Seabiscuit was a Thoroughbred racehorse who lived from 1933 to 1947. He was the offspring of Hard Tack (sire) and Swing On (mare), and a grandson of the legendary Man o’ War. His temperament was not as ornery as Hard Tack’s (and early forebears), but he had a mind of his own, which his first trainer took to be laziness. He was short and blocky compared to many other champion horses, with a scrubby tail and knobby knees. 

Seabiscuit was originally owned by the well-known Wheatley Stable and trained by James Fitzsimmons, but his mediocre results led him to be sold to Charles Howard in 1936. From then on, Seabiscuit was trained by Tom Smith, who brought him to full form. His path to greatness was not a straight one, but he was named Horse of the Year in 1938, the same year he beat War Admiral in a match race. Early in 1939, he endured what many thought was a career-ending leg injury, but he returned the next year to win the Santa Anita Handicap. Over his career, he set numerous speed records at various tracks and earned a total of $437,730, a record at the time.