“Match of the Century”, Part 2.

War Admiral, was foaled in 1934. American racehorse (Thoroughbred) who in 1937 became the fourth winner of the American Triple Crown - the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes.

The match race between War Admiral and Seabiscuit was billed as the second “race of the century.” The two Thoroughbreds had distinctly different styles of racing. War Admiral liked to start with a burst of speed, sustain it until the end, and eliminate his opposition early. Seabiscuit, the more phlegmatic of the two, preferred to come from behind, charging down the stretch with a terrific rush and frequently winning races at the wire.

Theirs was the seventh race on the program at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. War Admiral was a 1–4 favourite, Seabiscuit’s odds were 22–10. War Admiral won the coin toss and pole position. Two false starts kept the spectators on edge. War Admiral broke first, followed by Seabiscuit. On the third start, Seabiscuit’s jockey whipped him hard on his flanks, and he shot out in front with a great burst of speed as he was guided to the rail in front of War Admiral. Seabiscuit led by an open length as they passed the stands and ultimately won by four lengths, beating the track record by 1/5 second.