Now... What Can We Learn From a Horse?: The Race of the Century

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Seeing the Possibilities

Charles Howard realized the marketing potential of his horse early on. This former cavalry man and bicycle repairman realized that the future was the era of the automobile. After getting a Buick car dealership, he amassed a great fortune. He knew the importance of marketing and cashing in on the big opportunity. He took Seabiscuit across America and traveled nearly 50,000 railroad miles to race on tracks across the west and east coast. People of the press were wooed with bottles of champagne. Seabiscuit merchandise began to flood stores. And not to mention the fact that his small investment in Seabiscuit had multiplied exponentially with the horse's record career earnings.

Believe in Yourself and not the Naysayers

After Seabiscuit was injured, the doctors had given their verdict: Seabiscuit could never race again. No horse could compete at this level with a torn ligament. Even his original jockey `Red' Pollard was never expected to ride after a nasty accident that had shattered his leg. Red and his favorite `Pops' were not about to give up that easily. Howard took his favorite horse and jockey to his Ridgewood ranch to allow them to recuperate. With time both horse and jockey were back on the recovery track and went on to win the Santa Anita in 1940.

Finally, it is interesting to note the effect Seabiscuit had on the American psyche. The country was just emerging from those traumatic years of the Depression. These battered and bruised souls (especially the lower and middle class) needed `hope' and a `second chance'. And they found an unlikely hero in a four legged animal who was as many fans described a `common man's horse'. Just like them, he had been through hard times but had emerged on top through sheer grit and fighting spirit after getting a second chance.

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