Customer Reviews

Come on Seabiscuit

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Ralph Moody's book is a warm tribute to the story of Seabiscuit. The illustrations are wonderful and it is written at the level for its intended audience. The original tale of Seabiscuit was written by B.K. Beckwith in 1940, his "saga of a great champion"; Moody realized the lessons inherent in this amazing horse--forgotten even by his time in the 1950s--and he recast the tale for a new audience, just the way Laura Hillenbrand did so successfully in our own time. Both Moody and Hillenbrand relied on Beckwith's book and I find the voices of all three to be excellent and complementary. Beckwith actually knew the horse and the people around him, so his book has the excitement of the time, but I recommend all of these books on Seabiscuit.

The story of Seabiscuit is the story of an underdog who succeeds. Seabiscuit was a grandson of one of the greatest racehorses ever, Man O'War. In spite of Seabiscuit's pedigree, he was not regarded as a promising winner. Misunderstood and overlooked, he was overworked when very young and nearly faded into obscurity.

An unlikely trio saw his potential and raised him to greatness. Charles Howard, a bicycle repairman turned wealthy automobile dealer and thoroughbred owner, purchased the horse. His trainer, Tom Smith, was a former frontiersman, who knew many secrets about training and doctoring horses. Red Pollard, a product of brush-league riding, became Seabiscuit's jockey. With the help of these three men, the outcast horse became a legendary winner on the track.

"Come On Seabiscuit" is written mainly for children, but as others have said, it is a good read for any age. It is an inspirational story about love, trust, friendship, and tapping inner potential in the face of obstacles. Having read this book as a child, I'm thrilled to see it reprinted.

If you like this book, another good one on the same topic is "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand. The Hillenbrand book is written for adults, and includes details about the rough realities of the racing world.

With the current fame of Hillenbrand's book, I dug Moody's book out for my young nieces. As good as Hillenbrand's book is, Seabiscuit is somewhat lost in the story of the men around him (Howard, Smith, Pollard, Woolf). Moody's book is shorter and geared to a younger audience. Seabiscuit the horse shines in this story more than Seabiscuit the historical phenomenon. I read once that Moody knew about some of Pollard's secrets, like his vision problem, but he promised to keep the secrets as long as the main players were alive. Moody also emphasizes how good a racehorse Seabiscuit was, how the blood of Man O'War ran through the veins of his grandson even if Seabiscuit didn't look the part. Some of the newer stories talk about Seabiscuit's being lucky to win and being from the wrong side of the track, when he was actually blazingly fast (tied and broke a number of records, including in the match race with War Admiral) and had the bluest of Kentucky blood in his veins.
But put the politics aside and read this wonderful story - like the old saying goes - it doesn't matter who trains them, and it doesn't really matter who rides them, and it certainly doesn't matter who owns them, in the end, a Thoroughbred will run as far and as fast as he was bred to run - and Seabiscuit ran true to his grandsire's heart.....and to his own.

This short book seems to be intended for children, but really is suitable for everyone. Seabiscuit's story is amazing. He starts out as a rejected ugly outcast and ends up as a champion. This is a true Cinderella story, beautifully told by Mr. Moody. It is a shame that this book is so tough to come by. It has recently been reissued, so hopefully many more people will enjoy it.

When I was 13 years old, I became mad about thoroughbred racing. For three Saturdays in the spring of 1978, I was glued to the television set as Affirmed won the Triple Crown that year. After that exciting series, I pestered my father to take me out to Santa Anita or Hollywood Park whenever I could get away with it, and in my freshman English poetry journal (recently unearthed), 90% of my poems were written about horseracing. I remember going with my father to see Affirmed win the Hollywood Gold Cup in 1979 and so become the first horse in history to win more than $2 million in his lifetime. It was at that race, that I learned about the story of Seabiscuit who had won the inaugural running of The Cup in 1938.

I discovered Ralph Moody's book in the library sometime soon after that memorable race, and I must have read it 20 times for all the events of that horse's life were still ingrained in my memory as I read through Laura Hillenbrand's book many years later. Moody's book focused more on the horse as a character and included details of Seabiscuit's earlier unsuccessful and unhappy career under famed trainer Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons--a part of the history largely ignored by Hillenbrand.

What I remember is a highly compelling, readable, and inspirational book: Seabiscuit and Affirmed became my leading sports heroes during that era. COME ON SEABISCUIT, though written for the older child or young adult, is a very readable book for adults as well, and due to its complementary history, would be an excellent companion volume to those who have discovered Seabiscuit through Laura Hillenbrand. I recently rediscovered and purchased the book for my own 9-year-old daughter. I am happy to see that this extraordinary book is now enjoying a resurgent and well-deserved popularity after all these years.

Jeremy W. Forstadt

Come On Seabiscuit was first published when I was in the sixth grade and I purchased it as part of a school bookclub order.I still remember how exited I felt as I read it and how I could not put it down. It is a wonderful story an unattractive young colt who is mistreated and discarded.Eventually the horse known as Seabiscuit comes to be trained by a small time trainer and ridden by a broken down has been of a jockey.Their climb to glory is a heartwarming story of three underdogs teaming together to overcome many adversities and gives the reader a real feel of what horse racing really is all about.The book also gives a feel for what America was like in a bygone era when legends arose from effort and courage.I still have my book after all these years.It is sort of like an old friend I visit once in awhile. To this day I enjoy horses and the beauty of the thoroughbreads-it is a beauty that shines from within these special animals and Iam able to recognize and appreciate it because I read COME ON SEABISCUIT many years ago.

Moody's biographical account of the amazing career of Seabiscuit, old Iron Horse, is both interesting in detail and highly readable in style. In 1933 the grandson of Man o'War was born, but immediately passed over due to his physical "faults." Condemned by a famous trainer and abused by too frequent racing, this gallant animal seemed to shame his rich, equestrian heritage. Yet his career is the story of courage--true blood will ultimately reveal the legacy of a champion. The gutsy horse who was scorned by most people in racing circles learned to trust the loving, skillful training of a bush league cowboy, which resuulted in a serious power in the Depression era racing world. The hope he inspired in his fans reflected the unquenchable hope of a nation crushed by economic despair.

This is a story of heartbreak and 2nd chances, of beating the odds and fighting an unrelenting jinx. Most of all the power of the spirit--both human and equine--to triumph over unfavorable circumstances and crippling prejudice. For seven years the unshakable will of Seabiscuit and the unfailing faith of his own-folks (owners, trainers and jockeys) kept this knobby-kneed wonder horse fighting for the fame and recognition he truly deserved. At the age of seven he strode into the record books. Though not a Triple Crown winner, he rode into the hearts of people for all time--the cast off who became a champion! This story will touch readers of all ages.

I read this book back in the 70's and grew up idolizing this amazing hero-horse (as I am sure many young horse-struck girls & boys did!). This book tells the story which centers more around the HORSE rather than the people in his life. A much better book if a child is interested in the story - less politics & history, more story. THIS is the book Laura Hillenbrand read at 7-years old which I'm sure inspired her to write her current movie-hit novel! "Come on Seabiscuit" by Ralph Moody is a MUST read for ALL horse fans!!!!

I read this book many times as a child. It was about a lesser know racehorse who overcame much adversity to become one of the greatest thoroughbreds in racing history

A great story told in an exciting manner.It is a story that combines the special relationships that people share with animals with an interesting look at the sport of horse racing. I read the book when I was twelve and then again as an adult and it was a great story all over again.