DVD - SEABISCUIT 6-Race TIME CAPSULE w/Historic Footage!! WAR ADMIRAL & LIGAROTI

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 One of the grandest and gamest Thoroughbreds to have ever raced in the entire United States was SEABISCUIT; this two-time Champion Older Horse of 1937 and 1938, and 1938 Horse-of-the-Year was sired by MAN O'WAR's son HARD TACK out of the mare, SWING ON, had a life story next to none. His life as a racehorse was almost over before he was even three-years-old. Foaled at Claiborne Farm in 1932, SEABISCUIT immediately fell on hard times when his HEARTLESS slave-driving breeder and owner, Gladys Phipps of the famed Phipps racing dynasty, raced him right into the ground as a two-year-old with 35 races - more than most horses run during their entire career! He ran 17 times before he finally won and of those 35 races he won only five times; his total earnings for that year came to about $12,500. The result of such a punishing schedule was that he acquired ""popped knees"" and a case of nerves and sank to the $2,500 claiming levels.

For some reason the runty little bay colt, lame and in disgrace, appealed to a wealthy San Francisco auto dealer, Charles Howard...and SEABISCUIT's luck changed. Howard bought him for $8,000 and turned him over to his trainer, "Silent Tom" Smith. A relationship grew between him and the abused colt that was to last the rest of their lives and be a prime force in SEABISCUIT's amazing career. The first thing Tom did was to give the lame colt what his legs and nerves needed the most - rest and reassurance. SEABISCUIT would always be more or less lame but his heart and Tom Smith's faith would carry him through. In Howard's stable SEABISCUIT went on to become one of the world's leading money earners.

THIS MUCH ANTICIPATED 6-RACE TIME CAPSULE of the horse affectionately known as, "THE BISCUIT", shows some of the biggest highlights in his storied career including his three runnings in the Santa Anita Handicap; a race that, year after year, was to become the main goal of SEABISCUIT's career. In 1937 SEABISCUIT would lose by a nose to ROSEMONT; the following year, 1938, STAGEHAND would be the victory spoiler...another nose too short. Due to an almost career-ending tendon injury, SEABISCUIT missed the 1939 Santa Anita Handicap but made an unprecedented comeback in 1940; with a crowd of over 80,000, the eight-year-old SEABISCUIT would rally over his stablemate, the great KAYAK II and win the 1940 renewal in glorious style. With this win, SEABISCUIT's immortality was assured; his dauntless quest to win the Santa Anita Handicap defined his greatness.

Next, his stretch run victory in the 1937 Hollywood Gold Cup is shown and, of course, the legendary 1-3/16 mile match race of November 1, 1938, between SEABISCUIT and WAR ADMIRAL at Pimlico in which each horse carried 120 lbs. The ENTIRE RACE IS SHOWN from walk-up start to finish...NOT JUST HIGHLIGHTS OF THE RACE! The entire turf world debated with passion the relative merits of the two contenders - one a fresh young gladiator in his prime...the other an old hero bruised by work and time. SEABISCUIT was the cull that the Phipps' had considered unworthy of keeping and had been sold for a paltry sum. He was now six-years-old, had been through the racing wars and became the grizzled handicap king; in addition the race would be a contest between East and West. No one who witnessed that race will ever forget it - it became a permanent part of American folklore. Try as he might, WAR ADMIRAL could not get past the determined SEABISCUIT...the little bay kept pulling away...he won by four lengths and set a new track record. As a result of the match race, SEABISCUIT became symbolic of the invincible war horse. He moved up to second place for total lifetime earnings next to SUN BEAU and he made the Phipps', who rejected him, look more ridiculous than ever!

ALSO INCLUDED ARE COUNTLESS OTHER NARRATED CHRONICLES OF HIS LIFE AND CAREER with rare footage of his owner Charles Howard, trainer Tom Smith, jockey John "Red" Pollard, training and other various rare footage of SEABISCUIT plus interviews with several fans who were in attendance at some of SEABISCUIT's races, a lengthy priceless segment from HRTV's ""Inside Information"" series showing rare film footage of SEABISCUIT from the Howard Family estate and of Laura Hillenbrandt, author of the latest best-selling book on SEABISCUIT.

And finally, at the end of the feature, as a RARE ADDED BONUS, watch the $25,000 winner-take all match race between America's Champion Older Horse and 1938 Horse-of-the-Year, SEABISCUIT, and LIGAROTI, a top distance running star from Argentina. The race pitted father against son with Charles S. Howard, SEABISCUIT's owner, competing with his son, Lin, who owned LIGAROTI in partnership with crooner Bing Crosby. The 1-1/8 mile race was run on Friday, August 12, 1938, as the fifth and featured race at Del Mar; SEABISCUIT would carry 130-lbs. and LIGAROTI 115 lbs...GEORGE "THE ICEMAN" WOOLF would ride SEABISCUIT and NOEL ""SPEC"" RICHARDSON would be up on LIGAROTI. A crowd of more than 20,000 turned out to see a race that had been well publicized throughout Southern California. The race was a thriller...the horses raced head-and-head for practically the entire distance and a couple of times in the stretch it appeared as if LIGAROTI would prevail. As the horses hit the home stretch, the riders started their own duel, hitting each other with their whips...RICHARDSON had WOOLF literally in a headlock as they crossed the finish line together. SEABISCUIT won by a nose in a time of 1:49 but the ""inquiry"" sign immediately lit up and the stewards delayed their decision. When it was finally announced, SEABISCUIT would stand as the winner but racing officials were furious and both jockeys were suspended for the remainder of the meeting for their questionable and foul riding tactics. There was much publicity in the following days and everyone agreed it was a sensational show. Turf writers from across America raved about the race and the track; Del Mar's reputation was made and this race more than any other event put Del Mar permanently on the map. The horses also went on to greater glory: SEABISCUIT, of course, went on later that year to upset 1937 Triple Crown winner, WAR ADMIRAL, in another dramatic and much more celebrated match race at Pimlico and was named Horse-of-the-Year...LIGAROTI went on to win the Del Mar Handicap that season but ended up a failure at stud - but he did die trying...he collapsed while covering a mare, whose resulting foal was appropriately named, "LAST BANG"!

When SEABISCUIT retired in 1940, he was the best-known and the most beloved sporting figure in the world; there was something about him that reached out and took hold of the hearts and minds of any one that was privileged to see him run. His was a remarkable record, not only because of the great things he did but, more importantly, because of the kind and honest manner in which he did them. He started 89 times, winning 33 races, being second 15 times and finishing third on 13 occasions. This fantastic 6-race time capsule with countless narrated chronicles can be yours...a lasting tribute to the little horse who defined courage and heart...SEABISCUIT.

1 Hour and 43 Minutes.

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