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(Click the picture above to purchase!)
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(Charles Howard with Seabiscuit)
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Chapter one tells the story of a much different man than the one that soon becomes the owner of arguably the most magnificent race horse in history. Charles Howard was penniless and ready to push the newly emerging automobile industry into action. At twenty six years old he grew tired of life on the east coast and boarded a train headed for San Francisco (the year was 1903). With no cash and no job he was forced to beg and borrow enough money to start up a bicycle repair shop. The history of the acceptance of the automobile was fascinating as many cities, San Francisco included, did their best to keep cars off their wagon packed roads. Regardless of opposition the cars still came. However, finding gasoline and a car mechanic was nearly impossible so people headed to the local bike shop to have Charles Howard take a look under the hood. After many years of struggle in the automobile industry Howard finally became a success!
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(Seabiscuit and Red Pollard)
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(Seabiscuit is a celebrity!)
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Only after a series of complicated relationships and coincidences does owner Charles Howard, trainer Tom Smith, jockey Red Pollard (and later George Woolf) and racehorse Seabiscuit join in partnership. Their journey to becoming a great team is unbelievably engaging. As Americans are struggling to feed their families during the great depression an amazing rivalry takes place between the east coast supporters of War Admiral and west coast Seabiscuit fans. At the end of 1938 “when the number of newspaper column inches devoted to public figures was tallied up, it was announced that the little horse had drawn more newspaper coverage in 1938 than Roosevelt, who was second, Hitler (third), Mussolini (fourth), or any other newsmaker”.
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(Seabiscuit and War Admiral)
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The big question sweeping the nation was who is fastest, War Admiral or Seabiscuit? Charles Howard was determined to find the answer but every time the two horses were to face up against one another something happened to prevent it. The years were passing. Seabiscuit continued to be successful even through a series of injuries and jockey troubles. War Admiral was getting ready to retire, which would leave the burning question unanswered. Finally on November 1, 1938 the plans were set and the race was run. The winner would take home the title of The American Horse of the Year!
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(Seabiscuit and his constant stablemate Pumpkin)
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