Seabiscuit vs War Admiral

maybe you should be raising horses, as well, Kate

cool! that's almost enough to inspire me to go watch his movie -- even though I already know SpiderMan is his jockey.

Feed them Saskatchewan grown oats and they go an extra 2 KPM!

Brad said: cool! that's almost enough to inspire me to go watch his movie -- even though I already know SpiderMan is his jockey.

TM was the worst choice for Spider-Man. Ever.

Seattle Slew versus Affirmed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBHczmcKS5M

Secretariat winning the 1973 Belmont Stakes by thirty one lengths (!) to capture the Triple Crown:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS4f6wiQJh4

George Woolf, the jockey on Sea biscuit in this race, was born and raised in the Cardston Alberta area and this summer a bronze statue of him on Sea biscuit will be unveiled to the public at the Remington Carriage Museum in Cardston. A long overdue recognition of one of the greatest jockeys of all time and one of the greatest horse races in history.

"When a little guy doesn't know he's a little guy, he can do amazing things."

My favourite movie.

Rob, that's very interesting. I went to the Remington Carriage Museum, and was really pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. I would recommend it to anyone visiting southern Alberta.

I think that horse racing has a limited future, given that other methods of gambling are a lot easier. I know there is excitement and beauty etc, but I think its days are numbered.

It's also interesting that a generation ago many of us would breathlessly await the next heavyweight fight. Ultimate fighting was the final nail in the boxing coffin, IMHO.

I love the movie, Seabiscuit, too Glenn.

Eric Larson, you might be right about horse racing but unlike the msm, I always get a thrill down my spine (not a leg like some when they see a presidential candidate) when I watch a magnificent horse thunder down a race track or over an open field. The beauty, power, elegance and intelligence of horses is an awesome thing to behold.

Like the dog, horses are people's true blue friends.

Very nice run by Seabiscuit.

I like Phar Lap as well

Phar Lap wins the Agua Caliente Handicap - 1932

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bROtR5ivyZw

But I will still take my grandfather's horse for battle tested:

Qui Si Sanne ~1916

a warhorse in the traditional sense, the rider credited his horse for saving the rider's life on more than several occasions while under fire.
But military horses don't get medals...but still have a few pics

Cheers

Hans-Christian Georg Rupprecht, Commander in Chief

1st Saint Nicolaas Army
Army Group “True North"

"Zenyatta runner-up for AP Female Athlete of the Year"

"Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert added, "That's pretty darn good. (Year-end sports awards are) for doing something extraordinary and spectacular and these horses did that and deserve the recognition. They're about half human, anyway." "
http://horseracing.about.com/od/latestnews/a/aa122209a.htm

And for the other side of that coin;

"Outside of Williams, this should be an embarrassment for women. You mean there wasn't a basketball player or track and field star or swimmer who didn't impress more than a horse?
This is like Mr. Ed being nominated for an Emmy"
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/12/folks-who-voted-zenyatta-athlete-year-should-be-reined

I think she should of beat Serena on looks alone, never mind superior poise, charm, and grace under pressure.

Wait: how many Spider Men have there been? I like him.

But why are there only two horses in this race?

It was a match race, between the triple crown winner of that year and the older Seabiscuit.

It's amazing how many of these vintage clips are available on Youtube.

I simply can't watch these things without weeping. a running horse is so graceful. Such gallantry on the part of both horses. I didn't realize Seabiscuit was the older horse.

Most Boomers have never had much exposure to horses....despite estimates that North America harbours more horses now than prior to Henry Ford's Transformation.
Dad had horses until about 1950 or so....then they disappeared.
Despite claims to the contrary the vaunted Whermacht was only slightly mechanized....mostly horse drawn transport....until about 1942-43.
When Operation Barbarossa started the USSR had 4-5 times the tanks of the Whermacht.
Form the mini-series "Band Of Brothers"...."....say hello to General Motors.....what were you thinking?.....you're driving horses!"
To this day both the Chinese and Russians patrol their shared border on horse-back....in the manner of Ghenghis Khan....Ak's instead of bows but the saber remains.

"To this day both the Chinese and Russians patrol their shared border on horse-back....in the manner of Ghenghis Khan....Ak's instead of bows but the saber remains."

sasquatch...could that be that a horse can go where no tank has gone before? Kudos to dogs,but there is no more faithful or beautiful animal than a horse.They will take and follow you to hell and back.

Wonder if Dempsey ever bet on Seabiscuit?

I simply can't watch these things without weeping. a running horse is so graceful. Such gallantry on the part of both horses. I didn't realize Seabiscuit was the older horse.
Posted by: rita at January 4, 2010 9:38 AM

Me too, rita. I don't weep, but I certainly tear up, despite having zero knowledge or experience with live horse races.

Question: Does the winning horse always know he's won? AND, do winning horses display triumphal behaviour of any kind?

Old Stewball was a race horse.
And, I wish he were mine.
He never drank water.
He always drank wine.

Personal favorite, and TM as Spidy ruint it for me, just as Aflac did DareDevil.

Now, if Patrick hadn't passed away he would have made a marvelous Green Lantern.
,

Sea biscuit is one of the best movies ever made.

The movie is only partly about the horse ,the main characters with their personalities and situations add tremendously to the movie.

Based on a true story of an Alberta boy born into poverty (the jockey) , a flamboyant entrepreneur and his wife who invest in a broken down old horse , and a free roaming cowboy (the trainer) who understands horses like no other.

Rent or buy this movie ... you will be glad. I guarantee it.

Ah but War Admirals sire and Sea Biscuits grand sire, Man O' War surely tops them all.
The first fully filmed horse race was beween Man O war and Sir Baron at Kenilworth Park in Windsor!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmGcgrxmy4Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLvnA1oSe1A

"Like the dog, horses are people's true blue friends."

Agreed, unfortunately due to allergies I can't spend too much time with either. Furthermore, I've little doubt my bird would sell me down the river for a Dorito.

I love this thread, it answered many of the questions I had coming in, and then some. My family and I do like to go to the races a few times a year because it is great affordable family entertainment.

Erik

I can't speak to racing, but I'd like to suggest that boxing hopefully will do just fine do to the size and access for niche markets. I tune into "Tuesday Night Fights" and the "HBO boxing" and I enjoy it just as much as ever. The events appear to be much more "high end" (production wise) than the UFC counterparts, therefore I think they're doing okay. Competition is good.

Unfortunately boxing does not have very many stars that fringe fans gravitate to. JMO

Off to the races, with Spike Jones.

William Tell Overture

And here comes - Beetle-Bomb!

Me no Dhimmy, I grew up with horses and I can tell you, without doubt that horses do know when they win and they all love to win! Just like people.

My Dad had two Clydesdale/Quarter horses that did odd jobs around our place: when it was too cold to start the tractor or the truck (Dad used a blow torch but sometimes those pieces of iron still would not turn over) he had to hitch up Toots and Bill to feed the cattle. One day Dad took a gully on an angle and tipped over the load of hay, he cursed the team and the cold; I was sitting on the pile of hay and I distinctly remember Toots and Bill slowly turning their heads around to glare at Dad. Just letting him know that they knew that they were not to blame but acknowledging that he was the honored provider even though he was wrong. My Dad always treated his horses with respect so they were not afraid of him when they knew that they were not in the wrong.

Toots and Bill used to let us kids lay on their broad backs, in the field while they grazed, we jumped on by standing on top of the barbed wire fence and sliding on to their backs; they never moved until we were on their backs, we got off by sliding off backwards. Toots and Bill used to plow the garden because they did not step on little plants and kill them (like the garden tractor did!) and they saved us a lot of sweat!

We also had stream lined saddle horses and a highly intelligent, ornery little Shetland pony - the horses were a big part of our lives.

The real question is: Do horses like to bet?

SonnovaSeabiscuit! that horsie can run!

If you like the movie about Seabiscuit, you really owe it to yourself to read the excellent book by Laura Hillenbrand that the movie is based on. There is so much more to the story of this match race that is hardly even covered in the movie.

On holiday not long after the movie came out, we took the family to the racetrack at Santa Anita to watch the morning workouts, and then a guided tour – our group lucked out; the tour guide was Chris McCarron,who choreographed the movie’s racing scenes. Completely fabulous and highly recommended.