Seabiscuit

The true story of three men and their dreams for a racehorse—Seabiscuit—that symbolized a pivotal moment in American history, as the twentieth century's greatest nation found the courage to bet on itself to win against the odds. In 1936 the habits of 19th-century America were finally consigned to history just as Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind was published. In their place, modern America was born. But what defined this new era? Nothing more than the story of Seabiscuit, a stunted colt with asymmetrical knees that had for two years been hacked around no-good race tracks, which led to permanent leg damage. Yet by 1937 Seabiscuit could draw crowds of 60,000 and had more newspaper column inches devoted to him than Mussolini, Hitler, or Roosevelt, his popularity peaking during his appearances at the Santa Anita Handicap. America had gone to the races for the first time since the Depression and fallen in love with a misshapen colt of great character. Now it wanted a winner. Seabiscuit is also the story of three men: Tom Smith, a former Wild West showman who became the trainer; Red Pollard, who was abandoned by his poverty-stricken family at a racetrack and became the rider; and Charles Howard, a pioneer car manufacturer in San Francisco in the 1920s who was the owner and financier. These three combined to create the legend of Seabiscuit and epitomize a dream for the emerging new America.

Now a major motion picture directed by Gary Ross and starring Tobey Maguire and Jeff Daniels.