As a Junior in college, I set a goal to write enough essays to pay my college tuition for the year. I wrote till my hands cramped, and my mind blanked. In March of 2015, I had nearly hit my mark. I had just one essay left to write, and the prompt was, “If you could go back to any one moment in time, which would you pick?”. I wanted to share this because of all the essays, this is the one I remember most, the one I cherished. I had not read or shared it in the 4 years since it was submitted. Only because I was writing this post, did I venture to find Seabiscuit. When I did, I made myself tear up all over again.
“If I could travel back to any one point in time, I would want to see and experience Seabiscuit’s last race, the 1940 Santa Anita Handicap at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.
Although an unremarkable, imperfect horse Seabiscuit rose to become not only the best in his field but also a fantastic inspiration to many.
Mistreated as a foal, and saddled with birth defects including a limp, perpetual wheezing, and small stature, Seabiscuit was an unlikely champion. If Seabiscuit was too tiny, his jockey was too big, and for all the physical impediments Seabiscuit had to battle, he was not alone; his jockey was blind in one eye. Nevertheless, together, they became an unbeatable team.
Though Seabiscuit was physically the antithesis of a prize-winning horse, he had what most others lacked, heart. Seabiscuit was the underdog, much like the American public for which he raced. He was an incredible athlete who in conquering his defects became not only the best but more importantly, inspiration at a time when Americans were desperate for just that.
In 1939 Seabiscuit suffered an injury that should have ended his career. He was written off by many as finished. However, in 1940, Seabiscuit came back for one final race. That race, the 1940 Santa Anita Handicap, is the one I would have loved to witness.
Throughout his career, as Seabiscuit ran and fought with all his might, Americans did too. By 1940, America finally seemed clear of the Great Depression, but as war raged in Europe, destruction began throwing shadows on the horizon. At that moment, though, Americans could say that for all the strife, and all the hard times, they had finally made it. Seabiscuit had been with them, carrying them along, providing not just one leg up, but four.
The crowd that day would rival current day Super Bowl numbers. I can only imagine and long to experience the electricity running through the stadium on that day. To feel the spirited cheers as an American hero, a symbol of American fortitude, conquered illness and incredible setbacks to race one last time, to pull off the improbable victory. The exhilaration, communal joy, anticipation and, ultimately, relief of the crowd that day would have been beautiful to share.
Just reading about, or even watching theatrical remakes of the 1940 Santa Anita Handicap fills me with emotion; Seabiscuit is an inspiration. As an American, I am very proud of the people who helped form our nation and those who fight for it. Moments in history, like this one, where we stand together as one and triumph, are extraordinarily meaningful to me. Seabiscuit is a manifestation of the American strength for getting past dark days.
This race and the story of Seabiscuit are also of great importance to me because as a fighter who perseveres every day, I relish the moments and the heroes who prove that the fight is worth it. Who shows that even with bad days in between we can still come out winners.”