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SEABISCUIT as he appeared in his racing prime Seabiscuit, Former Leading Money Winner of World, Dies in California Earnings of 37,730 Stood As Record Until Passed by Whirlaway Back in 1942 WILLITS, Calif., May 19.— Seabiscuit, Californias most popular thoroughbred and one of the greatest race horses in the annals of the turf, succumbed here midnight, Saturday, apparently of a heart attack, at the ranch of his owner, Charles S. Howard, San Francisco automobile magnate. Howard reported that the son of Hard Tack— Swing On, by Whisk Broom n., appeared normal during the evening, but about midnight a groom who sleeps in the stables, was awakened by a commotion in Seabiscuits stall and upon investigation, found that the stallion had fallen. Dr. John W. Britton, ranch veterinarian, was called immediately, but was unable to save the horse. Seabiscuit was bred by the Wheatley Stable of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Carnegie Phipps and her brother, Ogden Mills, former secretary of the treasury of the United States. He first saw the light of day on May 13, 1933, and thus was slightly more than 14 years of age at the time of his passing. Though he became the leading money-winning thorouhgbred of the world, with earnings of 37,730 when he accounted for the Santa Anita Handicap in 1940, he was acquired as a three-year-old by Howard for a paltry ,000 from Wheatley, his record up to that time being so mediocre. The son of Hard Tack failed to win until his eighteenth attempt, and as a juvenile he won but 2,510 through five victories in thirty-five starts. Often described by Howard as "one of the family," Seabiscuit flashed the first signs of his future greatness as a three-year-old. Then he was trained by the canny Tom Smith, who now trains the extensive Maine Chance Farm string of Mrs. Elizabeth N. Graham and just recently saddled Jet Pilot for his victory in this years "Run for the Roses." The colt who was acquired for the proverbial song suddenly blossomed ► into a star who could hold his own with any mans horse. In 1937, he won 11 of his 15 starts, just one notable performance being the winning of the San Juan Capistrano, Marchbank, Bay Meadows, Brooklyn, Butler, Yonkers and Massachusetts Handicaps in succession and at opposite ends of the country. This remarkable win skein had been preceded by a second by a nose to Rosemont in the Santa Anita Handicap. Why horses suddenly "get good" will always remain a mystery, but Seabiscuit did it for Howard and his earnings for 37 totaled 68,580. As a five-year-old in 1939, Seabiscuit was "in the money" in all of his 11 starts, and he climaxed the year with the most spec-taculor race of his career. This was in the Pimlico Special where he met Samuel D. Riddles War Admiral, who had won eight out of nine during the season. Their match race was the talk of the turf world, and piqued the curiosity of fans from coast to coast. It was a "natural." War Admiral, an easterner, was the favorite, but at the wire it was Seabiscuit by four. The year 1938 also marked the second successive year in which "The Biscuit" lost the Santa Anita Handicap by a nose, the famous three-year-old, Stagehand, being responsible for the upset. The next year, 1939, Seabiscuit came forth as the most respected racer in the country, but on February 14, in his first out of the year, he received a severe leg injury. But despite his bad leg, the great bay more than ever endeared himself to westerners. On three legs, practically, he pushed the capable Today to a mile in 1:35%, a record which to this day has withstood the assaults of the best horses in the country. As the late George Woolf dismounted past the finish line and led the horse back to the stands, the crowd, stunned and speechless, suddenly gave forth with an ovation which was a tribute to a great heart as well as a true champion. There was early talk that Seabiscuit would be back in the fall, but he didnt Continued on Page Three Seabiscuit, Former Leading Money Winner of World, Dies in California Earnings of 37,730 Stood As Record Until Passed by Whirlaway Back in 1942 Continued from Page One return and rumors flew thick and fast that his racing days were over. But they were not over. Ever an idol of Santa Anita fans, he paraded to the post in a sprint in February of 1940 and ran third. Again the ovation that greeted him was overwhelming. Another sprint and he finished sixth. Then came the San Antonio Handicap, another event in which he had been nosed out in 1928. With 124 pounds up, he coasted to victory, turning the mile and sixteenth in 1:42%. Then came the big test, the 00,000 Santa Anita Handicap. Would the third time be the charm? This was the question which people asked one another the country over. The Howard horse, now seven, certainly did do it, running the mile and a quarter in 2:01% with 130 pounds up. The victory catapulted him into the van of the worlds leading money-winners, with earnings of 37,730, a title he held until Whirlaway came along a few years later. That race marked the last appearance of Seabiscuit in competition. Thus he was retired a winning champion, with the cheers of the crowds following him to the pasture and the accolades of the turf writers inscribing his greatness in the annals of the turf. In stud, Seabiscuit got Sea Swallow and Sea Sovereign, both of whom ran against the best of their age division. Other Biscuits who have raced well include Bismarck Sea, Phantom Sea, Sea Imp, Tropical Sea third in the recent Santa Anita Derby, Sea Ace, Arabian Sea, Superior Bomber, Sea Song, Caspian Sea, Sea Flasher, Mediterranean, Sea Isle, Sea Spray, Paramarine and Sea Image. What Babe Ruth did for baseball, Sea-biscuit did for racing in the West. He brought it great popularity at a time when the sport was just coming back after years of adverse legislation. He captured the imagination of literally thousands who had never before seen a horse race, but who ► made their way to Santa Anita, Hollywood Park and Bea Meadows just to watch the Biscuit perform. A horse with a personality; he would nod to the crowd in a way reminiscent of Exterminator. His honesty on the track and the affection he was held in caused the Santa Anita management to erect a bronze statue to him near the saddling area to perpetuate his memory. For those who saw him race, his memory will scarcely dim. According to owner Howard, who just recently lost Kayak n., Seabiscuit will be buried in front of the ranch house. Sea-biscuit was awarded a plaque once and the inscription on it read, "The main issue in life is not the victory, but the fight; the essential thing is not to have won, but to have fought well." It suited the Biscuit perfectly. SUFFOLK DOWNS, East Boston, Mass.. May 19. — "It seems like only yesterday when we won the hunnert grand* in the Santa Anita Handicap. I just cane believe ol Poppys dead." That was the reaction of jockey John M. "Red" Pollard this morning when he learned of Seabiscuits unexpected death in California yesterday. Pollard, one of the leading veteran riders in New England, was under contract to Charles S. Howard during Seabiscuits reign as a great handicap horse and probably would have ridden the former worlds leading money winner in all of his stakes engagements had it not been for a serious spill that put "Red" on the sidelines for more than a year. "Yes, Seabiscuit was a grand ol horse," he told the boys in the jocks room. "He could do anything any other horse could do and then some. If he had been a sound horse it is doubtful if any horse could have ever looked him in the eye at level weights. Seabiscuit was full of ailments in his front legs. His knees were sprung, his tendons were bad, his ankles were always puffy and his feet shelly. But he. overcame this unsoundness with a heart that was bigger than himself. I really loved the old horse and we were pals." It was after both Pollard and Seabiscuit were "turned out" because of injuries that they became so closely associated. "I had broken my leg here in New England and was forced to remain in the hospital while "Poppy" was winning all those races. After I was released, Mr. Howard asked me to convalesce at his farm at Willits, Calif. Seabiscuit, shortly thereafter, was taken out of training because of infirmities and also sent to Willits, and there we spent many months together. Many were the hours that I spent rubbing his hot legs at Willits. We cut into an orchard and built a half-mile track so we could train him. It didnt seem that hed ever be back in shape, but we worked hard and after a year we had him ready. "My leg healed along with Seabiscuits and we both went to Santa Anita together in the winter of 1939. We won the San Antonio Handicap and followed that by beating Kayak II. in the Santa Anita. That was Seabiscuits last race. I knew it as we passed under the wire on top. He had changed his stride as if something were hurting him and I knew he was going to pull up lame. He did. That race he won on sheer courage — and three legs." Pollard couldnt "remember" Seabiscuits greatest race. "He ran many great races when he felt good, and even when he didnt feel so food," Pollard said. "This I know, when I asked him for speed the response was immediate. He had no bad habits and I could rate him with a blade of grass. He carried heavy weights and broke many track records. What more can one ask of a horse? Yes, Seabiscuit was the greatest of em all, or at least, of those I saw or rode. Therell never be another wholl run such races with front legs that were no more than tissue paper."
