Seabiscuit can be seen as a symbol of American pluck and can-do spirit, of which the Horatio Alger tales are an example. This author, mentioned briefly in the book, wrote numerous young adult books in the latter half of the 19th century with protagonists that rose from disadvantaged positions to success through hard work or an act of courage. His book Ragged Dick exemplifies this and was the first of many to utilize this theme.

The horse can also be thought of as a symbol of America during the Great Depression: down but not out. His many trials and tribulations to become a champion and come back after a leg injury mirrors what the American people were going through in the 1930s. Unemployment reached 25% at its worst and people were in desperate straits. Dust storms in the West resulted in millions of “Dust Bowl” refugees, many seeking a better life in California. It was these kinds of experiences that led people to relate to Seabiscuit, and, as Hillenbrand writes, he provided a heroic tale that many were seeking. Like Seabiscuit, America would return after the “injury” of the Depression and once again enjoy prosperity with the war economy in the next decade.