From coast to coast, for 12 long months, the debate had raged, was it War Admiral or Seabiscuit? Those in the East, had little doubt, their champ had been tested in the premier Classics, the Preakness, Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes, recording all the way wins in each event. War Admiral, it was said, would be too classy for the upstart from the West. He had drawn the inside, and it was thought his brillance from the stand, would see him jump straight to the front, and run Seabiscuit into the ground. The Biscuit supporters on the other hand, would have none of it. The hero of the down trodden, the peoples champion, it was hoped, would take the sit, as he usually did, and finish hard over the top of the Admiral in the last furlong. But the would be professionals, could not see it. The smart money would see War Admiral sent out as a hot favourite at 1-4, while Seabiscuit, despite his legion of dollar and cents followers, was installed a 2-1 chance. Money for the connections was of secondary importance. As much as $100,000 had been offered on a couple of occassions, now at Pimlico, they faced each other for a paltry $15,000. This wasn't about a cash return, this was about settling scores. It was to be the match race where training methods were called into play. War Admiral, in 3 seasons, had stepped out 23 times for 18 wins. Seabiscuit had been given a right thumping as a youngster before being bought by his present owners, facing the starter 35 times in his 2yo season alone. And now before the starter they stood, the air thick with expectation. Twice they had been called forward and twice they had been turned away. For the third time, George Cassidy called them to hand, his worries were over, the champions stood together. The bell smashed the eerie silence. With 40,000 hearts pounding, War Admiral and Seabiscuit launched themselves into furious action. As one they stepped away, but they were not together for long. To the utter amazement of the massed sea of humanity, George Wolf suddenly pulled the stick and set about wielding it with great authority on the battle hardened Seabiscuit. The result was astounding. The son of Hard Tack exploded up the straight the first time, leaving the stunned Charlie Hurtsinger on War Admiral little option but to take the sit. Out of the straight, three deep they careered in a cloud of billowing dust, with the knock 'em down, drag 'em out champion of the people, Seabiscuit, high balling in front, and War Admiral, two lengths away on the steel. As they flew down the back, the Iceman, now in his element, eased the Biscuit even further from the fence. He knew he had Hurtsinger caught between a rock and a hard place. The rider of the Admiral, didn't want to go to the inside, it filled him with fear, the last thing he needed was to be hampered by Wolf who would probably crowd him. Six furlongs out Charlie Hurtsinger, had had enough, he cast his fate to the wind, and let slip the mighty son of Man o' War. With the patrons in full roar, the long striding War Admiral quickly ranged up alongside the gallant Seabiscuit, and began to apply the blow torch. Head for head they went, eyeballing each other, at a frantic pace, with War Admiral on the outside, Seabiscuit the inner. The Admiral earning his stripes against the cream of the 3yos, while Seabiscuit had belted his way to the top in the rough house, take no prisoners racing of the West Coast. Around the small kink at the back of the track and down to the home corner they thundered, the silver tail and the battler, throwing everything bar the kitchen sink at one another. One had to crack, it would be the one with the softer underbelly, the triple crown winner from the East. By the time the Iceman had dragged Hurtsinger into the straight, War Admiral had fired off his last salvo. With nothing but destruction on his mind, Seabiscuit then commenced to tear the heart out of the Admiral's chest as he strode away to an emphatic, four length victory. http://fantasyhorseracing.webs.com/apps/blog/
You got it right mate, Seabiscuit did the job, as written. Wonderful ride. Here's the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVT2MPNCqgM
