This activity will track the turbulent years of the Great Depression and the remarkable career of the legendary racehorse Seabiscuit, whose rise to fame captured the hopes and spirits of Americans during one of the most challenging periods in U.S. history. As you explore key moments in Seabiscuit’s career, you’ll learn how this underdog horse, who defied expectations and overcame significant challenges, became a symbol of perseverance and resilience. At the same time, you’ll discover how the Great Depression affected American society, the economy, and everyday life, with a special focus on the impact it had on sports and the entertainment world. This activity will help you understand how Seabiscuit’s story intersected with the larger national narrative, offering a beacon of hope to millions of struggling Americans and inspiring a sense of unity and determination during the darkest days of the 1930s.

Seabiscuit’s retirement from racing was officially announced on April 10, 1940. He was taken to Ridgewood Ranch in California to stand at stud until his death in 1947. Seabiscuit was inducted into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in 1958.

Pictured: Seabiscuit (Credit: Keeneland Library Morgan Collection) 

Seabiscuit Retires

On this day, in Lexington, Kentucky, a horse named Seabiscuit is born at Claiborne Farm, marking the beginning of a legendary career in horse racing. 

Pictured: Seabiscuit, Red Pollard up (Credit: Museum Collection) 

Seabiscuit is Born

The Great Depression is widely accepted as having ended in the United States in 1939, when the nation's economy began to show signs of improvement because of the economic boost provided by World War II and increased government spending. However, the recovery was slow and uneven, with many states and individuals not fully recovering until the mid-1940s as unemployment remained high and economic conditions varied across different regions. 

Pictured: Women Getting their hair done at the Chez Marie Beauty Shop, 1939 (Credit: Library of Congress)

The Great Depression Ends

Although the Great Depression was certainly a culmination of many factors, including agricultural overproduction, banking instability, and income inequality, the official start of the Great Depression is accepted as the Great Stock Market Crash on “Black Thursday,” October 24, 1929. On this day, panic selling led to 16 million shares being dumped on the market, causing stock prices to plummet and triggering widespread fear, as investors, banks, and ordinary Americans saw their wealth vanish almost overnight. This financial collapse set off a chain reaction that deepened the economic downturn, leading to widespread unemployment, poverty, and the failure of thousands of businesses. 

Pictured: Crowd of people gather outside the New York Stock Exchange following the Crash of 1929 (Credit: Library of Congress)

The Great Depression Begins

During his 2-year-old season, Seabiscuit was trained by the renowned Hall of Fame trainer James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons, who recognized the horse’s potential but also noted that he was often sluggish and lacked motivation. Despite Fitzsimmons’ expert training, Seabiscuit struggled to perform on the racetrack, losing his first 17 races and frequently finishing near the back of the pack, leading many to question his ability. However, in the fall of 1935, Seabiscuit’s fortunes began to change as he started winning more significant races at Narragansett Park in Rhode Island, including the prestigious Claiming Stakes. 

Pictured: “Seabiscuit,” from a 1940 print by Franklin Brooke Voss. Gift of Charlotte Dorrance Wright. 

Seabiscuit's Early Years

By 1933, more than 12 million Americans were unemployed, a staggering figure that reflected the widespread devastation of the Great Depression. For those fortunate enough to have jobs, the average annual income was just $547, which, when adjusted for inflation, would be the equivalent of earning only $33,300 today. This represented a 42 percent decrease in wages since 1929, highlighting the severe economic contraction that resulted in widespread poverty, social instability, and a dramatic shift in the American way of life during the 1930s. 

Pictured: Sculpture depicting a Great Depression breadline at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Washington, D.C. (Credit: Library of Congress)

Great Depression Continues

After seeing Seabiscuit's performance at Suffolk Downs in Massachusetts earlier that year, trainer Tom Smith was impressed by the horse's potential and convinced Charles S. Howard, a wealthy businessman and horse owner from California, to purchase the colt at Saratoga for $8,000 in a private sale. 

Pictured: Yearling sale at Saratoga, 1920 (Credit: Museum Collection)

Charles S. Howard Purchases Seabiscuit

In 1935, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was established as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal to combat the devastating effects of the Great Depression. The WPA aimed to provide jobs for millions of unemployed Americans by funding public works projects such as the construction of roads, schools, and bridges, as well as arts and cultural programs. In that same year, the unemployment rate was still alarmingly high, with nearly 20 percent of the workforce out of work, but down 22 percent from 1933. The WPA played a crucial role in decreasing the unemployment rate, offering millions of jobs and providing much-needed relief to struggling families across the nation.
 
Pictured: Destitute pea pickers in California. Mother of seven children. Age 32. Nipomo, California, 1936 (Credit: Library of Congress)  

Works Progress Administration

Seabiscuit and his jockey, Red Pollard, competed in the Santa Anita Handicap. The same race that had previously posed a challenge for the horse in previous years, having already lost it twice. In a remarkable turn of events, Seabiscuit and Pollard triumphed in the race, setting a new track record and securing their place in history. The victory was witnessed by the 75,000 spectators gathered at the event, breaking the attendance record at Santa Anita Park. 

Pictured: Seabiscuit, Red Pollard up, in the winner's circle with trainer Tom Smith, 1937 Yonkers Handicap at Empire City (Credit: Keeneland Library Morgan Collection) 

Seabiscuit and the Santa Anita Handicap 

Seabiscuit ran in the San Juan Capistrano Handicap at Santa Anita Park in California, a prestigious stakes race that attracted a massive crowd of 45,000 spectators eager to see the horse’s next performance. In a stunning display of speed and determination, Seabiscuit won the race by an impressive seven lengths, setting a new track record and solidifying his status as one of the top racehorses of his time. This victory further fueled his popularity with the public. 

Pictured: Jockey Red Pollard's leather leg brace, 1938 (Gift: Ms. Norah Christianson)

Seabiscuit runs the San Juan Capistrano Handicap

The Minnesota Food Riots of 1931 were a series of protests and violent outbursts in response to widespread hunger and economic hardship during the Great Depression. As unemployment soared and farmers struggled to sell their crops, many families in Minneapolis and surrounding areas faced severe food shortages. On March 6, thousands of people gathered outside food warehouses, demanding access to food at affordable prices. The protests turned violent when police clashed with the demonstrators, marking a turning point in the growing unrest across the country, as Americans increasingly voiced their frustrations with government inaction during the economic crisis. 

Pictured: Man lying on the ground (Credit: National Archives, via PBS)

Minnesota Food Riots

The United States experienced a significant but fragile period of economic growth as the country began to recover from the worst of the Great Depression. The economy grew by 4.8 percent, driven by increased industrial production, government spending, and the expansion of the New Deal programs. While the recovery was still uneven and unemployment remained high, this growth marked a turning point, signaling that the nation was slowly starting to regain its economic stability as it moved toward the looming demands of World War II. 

Pictured: Ethel Magafan's 1938 post office mural, titled, "Thresher," and funded by the U.S. Treasury Department's Section of Fine Arts as a "New Deal" project during the Great Depression in Auburn, the seat of Nemaha County in the southeast corner of Nebraska (Credit: Library of Congress)

Economic Growth 

: On this day, Seabiscuit and War Admiral faced off in a historic match race, the 1938 Pimlico Special in Maryland, in a highly anticipated showdown that had captured the imagination of millions of Americans. The race, which became a national spectacle, drew an astonishing 40 million listeners to their radios, eager to witness the thrilling showdown between the two champions. In a stunning display of speed and determination, Seabiscuit defeated the Triple Crown winner War Admiral, cementing his place as a legend in the world of horse racing and captivating a nation still reeling from the hardships of the Great Depression. This iconic race was not only a sporting triumph but also a symbol of hope and perseverance, as Seabiscuit’s victory was seen as a victory for the underdog.

Pictured: Silks word by George Woolf in the 1938 Pimlico Special, 1938 (Gift: Lt. Col. Michael Howard)

Seabiscuit Beats War Admiral in Match Race

A horse named War Admiral won the prestigious Triple Crown, solidifying his place in racing history by claiming victories in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. Seasbiscuit, however, despite never winning the coveted Triple Crown, had an exceptional year in 1937, finishing as the leading money winner in the United States. With $152,780 in earnings that year, Seabiscuit surpassed War Admiral by $8,000, demonstrating his remarkable consistency and success on the racetrack and earning him the admiration of fans and cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s greats. 1937 was the beginning of the legendary rivalry between the two horses. 

Pictured: War Admiral with Charles Kurtsinger after the 1937 Preakness Stakes (Credit: Keeneland Library Morgan Collection)

Standards for Providing Hope During the Great Depression

College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework