing racehorse. Though everyone goes a different way, we must not forget all the wonderful achievements of Seabiscuit. Altogether Seabiscuit won 33 races and in six years he set 13 records at eight tracks across the country. We also are told of other challenges the horses have to go through when racing. If one horse is considered superior to the other horses he is racing against, he must carry imposts, which are weights. These will become heavier based on how the horses are compared to one another. Seabiscuit, known to be better then most horses, would have to carry a lot of weight, so he always trained with extra weight. However, this did not stop Seabiscuit, and he ended up winning many important races while holding more weight. Seabiscuit had many important and famous races once his career started taking off with the help of Tom Smith and Red Pollard. At the Santa Anita Handicap race Seabiscuit took second, though this may have been for a few reasons. Red was partially blind in one eye, so this might have stopped them from winning, or the winner was just too competitive and they had never experienced a race like it before. Seabiscuit eventually became named the horse of the year, after some impressive finishes. There were two other very good race horses, Ligaroti and War Admiral. War Admiral also happened to be a descendant of Man O'War, just like Seabiscuit. At the Pimlico Race Course, Seabiscuit beat both of these horses, and his popularity grew even more. Red and Seabiscuit went through many tough times, especially when Red kept getting injured. George Woolf was the jockey that would ride Seabiscuit when Red was unable to, and he himself got a taste of what winning and popularity was like. Finally, Seabiscuit had won the Santa Anita Handicap, which was the Hundred Grander. I originally thought that I would enjoy this book because I thought I would learn a lot about horse racing and the competition, and I was right. Though the book started off pretty slow, giving lots of history about each character and horse racing in general, it ended up telling a grasping story that was truly believable. I also liked how the author did incorporate history into the book, for even though it was boring, I learned much more than I thought I would about horse racing and the jobs people do in order to win. The themes of work and class were prominent throughout the entire book. We see that if you had extra money like Charles Howard, then you could afford to get into horse racing just for its enjoyment and the possibility of making it big. At the other side, there were people like Tom Smith and Red Pollard, who had to work every day of their lives just to get by. They put themselves through much stress and other difficulties, just so that they could remain a part of Seabiscuit's career. Red suffered through many injuries just to keep his job, and Tom worked until the last day of his life, in which he died of a stroke. Charles never let go of his love of horse racing, and he ended up taking Seabiscuit to live on his ranch for the remainder of his life. I am happy that I choose to read this book, for I actually leaned a lot while reading it and it was a captivating story that I enjoyed reading. The best parts of the book were when she talked about the races in great detail, for it almost seemed like I was present at some of the races. Seabiscuit was a kind of living inspiration for people living at this time. It was the end of the Depression and the beginning of WWII, yet Seabiscuit helped people to focus on something other than war and fear. He was a beacon of hope, enlightenment, and inspiration that only he could have provided. Even in these tough times, Seabiscuit was there to show everyone that you can make something out of nothing, you just need to give a little effort and maybe get some help along the way in order to reach your fullest potential. This was a great book and the writer did an amazing job of combining history and a real story into one, which turned out to become a legend.
In what I have read recently Tom, Red, and Charles all meet. Red who is especially good with troubled horses is seen by Smith who needs a jockey as crazy as Seabiscuit is. In training Seabiscuit Smith and Red were careful because they knew he had not had a pleasant past, his anger made him slow. Red would just ride him wherever he wanted to go and try to get him as fast as he wanted to go. Another way smith calmed saebiscuit down was by giving him a roommate, a pony. Seabiscuit started to win races and placing well in almost all including second place in the Santa Anita Handicap. Red loses this race because he is blind in one eye, this effects his jockey skills even though he learns to live with it. Smith and Howard and complete opposites when it comes to the media, Smith avoids them and Howard invites them only to have his reputation grow. Smith trains Seabiscuit early in the morning so no one will see him run and so no one knows what he is capable of. I have started to enjoy the book more, I find it interesting how we start to really learn seabiscuits personality. The book is still not what I expected it to be. You can really start to see the classes between Red, Howard, and Smith. Red is bound by money while Howard is just in it for fun. Smith can always train another horse and find another place to work.
In the last chapters of the book we learned about all the races Seabiscuit won and all the records he broke, many of his records were set while carrying more weight than all the other horses. When Seabiscuit raced War Admiral, it was the biggest race he could undertake they raced at the Pimlico race track. George Woolf would ride seabiscuit when Red was hurt. This was my favorite part of the book it was exciting to learn about all the races and also the history of Seabiscuit, although the author made it not seem like history. Class still played a role in the book Red and Smith continued to race and train but Howard and Seabiscuit retired to his ranch Ridgewood, after winning the Santa Anita Handicap. I learned that the lower the class the more you have to work to earn a decent living. Overall I liked this book, slow at first and very slowly started getting better. At points in the book I could not put it down and at others I dreaded reading it.
23 comments:
Individual Entry #1
The first two chapters of Seabiscuit, by Laura Hillenbrand, are spent introducing this legendary horse, his owner, and his trainer. The man who eventually buys Seabiscuit is named Charles Howard and he has made his fortune selling cars. His personality is described in detail; he was a personable man, impressive, debonair, understanding, and intelligent. These qualities served him well in the process of building his automobile business in San Francisco, which was a part of the GM franchise, and, later, it expanded to most of the western United States. He was quoted to have said, “The day of the horse is past” (Hillenbrand 9). Howard’s son Frankie tragically died when he crashed one of his father’s cars driving on a canyon road. This event stuck with Howard for the rest of his life, even after he had gotten divorced and his children had all grown. His second wife, who was twenty-seven years younger than him, was named Marcela. Once he had accumulated a large fortune through car sales, he invested in his passion: horses. He owned a large and largely self-sufficient farm called Ridgewood. When Thoroughbred racing started to take off during the Depression because the government lifted the ban on its gambling and taxed the bets, Howard saw an opportunity and a new pastime. Seabiscuit’s trainer, Tom Smith, held many jobs before he ended up working for Mr. Howard. He had grown up around horses and his entire career involved his almost innate means of communicating with them. He spent a number of years working for “Cowboy Charlie” (Ten Ton) Irwin. This job taught him the ins and outs of working in a stable because he did everything from exercising to shoeing to healing the horses under his care. He was a new kind of trainer that the world of racing had never seen before and this uniqueness was what caught Howard’s eye, plus the fact that Smith could turn a lame or troublesome horse into an athlete who would win, consistently. Seabiscuit was descended from Man O’War through his sire, Hard Tack. He did not have the conformation of a racehorse, or the normal temperament. He was extremely lazy and it took a great effort to convince this horse to run. However, when he did, it was something that the world had never seen before.
My expectations in reading this book are relatively high given the book’s reputation. I expect it to be a book that keeps your interest the entire time and that the author will balance history and storytelling so that neither is compromised. I also expect that it will be an emotional book for me because horses are very close to my heart. I chose this book because I have read a lot of literature relating to horses, but this is a classic of the equine world I have yet to read. I am also interested in comparing the racing world to my knowledge of the show jumping arena.
The themes of work and class are already very apparent in the story. These people are living during the Depression, so money is in the forefront of many minds and this makes work and status more important than it would normally be. The line of working class and upper class is even drawn in the amiable relationship Smith and Howard have as owner and trainer; Howard calls Smith “Tom” and Smith calls Howard “Mr. Howard.” Howard is mostly concerned with his reputation, and in the same vein, his fortune. However, Smith is not as focused on his money, but his work takes up his time and makes up his personality. We are introduced to two men who belong to two different classes and their relationship should turn out to be just as complicated as they were.
So far, I am enjoying the book. The subject matter is of great personal interest to me because, although I am well acquainted with the horse world, I do not know much about the world of thoroughbred racing. I would not describe the book as a page-turner quite yet, but it is difficult to judge a book solely from the beginning of the story. I would say that this book is of social and cultural value, but only because I have some idea of the ending. Right now, the author seems to be laying the foundation for and showing the significance of the various characters. This will probably play into the final assessment of whether the book is noteworthy. Simply by virtue of being historical non-fiction, it is an important book because it passes on a true tale. I do not think that this is a “great” book because the writing is not outstanding, but there is still plenty of time for the author to change my mind.
Lexi:
Since you already have a great insight to the horse world because of your shows, I was wondering if the treatment if the jockeys in the book came as a shock to you?
in the beginning of Seabiscuit you are introduced to a man named Charles Howard. Charles Howard used to own a bicycle shop,he then turned to selling cars for Buick and GM. Frankie, Howards son died in an automobile accident, this event changed Charles for the rest of his life. Over the years Charles had become very wealthy from selling cars, he now invested his money into horses. when Charles hired Tom Smith to be the trainer for his horses he did not know how well Tom would do his job. before Tom came to work for Charles he had many jobs working with horses so he knew them very well, he could make a losing horse a winning horse.
I chose to read this book for a few reasons. when the movie for seabuscuit came out my grandmother took my whole family to see it, she had read the book and was fascinated by the story. i do not know if she was there when seabiscuit was racing but she felt that the whole family should see the movie and told all of us that to someday read the book. this is probably the biggest reason for my choosing this book, also i chose it becasue of so many reccomendations i have heard and how good it is.
so far the book is nothing amazing, although i think that it could be. the book so far has shown how good the upper class lives and how bad the lower class lives. i am not to where i can not put the bookdown but i am slowly getting there it is an amazing story and i cant wait to read more.
Mary,
Yes, the treatment of jockeys was a shock to me; I think this was true for two reasons. The first is that I believe practices in the contemporary racing world are not nearly as extreme now as they were eighty years ago. Secondly, the "horse world" that I am involved with is not the racing world, but the show-jumping aspect of the sport. The requirements for my type of riding are just as athletically demanding, but not nearly as strict when it comes to weight, working, or riding with injuries.
Individual Entry #2
In these next few chapters, the reader is introduced to a jockey’s life, in excruciating detail. We began by learning that the start of a true jockey’s career begins as a bug boy. They worked for their food and a place to stay, but were not paid more than that; they often were housed in the stalls of the horses that they rode. Their trainers had complete control over their lives and the desire to keep their jobs drove jockeys to extreme measures to meet expectations. A crucial element necessary for a jockey or bug boy to stay competitive is a low weight. They would starve themselves, go without water for days on end, and purge with homemade concoctions, all in order to stay as light as possible and have the most chances to ride the most horses. This was just the start of their serious medical issues, a majority of which were left untreated until they became so serious that they incapacitated the rider. Some jockeys suffered everything from broken bones, fractured skulls, concussions, and internal injuries, and they continued to compete. These were accepted realities of the jobs and the bug boys learned these rules at a young age. Bug boys were bought, sold, and traded, and their circumstances varied with the trainers they were obeying. Red Pollard is the jockey that the book is following with particular interest and he became a bug boy in order to earn money for his family. However, he was not even allowed to look at his father, who traveled across the country to see him race, while he rode because his trainer did not allow it. This rough and tumble world of racing is not a pleasant place, nor is it a healthy place for a young boy to grow. However, this was the reality of Seabiscuit’s future jockey and the author has laid the foundation for his career as a tough and battle-hardened competitor.
The book is definitely starting to live up to my expectations as it goes further along. It is providing more detail and telling the story more than solely giving historical facts. The writing style has shifted to a more personal and interested one rather than an impassive observer. The details of the horse-related aspect of the story are becoming more prominent and the start of a new tale seems to be in the making.
These past pages have served to illustrate the lower/working class people that the story deals with and the revelations are astonishing. The struggle to make ends meet and the personal sacrifice for both family and economic advancement is all-consuming for these people living through the most challenging financial time in our nation’s history. The jockeys described forgo critical medical treatment, sleep, food, water, and free will, all to make ends meet and, even then, they live on the brink of homelessness and hunger. The life of Charles Howard of my previous entry seems part of a different world when compared to this lifestyle.
I am enjoying the book more and more as I continue to read. I am beginning to develop a connection to the characters, as they become more fully developed, and I come to understand their lives more fully. I have found that the world of horseracing is very different from the horse world I have always know, but the similarities have also become apparent. The vying for jobs and struggle to survive are foreign to me, but the hidden athleticism and partnership of horse and rider are familiar and accurately described. Some of the most desperate situations during the Depression are examined in this section, so it is historically significant to look at the lives of the people affected most drastically by this crisis. In the same vein, the author described life in very realistic and empathetic terms, so the greatness of the book is certainly improved as a result of this honesty.
Individual Entry #1
In the first few chapters of Seabiscuit, we meet this racehorse, his owner, Charles Howard, and his trainer, Tom Smith. Charles Howard is a man who started off as a small bicycle repair shop owner in San Francisco. At this time, bicycles and horse carriages were the main ways of transportation. Cars were just being introduced to this town, but most people stayed away because of their expensive price tags and because most people did not know how to drive. Howard saw selling cars as an opportunity, so he went to Detroit and came back with some Buick cars. He did not sell a single car until fires took over the town, and cars became the best way to save people. None of the cars were lost, and Charles mad a point to show how efficient cars really were. Soon enough, he was one of the most famous people, and all people wanted to but was cars. He became the largest distributor for GM, but this eventually turned into something terrible. His son Frankie was killed while driving one of the cars, and this is something that would haunt Charles for the rest of his life. Charles later got divorced and married Marcela, his son-in-law's wife's sister. Now with a new wife and lots of money, Charles decided to pursue the investment in horses. The government had lifted the ban on horse racing and gambling during the Depression, so Howard and many others saw this as a different source to become rich. Howard owned a large farm already, so the timing seemed perfect. Then we now meet Tom Smith, Seabiscuit's trainer. He had many different jobs, and everyone always characterized him as the man who didn't talk. The horses seemed to have known him better than any other human. He kept his job at Unaweep for quite awhile, and when that ranch was sold he was left jobless. He was then hired by "Cowboy Charlie" Irwin, who did many shows and needed a good trainer. Smith did his job extremely well, and soon met with Howard. He saw the uncanny ability of Smith, and right away knew he was the best trainer he could get. Smith meets James Fitzsimmons, an amazing trainer himself, and they start working together. Smith is found by Seabiscuit, who came from Man o'War, his sire, Hard Tack. He had stubby legs and walked strangely, but somehow this horse won a race the day he saw Smith. That was the day when Smith knew he could turn Seabiscuit from an invisible horse into the most remarkable race horse the world has seen.
My expectations for this book are pretty high for many reasons. First of all, I have heard from teachers and other friends who have read this book that it is very good. Also, people usually say that books are better than the movies they are made into, and since Seabiscuit, the movie, got great reviews, I hope that the book is even better. So far it has not captivated me as I thought it might, but that also may be because it talks about a lot of history and I have been reading the book late at night, so it is hard to concentrate while reading it.
Already in the first few chapters are the themes of work and class being depicted. Money is very important to everyone, and even more so now that the Great Depression has started. Image is also important, in how other members of the community and fellow workers view you. Charles Howard wants to be very successful and have his cars and name well-known, and he does whatever he can to play up his rich image. Contrasting him is Tom Smith, how likes to stay away from the public eye and concentrate on his horses more than himself.
So far the book isn't quite as good as I thought it might be. As I said before, I have been reading it when really tired, so I haven't been able to concentrate that well, but now as I am finding more time to read it, it is getting better. Even though reading about all the history is somewhat boring, I am actually very surprised at how much I have already learned by just reading a few chapters. The author has really done a great job of incorporated this much history into the book that also pertains to the story at hand.
Austin,
What do you think of Tom Smith's unique methods of training horses?
Group #1
in our discussion we discussed many things, mainly how peoples actions effected the people around them. One of the main turning points in the book is when Frankie dies. This changed Charles Howard's thinking and he got rid of his cars and focused on horses. Charles Howard's horse trainer Tom Smith had a very uniqui way of communicating with horses. Tom was very quiet, over the years he had been in many different jobs in different stables, so he knew a lot about horses.Charles hired Tom becasue of his ability to transform losing or problem horses into winning horses.
during the depression everyone wanted to win money and horse racing was a fun and entertaining way to do it. people needed something to get their minds off of the topic of money. one of our discussion points was hardship. during this time everyone had hardship in their lives, whether it be money or family involed. people went to the race tracks to get away from it all and watch amazing animals and people compete to be the best. being a horse jockey was a very dangerus profession, it was physicalls and emotionally strenuous. Jockey's were very strong athletes who went to drastic measures to lose weight. for many of the jockeys horse racing is all they knew. this is another instance of hardship. Jockey's would do anything to stay on the track and keep racing becasue if they didnt, their lives would become horrible.
during the depression many people suffered and went through hardship. for some horse racing was the one thing that they could go watch to get away from it all, it was so important in that time.
individual #2
Austin S.
as i read farther into the book i begin to like it more. over the last pages the book deals with the live and the treatment of jockies, it tells how they grow up as bug boys and how red as a young jockey was not allowed to look at his father when he came wo watch him because the trainer said not to. for jockies all they know is horse racing so they will do anything to keep a low weight and keep riding for as long as possible. in order to keep a low wieght jockies will starve themselves. jockies will sustain injuries and keep riding even tho they are hurt.
during this time jockies were not much better off than anyone else. jockies woked from race to race and if they did not win they would not get paid they lived on ends meat just like everyone else. as i read farther into the book i get more and more interested, it is still not a page turner but it is definatley getting there.
Individual Entry #2
In the next few chapters, we see what the life of a jockey consists of. This job was not very fun, even from the start. Most of the jockeys started off as workers in farms and they had to work for their food and place to stay to keep their job. In a way they were treated just like the horses, being made to stay in their horses stables sometimes, and having their lives completely controlled by the trainers. Other expectations of being a jockey was that you had to be very small and keep really low weight. They would become anorexic, bulimic, or eat concoctions that made you lose weight. This made the jockeys were liable to all sorts of injuries, and ultimately it is the reason why most jockeys did not live a long life. Malnutrition, broken bones, and the possibility of early death were challenges that jockeys met all their life, and all of this was just so they could ride the most and best horses. Jockeys were sold and traded just like the animals, yet these boys went along with it, for it was their sole dream. Red Pollard is one of the main jockeys in this book, and he became a jockey in order to make money for his family. He went through many difficulties, and he had harsh, strict trainers that controlled him completely. It is amazing to see what these boys, at such a young age, would go through just to help out their family. Not only was this job physically harmful, but it was also emotionally and mentally challenging as well. It is interesting to see how the life of Red Pollard started out since he will soon become Seabiscuit's rider.
The book is starting to meet some of my expectations. There isn't as much history as before, and I have found more time to read the book while actually being awake. It goes into great detail about the life of a jockey, and it is interesting to see how much a person would put themselves through just to make money for his family.
The themes in this book of work and class are more prominent than ever. People from the working class are ordered around by the wealthy, and they are bought, sold, and traded as though they mean nothing. We also see how brutal the working class truly is. The fact that jockeys would have to starve themselves, be very fragile and susceptible to injury, and would make little money is astounding. This book does do a great job of showing the contrasts between the rich, like Charles Howard, and the workers, like Red Pollard.
I am really starting to like this book better, especially since we have gotten to know different characters and the horses much better through lots of detail. Also, there is not as much history as before, so it is a lot faster to read since it is more like just a story now. I didn't know half of this about jockeys and racing before I started reading this book, so it's good that I decided to read this. It is a very interesting story and without really knowing it I am learning a lot of history at the same time.
lexi, do you think Seabiscuit acts as a symbol to the working class? do you think he inspires people. (see my group post)
Group #2
Something that all three of us noticed was that the book changed from just talking about people's backgrounds to what life was like as a jockey and we were also introduced to the horses. Now there is more to the story than just the history of Charles Howard and Tom Smith. WE also saw the conversion of the three main characters: Red Pollard, Tom Smith, and Charles Howard. All of their lives change, and together the three of them are united in trying to find the best horse in the country and finding one that will always win. Also prominent in the story is the differences in class. Charles has soo much money that he can use it for his entertainment and enjoyment, which is gambling on horse races. Red, on the other hand, is in this business just so that he can make money for his family. He is ready to go through any of the hardships that jockeys face, just so that his family can live a better life. We also see what a good and caring person Tom is because when Red was desperate for work, he gave him the chance to prove himself. Another difference between Tom and Charles is that Tom liked to stay as far as possible away from the media. He just wanted to focus on his job and the horses. Charles, however, loved the media. He wanted more money and fame, and he believed that he could get this through horse racing .
The life of a jockey was extremely hard. They had to weigh very little, which would allow their horse to run faster. This means that jockeys would starve themselves, become anorexia or bulimic, and they would do this just to get the chance to ride the most and best horses.
Tom and Red had some trouble with Seabiscuit at first. They had to gain his trust and get him to like racing again, which proved challenging. One suggestion made by Tom was to just let Seabiscuit go running on his own, and once he did that, Seabiscuit's love of running returned. This made them all one step closer to discovering the best race horse at the time.
Hannah,
I think you are right that he inspired the working class, possibly because he gave them hope. They may have seen their lives in his story. He was not a thoroughbred with fancy conformation or a prestigious pedigree, but he did his job well and people noticed. It is possible that he was so inspirational because of the barriers he shattered.
Austin: response to lexi
Lexi,
Tom smith has a certain way of training horses and it works. Tom has had many jobs that make him a better all around trainer. another thing that i think helps him train horses so well is that he cares and loves the horses, he is not like everyone else who will kill a horse for having a broken bone or torn muscle. one reason i think that seabiscuit was so sucessful was becasue for the first time in his life he was loved.
Individual Entry #3
The last chapters I have read have really shown how Seabiscuit’s career began and then started to grow rapidly. The true start of this legend was when the three men, whose stories we have been tracking up until this point, all meet one another and go into business together. Red Pollard and his agent are out of luck and looking for work when they come across Tom Smith, who needs a good jockey. Red specializes in troubled horses, so he and Seabiscuit are a perfect fit. Smith was very careful when training Seabiscuit because he knew that this horse was intelligent, but that he also had an attitude problem. The issue was that Seabiscuit would fight his riders and this distracted him from running well. Smith told Pollard to let Seabiscuit go, (run however he wanted), during an early practice session, and the horse finally showed how fast he was. After they gained his trust by treating him with respect and calmed him down by giving him a “roommate” in the form of a small pony, Seabiscuit began to manifest the potential that Smith had originally seen in him. The horse found a competitive pleasure in beating his opponents. He became famous on the eastern and western racing circuits, winning various races and placing well in others, such as his second place finish at the Santa Anita Handicap. Pollard is blinded in his right eye when exercising a horse before he becomes Seabiscuit’s jockey, but he continues to race anyway. This handicap has a somewhat negative effect on his skills as a jockey, but he learns to accommodate it out of necessity. The media have an ongoing struggle with Tom Smith, who uses Seabiscuit’s brother, Grog, to fool them into reporting the wrong practice times. He also works Seabiscuit early in the morning so that his skills are kept private. Charles Howard, on the other hand, caters to the every whim of the media in order to advance his own reputation. This diversion of tactics for the common interest of improving their racing prospects shows just how complex the owner-trainer relationship was.
For the first time since I started reading it, I have been truly enjoying the book. I love that we start to see Seabiscuit’s personality, because the personality of the animals in sports where they are key players is often overlooked. A horse it not like a ball; it will not do the same thing every day that you use it. So, it is refreshing to get a realistic perspective on this variable facet of competition and I expected that this book would give this sort of honest insight. It took some time for the story to start moving, but now it is everything I expected it to be, from historically accurate to grippingly entertaining.
With the relationships between owner, trainer, and jockey starting to be established, the complexity of class relations also becomes more apparent. Red suffers the most because he is so dependent on his career and its limited income to survive. Tom Smith has the most opportunity to improve his economic situation through the success of his horses. Charles Howard is really just enjoying himself and his good fortune in finding such a unique horse. The three men have established their roles in the business and these placements have very much been determined by money and social standing.
I am still enjoying the book a lot. It is just as engaging as it has ever been and I expect that it will keep my interest as I read further. I am beginning to find concrete proof that this is a culturally important and noteworthy book because the historical facts that it is divulging regarding Seabiscuit’s career are very significant in understanding the attitude of many people during this time in American history. The author’s style is developing into a somewhat poetic prose, which only adds to the book’s charm. The subject is serious and tough, but the story keeps the reader pleased in the way that the details are relayed.
Individual Entry #3
The last few chapters that I have read have mainly been about Seabiscuit and his rise to fame. He was helped along in his career by is trainer, Tom Smith, and his jockey, Red Pollard. Seabiscuit had a few slight problems, one of which was that he was sort of stubborn. Something he was known to do was fight with his riders, which ultimately led to him not doing well at all in races. Red was a special jockey, who had a special ability to work out problem horses. Tom was also a very intelligent trainer, and together he and Red were able to make this race horse a winner. One thing that they did was let Seabiscuit run free, which showed them how fast and good he really could be. After gaining his trust and calming him down, Red and Tom were able to rain Seabiscuit as they had never before imagined. They somehow managed to get him to love running and racing again, and soon enough Seabiscuit took much pleasure in beating all of his opponents. He to became obsessed with winning, and together all three of them were a great team. Seabiscuit wins many important and big races all over the country, and he also places high in some of the very competitive races. The book goes on to talk about how Red was blinded in his right eye earlier in his career by another horse he was working with, and even though this proves to be a challenge for him, he overcomes it and has learned how to deal with it. Something that is still apparent in the book is that Tom does not like the media attention, though Charles Howard does. Tom likes privacy, and he doesn't want anyone to know how good Seabiscuit is, because he is afraid of what more attention might do. Charles loves the media, and he does anything to get attention. This shows that there may be some differences between the owner and the trainer, though when all parts of the team work together, they see that they have developed one of the best race horses in the world.
I am finally starting to enjoy this book even more. I love reading about how Seabiscuit developed from an uncontrollable horse to a champion. It sort of shows that if you work hard enough at something, then it will pay off in the end and will always benefit you. Seabiscuit is a unique race horse, and I am interested in this part of the book because we are finally seeing what he is really like and everything about him.
Class differences are still apparent in this book. Charles is just in the business as an owner because he has lots of extra money that he wants to spend on his entertainment and enjoyment. Red is the hardest worker and is also the most dependent on Charles. It is hard to find good work as a jockey, and there is always competition in this field of work. Tom has a chance to improve his class, but he likes to keep to himself and just focus on his job, which seems to be the thing that makes him the most happy.
The book is now starting to meet my expectations. I am still learning some history, though you don't necessarily notice it because the book is much more of a story about Seabiscuit's life than anything else. It is enjoyable to read and it is a great story that is also something that we can relate to. The characters each face many hardships and the book does a good job of showing how to overcome these challenges in everyday life, which makes the book even more enjoyable.crosby87
Austin:
how did seabiscuit compare to what your expectations were for the book? was it better or worse than what you thought it was going to be?
Individual Entry #4
In the last part of the book, Seabiscuit’s racing career concludes and the three men who participated in creating this legend part ways. Before this ending, however, Seabiscuit makes history by winning thirty-three races and setting thirteen track records at eight tracks over six years. We learn that horses are assigned weights to carry, or imposts, that increase in heaviness if the horse is considered a talented racer relative to the other horses in the field. Seabiscuit was trained to carry heavy imposts so that once news of his prowess spread, he would not be hampered by the additional weight. Many of Seabiscuit’s history-making records were set while carrying significantly heavier imposts than his competitors. After his racing career with jockey Red Pollard took off, the famous races started piling up. He came in second in the Santa Anita Handicap; this loss could have been because of a competitive first place finisher or the fact that Red rode poorly due to his partial blindness. He won many other high-profile races, but none were as widely publicized as his match races against Ligaroti and War Admiral. War Admiral and Seabiscuit were both descended from Man O’War and they raced at the Pimlico Race Course. Seabiscuit won against both Ligaroti and War Admiral, and as a result, was named Horse of the Year. He eventually won the Santa Anita Handicap (the Hundred Grander) after he and Red had faced many ups and downs in their joint career, as well as suffered many injuries. The jockey George Woolf would ride Seabiscuit when Red kept injuring himself and thus Woolf became a sort of understudy who has been called up as this national drama reached its final and climactic moments of victory.
This book went beyond my original expectations. I thought that it would glance over the details of a jockey’s life and the equine aspect of the sport, but these elements were discussed in detail, which served not only to educate the reader, but also to make the world from 80 years ago seem realistic enough to keep your interest. The book had an engaging style that did not make the historical facts seem boring, rather, they were artfully woven into the storyline and the entire piece grabbed and held my attention.
The theme of work and class continued to affect the lives of the three main characters, even as their professional lives ended. Red continued to race, despite the way it tortured his body and the uncommonly high number of falls he suffered. Smith trained for Elizabeth Graham for a number or years before he was suspended for a year. He was accused of drugging his horses by the racing officials, but was rehired by Graham after his suspension expired. After he left this job, he trained a small number of horses until he died of a stroke. Charles Howard took Seabiscuit home to his ranch, Ridgewood, after he made the executive decision to end his racing career after he won the Santa Anita Handicap. Their classes and incomes determined how these men lived, spent the final years of their lives, and died; the closer to lower/working class one is, the more work is necessary to earn a living.
This turned out to be a very interesting book. I liked it a lot, both for its writing style and for the content. It was a page-turner at the most exciting and a dramatic points in the story, but the fact that it is nonfiction takes out some of the element of surprise. The social and cultural value of this book is especially emphasized in the final few chapters when the beginning of WWII is discussed, as well as the end of the Depression. Seabiscuit not only boosted morale, but he also inspired people on a fundamental level to rise above their situations and achieve greatness even if no one else believes it to be possible. It is a great book because it is such a riveting account of history and the writer has eloquently molded facts and personality into a superb work.
Group Entry # 3
Our group discussion focused how the book finished and how the author tied up all the loose ends of the story. We found it strange that the three men disbanded their partnership so abruptly, but we also realized that this occurred because they no longer had a horse to hold them together. Even after the fame died down and they went their separate ways, their personality traits remained the same. Smith still hated attention and preferred his quite equestrian lifestyle. Red’s toughness and love of the sport stuck with him until he died. Howard maintained his business and his bubbly personality; he stayed in the racing spotlight with a number of other successful horses. We talked about how it was surprising that Seabiscuit’s foals did not have very successful racing careers. We were all inspired by the strength and determination evident in the comebacks Seabiscuit fought to achieve.
We felt that the book did meet our expectations in a number of areas. It was slow in the beginning, but it soon became much more interesting and we enjoyed the story more as it went along. We liked how Hillenbrand pulled history and storytelling together. In addition, the varied style was enjoyable to read. For example, she would have a moving and historically accurate passage, but then switch to a personal description of one of the main character’s quirks.
We analyzed the concept of work and class a lot, because we now could see how this theme led to the story’s conclusion. Red’s life, and the lives of his wife and children, all depended on his job, so even though he risked his life and health, riding well after his body was fully capable, it was necessary to support his family. Even Tom Smith had to work harder than people like Charles Howard because he was not given such a privileged lifestyle. However, the hope that Seabiscuit’s story, and the stories of the men who made him great, inspired multitudes of middle and working class Americans to overcome the woes of the Depression and face the coming challenges with the strength and confidence Seabiscuit exhibited on the track.
Everyone found the author’s style pleasing and memorable. Overall, we found the book enjoyable and interesting. We saw the cultural value in its motifs and the research behind the writing. We also think that the story will stand the test of time because the lessons and inspirational ideas it embodies are universally applicable.
Individual Entry #4
The end of Seabiscuit truly signifies the end of the relationships that were formed and the story of this amazing racehorse. Though everyone goes a different way, we must not forget all the wonderful achievements of Seabiscuit. Altogether Seabiscuit won 33 races and in six years he set 13 records at eight tracks across the country. We also are told of other challenges the horses have to go through when racing. If one horse is considered superior to the other horses he is racing against, he must carry imposts, which are weights. These will become heavier based on how the horses are compared to one another. Seabiscuit, known to be better then most horses, would have to carry a lot of weight, so he always trained with extra weight. However, this did not stop Seabiscuit, and he ended up winning many important races while holding more weight.
Seabiscuit had many important and famous races once his career started taking off with the help of Tom Smith and Red Pollard. At the Santa Anita Handicap race Seabiscuit took second, though this may have been for a few reasons. Red was partially blind in one eye, so this might have stopped them from winning, or the winner was just too competitive and they had never experienced a race like it before. Seabiscuit eventually became named the horse of the year, after some impressive finishes. There were two other very good race horses, Ligaroti and War Admiral. War Admiral also happened to be a descendant of Man O'War, just like Seabiscuit. At the Pimlico Race Course, Seabiscuit beat both of these horses, and his popularity grew even more.
Red and Seabiscuit went through many tough times, especially when Red kept getting injured. George Woolf was the jockey that would ride Seabiscuit when Red was unable to, and he himself got a taste of what winning and popularity was like. Finally, Seabiscuit had won the Santa Anita Handicap, which was the Hundred Grander.
I originally thought that I would enjoy this book because I thought I would learn a lot about horse racing and the competition, and I was right. Though the book started off pretty slow, giving lots of history about each character and horse racing in general, it ended up telling a grasping story that was truly believable. I also liked how the author did incorporate history into the book, for even though it was boring, I learned much more than I thought I would about horse racing and the jobs people do in order to win.
The themes of work and class were prominent throughout the entire book. We see that if you had extra money like Charles Howard, then you could afford to get into horse racing just for its enjoyment and the possibility of making it big. At the other side, there were people like Tom Smith and Red Pollard, who had to work every day of their lives just to get by. They put themselves through much stress and other difficulties, just so that they could remain a part of Seabiscuit's career. Red suffered through many injuries just to keep his job, and Tom worked until the last day of his life, in which he died of a stroke. Charles never let go of his love of horse racing, and he ended up taking Seabiscuit to live on his ranch for the remainder of his life.
I am happy that I choose to read this book, for I actually leaned a lot while reading it and it was a captivating story that I enjoyed reading. The best parts of the book were when she talked about the races in great detail, for it almost seemed like I was present at some of the races. Seabiscuit was a kind of living inspiration for people living at this time. It was the end of the Depression and the beginning of WWII, yet Seabiscuit helped people to focus on something other than war and fear. He was a beacon of hope, enlightenment, and inspiration that only he could have provided. Even in these tough times, Seabiscuit was there to show everyone that you can make something out of nothing, you just need to give a little effort and maybe get some help along the way in order to reach your fullest potential. This was a great book and the writer did an amazing job of combining history and a real story into one, which turned out to become a legend.
Austin Severson
Individual #3
In what I have read recently Tom, Red, and Charles all meet. Red who is especially good with troubled horses is seen by Smith who needs a jockey as crazy as Seabiscuit is. In training Seabiscuit Smith and Red were careful because they knew he had not had a pleasant past, his anger made him slow. Red would just ride him wherever he wanted to go and try to get him as fast as he wanted to go. Another way smith calmed saebiscuit down was by giving him a roommate, a pony. Seabiscuit started to win races and placing well in almost all including second place in the Santa Anita Handicap. Red loses this race because he is blind in one eye, this effects his jockey skills even though he learns to live with it. Smith and Howard and complete opposites when it comes to the media, Smith avoids them and Howard invites them only to have his reputation grow. Smith trains Seabiscuit early in the morning so no one will see him run and so no one knows what he is capable of. I have started to enjoy the book more, I find it interesting how we start to really learn seabiscuits personality. The book is still not what I expected it to be.
You can really start to see the classes between Red, Howard, and Smith. Red is bound by money while Howard is just in it for fun. Smith can always train another horse and find another place to work.
Individual#4
Austin Severson
In the last chapters of the book we learned about all the races Seabiscuit won and all the records he broke, many of his records were set while carrying more weight than all the other horses. When Seabiscuit raced War Admiral, it was the biggest race he could undertake they raced at the Pimlico race track. George Woolf would ride seabiscuit when Red was hurt. This was my favorite part of the book it was exciting to learn about all the races and also the history of Seabiscuit, although the author made it not seem like history. Class still played a role in the book Red and Smith continued to race and train but Howard and Seabiscuit retired to his ranch Ridgewood, after winning the Santa Anita Handicap. I learned that the lower the class the more you have to work to earn a decent living. Overall I liked this book, slow at first and very slowly started getting better. At points in the book I could not put it down and at others I dreaded reading it.
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