Seabiscuit: An American Legendby Laura Hillenbrand
reviewed by Ruolin Li
While I was reading Seabiscuit at the beginning, I didn’t know why I choose this book. Even Seabiscuit was a famous legend in 1930s America. At first I thought Seabiscuit just talks about horses’ life, after I read the whole book, it proved me that Seabiscuit was not only a horse, but also was a spiritual leader who encouraged millions of people during the economic crisis. But now I realize that Seabiscuit is a wonderful and positive book, which makes people overcome their troubles. I couldn’t forget Pollard’s words after he won the Santa Anita Horse Race finally, he said: “You know everyone thinks that we found this broken down horse and fixed him, but we didn’t, he fixed us, everyone of us, and I guess in a way we fixed each other too.” Seabiscuit became a symbol of hope in peoples’ mind during that century.
There was an old word from ancient China, expresses that a swift horse needs people to discover its gift. Seabiscuit was the gifted swift horse and Smith was the man who discovered his talent. Before Seabiscuit met Smith, he was a short, inconspicuous and irritable horse. Nobody could let him calm and control him. It was very lucky that Smith recognized Seabiscuit was a really talented and nice horse by chance. But Smith didn’t have enough money to buy him. In this time, Smith found a very successful millionaire called Howard. Seabiscuit had his owner and trainer in this moment, but he still needed a jockey. Fortunately, Howard and Smith quickly met Pollard, who was a great jockey and once was a pugilist. Then, Pollard, Howard and Smith consisted a very firm triangle. Sometimes fate is amazing, because it gives people many surprises whatever good or bad. Pollard was the first one who gave the surprise to Smith and Howard. I couldn’t believe that Howard allowed Pollard to be the jockey after he knew one of Pollard’s eye blinded. Howard was a generous man and always forgave peoples’ faults, because he said: “You don’t throw a whole life away just because it’s banged up a little.” He proved his word when Seabiscuit injured and Pollard was broken his leg. Howard never gave up when some tiny problems appeared, that was why he became a successful millionaire. This was a very nice value that I learned from Howard. It also made me think about my life.
People thought Seabiscuit was a hero, because he saved them and warmed them up. In the 1930s, a big disaster of economy made millions of people lost their jobs, houses, family and hope. People felt disappointed, angry, hopeless and negative to their life. In this bad moment, an inconspicuous horse appeared. How could this short horse win a lot of races? How could he defeat War Admiral? That was incredibly amazing when people saw Seabiscuit did many wonderful things. We couldn’t judge somebody by his appearance, but people still looked down upon Seabiscuit because of his appearance. Everyone knows there is a tall, strong, beautiful and healthy horse can win the race. But Seabiscuit was a short, ordinary and once injured horse. Even he didn’t look well, he still gave people his positive energy and told them: “Hey guys, I am standing again and keep running, why you can’t? ” So people noticed that they also could overcome this disaster and find their hope like Seabiscuit did.
People remembered Seabiscuit, not only for his amazing experiences, but also for his spirit. He likes a torch in the darkness and never stops his steps. Seabiscuit was running to a hopeful future and took people to the new life. He was a light that was running in peoples’ heart forever.
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