Deseret News archives: Saga of Seabiscuit found the winner’s circle
On Nov. 1, 1938, a two-horse race between War Admiral and Seabiscuit became legendary. Do you remember who won?
On November 1, 1938, the "Race of the Century" took place at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, as Seabiscuit, the underdog hero from the West Coast, defeated the favored Triple Crown winner War Admiral by four lengths. War Admiral, a descendant of the legendary Man o' War, was a smaller and different horse than his famous father, but still an incredible thoroughbred.
In 1937, War Admiral won his first three starts, including the Kentucky Derby, solidifying his place as the Horse of the Year. The public demanded a match race between these two racing legends, and Seabiscuit, the champion handicapper of 1937 despite losing his first 17 races, ultimately emerged victorious. Over 40,000 fans attended the event, while an estimated 40 million people tuned in to the national radio broadcast.
The Deseret News covered the race extensively, providing previews and results in the weeks leading up to the event. The story of Seabiscuit captivated the public in 1938, and a movie immortalizing the horse was a massive hit in the early 2000s.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
