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hmcgivney 's review for:
Seabiscuit: An American Legend
by Laura Hillenbrand
I came to this book not really caring about thoroughbred racing, horse trainers, or jockeys. I wanted to read a story about an underdog who came out on top, who inspired millions during the most sustained depression our country has ever seen.
It speaks to Hillenbrand's skill as a writer that she made me care about Red Pollard and George Woolf, their injuries and their constant reducing to make weight. She made me care about a sport that's classist by nature, and some of the millionaire owners who invest time and money in animals who run races that last only a few minutes and probably cost people more money than they can afford to lose. She made me care about animals whose spirit to run and win is bred (overbred) into their very DNA.
And she made me care about a supreme character: lazy, always ready to eat his head off, cranky when his pal Pumpkin wasn't nearby, mean enough to play mind games with his competitors - letting other horses think that they might have a chance to catch him before putting them away, and vain enough to always strike a pose in the winner's circle.
It speaks to Hillenbrand's skill as a writer that she made me care about Red Pollard and George Woolf, their injuries and their constant reducing to make weight. She made me care about a sport that's classist by nature, and some of the millionaire owners who invest time and money in animals who run races that last only a few minutes and probably cost people more money than they can afford to lose. She made me care about animals whose spirit to run and win is bred (overbred) into their very DNA.
And she made me care about a supreme character: lazy, always ready to eat his head off, cranky when his pal Pumpkin wasn't nearby, mean enough to play mind games with his competitors - letting other horses think that they might have a chance to catch him before putting them away, and vain enough to always strike a pose in the winner's circle.