This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2021
The thoroughbred racehorse Seabiscuit was just what the American public needed to take their minds off the wrath of the Great Depression. An undersized horse compared to contemporary champions like War Admiral, Seabiscuit lost three-quarters of his first 40 races. From this auspicious start, Seabiscuit began winning under trainer Tom Smith, particularly on the West Coast where he won the Santa Anita Handicap in 1937. After winning California’s most prestigious race, Seabiscuit foundered a bit before winning five straight stakes races. The sporting press began to take notice and Seabiscuit and his unlikely origin story seemed to resonate with the American people. Though the people’s favorite, the much bigger and powerful War Admiral won Horse of the Year in 1937, A natural rivalry began brewing between the two thoroughbreds, culminating in their “Match of the Century” at Pimlico in November 1938. 40,000 fans packed the racetrack as more than 40 million listened on the radio as Seabiscuit beat War Admiral by four lengths. This propelled Seabiscuit into international superstardom. Two feature films have since been made about the horse's iconic history and rice to fame. This unique Type 1 photo captures Seabiscuit at a lighter moment in his California stall in December 1937. The back of the photo has the King Feature Syndicate stamping and the caption slug for publication. The photo shows nice even toning from age. Edges show the expected edge wear with light staining in places around its border. An out of the ordinary Type 1 photo of the racehorse that captured the public’s attention with his made for Hollywood David and Goliath story during the height of the Great Depression. Measuring 6-1/2" X 8-1/2", the photo has been encapsulated and graded a Type 1 Authentic by PSA/DNA.
Additional references on Seabiscuit:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seabiscuit_(film)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Story_of_Seabiscuit