The Great Racing Read: Ross Birkett

Seabiscuit: Three Men and a Racehorse
by Laura Hillenbrand

While many of us will have watched the Oscar-nominated film adaption of the book which does no disservice to Hillenbrand's novel, you would truly be missing out if you didn't spend the time to read her excellent story.

Set in 1930s America, Seabiscuit is a true underdog story about a crooked-legged horse who was transformed by the mysterious trainer Tom Smith, the half-blind jockey Red Pollard and overnight millionaire owner Charles Howard.

Each character comes with their own fascinating story and Hillenbrand brilliantly draws all these together as they harness their unique talents to bring out the best in Seasbiscuit as he conquers the horseracing world.

You can't help but love the characters. Yes, they have their flaws but it is this human side to them that makes each one become a friend almost, including the eponymous plain-looking bay colt himself, as they bid to tackle the racing snobs of the east coast of America.

But it is not just about the horse. This is about 1930s America, too. Adopting the accents of the time in words such as “hunnerd granner” and her masterly use of description, Hillenbrand transports you back to the time and puts you front and centre of the action.

What can let a lot of horseracing books down is the description of the races themselves but the hours of research Hillenbrand put into this side of the story shine through as once again you are put in the thick of the action and can feel every breath of each horse, each slap of the jockeys' whips and the blood, sweat and tears of the winner and all the losers.

I must have read this book four times over the years and with each reading comes the same pleasure as you immerse yourself in what is one of horseracing's best and most famous stories. Hillenbrand is an incredible writer and it is to our sport's benefit that she chose to immortalise this story for us all.