"Here in Kentucky is the Bluegrass Country, where champions are born black, bay, and chestnut." "Glorious creatures born to run and to keep on running when sinew and bone have given their all and there is nothing but heart left to carry them on." "Such are the thoroughbreds and it is of these that our story tells of one in particular and the love and faith of a man in that horse." "It starts here at Millford Farms, not far from Paris, Kentucky." "Watch your step." "Watch your step, sir." "This is your destination." "This is Paris." "Paris?" "Yes, sir." "The Millford Farm is just a few miles south of town." "Miles?" "Kilometers in your country, sir." "We've got miles in our country too." "Here you are." "Thank you, miss." "Good luck." "You gave him a shilling." "A quarter, Uncle Shawn." "We're in the U.S.A." "Now, why do you suppose the U.S.A. has to call a little dot on the map like this Paris?" "Maybe because it's so different." "Well, it's a good enough reason, I suppose." "Surely, Mr. Millford must have sent somebody to meet us." "is...?" "is you folks...?" "Could you tell me if there's a Mr. Millford, the horse breeder, anywhere about?" "I don't rightly know what you said, missy." "I'm here to pick up some folks that's going to Mr. Millford's farm." "A couple foreigners." "What language is this strange person talking, Maggie?" "I'm not sure." "Don't y'all speak English?" "Yes, we do." "Now, you listen carefully." "This is Mr. Shawn O'Hara. I'm his niece." "We've come all the way from Ireland." "Mr. Millford's expecting us." "Mr. Millford!" "Yes'm." "Yes'm, you is which I'm looking for." "I'm Mr. Millford's boy." "His boy, you say?" "Yes, sir." "Murphy's the name, sir." "Murphy" "Did he say "Murphy"?" "I think he did, Uncle Shawn." "Did you say Murphy?" "Yes, miss." "Murphy." "They calls me Walkin' Murphy." "Walkin' Murphy?" "Yes'm." "Most of us Murphys down here just sit." "I walk." "Well, that's fine." "Murphy!" "What part of Ireland are you from?" "I don't rightly know, sir." "Us Murphys down here only got a casual acquaintance with the Irish." "Come on, Murphy, take us to Mr. Millford." "I almost forgot what Mr. Millford said." "Welcome to Kentucky, the Bluegrass state." "Thanks, Murphy." "Start walking." "Yes'm." "Paris, Murphy, Bluegrass.... lt's a strange, new world, Uncle Shawn." "How are you, sir?" "Welcome to Millford Farms, Shawn O'Hara." "Thank you, sir." "You're Mr. Millford?" "Yes." "And this must be your niece, Margaret. I'm delighted, my dear." "Must've been a black day in Ireland when you left." "There's a little of the Irish in you, I'm thinking." "There's a little in all of us, isn't there?" "I've been wondering about that." "Margaret, we've made arrangements for you to continue your studies as a nurse in our hospital." "I can't thank you enough for that." "Well, you can thank me by spending all your spare time right here on the farm." "Let me show you to your quarters." "lf it's okay I'd rather lay me eyes on some of the thoroughbreds first, yearlings preferred." "Uncle Shawn's a little homesick." "Well, we'll fix that up right away." "Come with me." "Well, there they are, Shawn." "The prettiest sight in the world." "See anything here you like?" "Hello, George." "Shawn, this is George Carson, my head trainer." "George, this is Shawn O'Hara." "l've heard of George." "l've heard of Shawn." "And this is Margaret, Shawn's niece." "A real pleasure, miss." "Shawn's going to be a great help to us." "I'll believe that when I see it." "I hear you're a magician, Shawn." "You can look at a yearling and tell like that whether he'll turn out champion or cow." "You exaggerate my abilities, George, but" "But that's why you're here, Shawn." "Oh, brother!" "Why, we can't even tell for sure when they're 2-year-olds." "Even after testing them against each other we let a future winner go to the sales." "Perhaps you've let too many winners get away, Mr. Carson." "Now, Maggie, naturally George is doubtful." "If it's proof you want, Mr. Carson, listen to this:" "In all the years that Uncle Shawn trained for Lord and Lady Maitland in Ireland devil a colt that turned the trick was sold by them." "All right, Miss Margaret." "Let me in on the secret, will you?" "Of course. 'Tis simple." "When it comes to a thoroughbred horse, Uncle Shawn is fey." "Fey?" "What's that?" "It has to do with the little people:" "Elves, gnomes, fairies." "So we're going to have the fairies pick our horses for us." "Well, I give up." "You can have my resignation whenever you want it." "Of course not." "Don't fly off the handle." "You and Shawn will make a great team." "Well, if he's so all-fired fey or whatever it is I don't see why Lord and Lady Maitland didn't keep him under lock and key." "You've a perfect right to know why I came to America." "I'm through training jumping horses for the rest of me days." "You remember the last Grand National at Aintree?" "Sure, I remember." "I saddled the favorite, Blackwatch." "And the jockey was Danny, Margaret's brother." "He was a great jockey and a great lad." "Blackwatch was the best horse, and Danny the best jockey that day." "We were the favorite." "We had it won handily." "He was running easily." "It was just as though Danny were taking that grand, strong horse for a gallop." "Sure there were jumps, and Blackwatch flew over them." "Then came the last jump." "Who knows what happened?" "Not I, not anyone." "They failed to clear it, and Blackwatch was down with Danny under." "Both boy and horse were done for when I got there." "For 30 years, I've been training jumpers in the so-called sport of kings." "But that day at Aintree it came to me that when you kill a lovely lad and break the back of a fine horse the devil's in it, and not kings." "A large part of me heart is in Danny's grave." "And as for Margaret, I only hope the time will come when the blackness of that day will be lifted from her soul." "We'll do all we can to help you both, Shawn." "Thank you, sir." "Have you got a carrot, Libby?" "A nice big one." "Carrot?" "Carrot?" "There you go, carrot." "I never saw a man eat so many carrots in my life." "Great thing, a carrot." "Goes straight to the legs." "Puts speed in them." "I don't see you getting around so extra spry." "Uncle Shawn?" "There's your best gal." "Uncle Shawn?" "Hello, Margaret." "So here you are." "It's nice to be home again." "Darling, I'm spending the night." "I've all tomorrow off." "That'll be fine." "Tell me, how is things at the hospital?" "Not bad." "The head nurse gave me a smile and a pat on the arm this morning." "Hello, Miss Margaret." "Hello, Libby." "Give the girl a cup of tea, Libby." "Yes, sir." "l'll be back in a jiffy." "Where are you off to?" "Just out for a bit." "I might have known." "The moon's full." "Up to your old tricks?" "I'm going with you this time." "I'm only going to look at the yearlings, and the grass is swimming with dew." "And do you look at the yearlings through this?" "You'll not get away from me, no matter what." "All right." "Come along if you must, but don't blame me if you're soaked to the knees." "Now, then, Miss Curiosity out there are the yearlings cropping bluegrass." "Look." "They like it fine, but a colt likes a carrot beyond all else." "Well, there's a grand big one." "The youngsters know by now when I call the first one to the fence gets the prize." "Look sharp." "They're running free as air with all the speed they've got." "Watch, watch, watch." "Colt!" "Colt!" "Colt!" "Colt!" "Colt!" "Colt!" "Uncle Shawn, this one beat them all." "That's not the best of it." "He'll run the distance." "How do know that when he only came a furlong?" "Did you notice how solid his hooves hit the ground?" "Sprinters run high-headed and light-footed." "It's a frolic with them." "It's a business with this little lad, a business, and he gives it his all." "He is small, a full hand below the rest." "Sure, he's small in the body, but big in the heart." "What do they call him?" "Seabiscuit." "You'll be hearing the name someday." "Come on." "We'll get back to the house." "Uncle Shawn, why do you do this under the moon?" "You can see better in the day." "Yes, and so could everybody else." "In no time, no one would believe I had the seeing eye when it came to a colt." "I'd be just an old fool who'd stumbled on a few things." "Why, you old fox." "Call me that if you like, Maggie, but here's a piece of advice." "When it comes to a man you might think of for your own don't let him see how simple you are." "Wrap yourself in a little mystery." "Uncle Shawn?" "Yes, me darling?" "Sure a girl knows that when she's in short dresses." "Gallant Lad, nice, quiet colt, handles good." "Yes, sir." "Got lots of daylight under him." "Quite a ways from his withers to his hips." "How's he bred?" "Gallant Man and Kind Lady." "That should be a good nick." "What do you say?" "They gotta be shorter in the back." "I'd let him go." "Shawn?" "l go around with George." "Shipping paddock." "What's this?" "Hurry On by Push On, dam, Wedding Ring." "Wants more girth, high shouldered." "What do you say, George?" "He wouldn't like a distance." "Turn him loose." "And Shawn?" "No, he'll be through at 6 furlongs, but he'll run that good and fast." "He should win some cheap races for you." "I'd not let him go." "Put him back in the barn." "Yes, sir." "What's this one?" "Sweet Sue by Time Supply, dam, Mary Ellen." "She's sweet, all right." "Short back, good bone, nice all over." "Agree, George?" "Yeah, a good solid chunk. I like her." "And you, Shawn?" "I hate to be the odd man, but I wouldn't give a shilling for her." "is that so?" "Why not?" "She'll be a cow." "No fire in her." "As soon run last as first." "I see." "Shipping paddock." "Come on, boy." "Well, that does it." "You don't need me around here." "Easy." "Keep your shirt on." "Who's the head trainer, him or me?" "Shawn made a great record in Ireland judging yearlings." "That's why he's here." "But this isn't lreland. lt's Kentucky." "He doesn't know how these colts are bred." "He's right there, sir. I'm not straight yet on American bloodlines." "Some colts' souls say, "After you, mister,"  when a better-hearted one looks them in the eye, no matter how they're bred." "So what?" "We can't carry 50 yearlings to where we can put the acid test on them with boys up." "We make a profit on this farm." "We stay out of the red." "That is, for the 1 0 years I've been here." "And I picked the colts we kept." "I know. I know." "You judge the next two or three, George." "Shawn and I won't open our heads." "l'll not so much as respond. I give me word." "Come on with him." "And that was bred here?" "What is it?" "Seabiscuit by Hard Tack, out of Swing On." "He's always been kind of runty." "Runty's right." "Look at those knees, big enough for a 3-year-old." "Deciding about this one won't strain you." "Get him to the shipping paddock, quick." "One minute." "I gave me word, and you can call me what you like." "But I'm going to have me say." "I'm begging you, I'm praying you don't let this little man go." "Well, can you beat that?" "Boss, I stood for a lot here this morning." "But if you keep this runty, big-kneed thing on the say of this Irish expert I'm getting off the place." "You don't know what you're saying." "I'll leave, and gladly, to trouble you no more on one condition." "Give this colt a chance to show you what he can do." "Nobody's going to leave over one yearling." "Shawn, I promised George, and I'm keeping my word." "Shipping paddock." "The day will come when you'd hold your head higher and breathe deep to be his owner." "You die hard, don't you, Shawn?" "I doubt if it's hard enough." "Hi, there." "Good morning." "Yeah, it is, isn't it?" "Remember me?" "I think I've seen you. I forget just where." "I was with the exercise boys when Mr. Millford was showing you the place." "Whoa!" "Whoa, whoa, boy." "If you're an exercise boy, better get to work." "He's fretting to be out there." "Exercise boy?" "Listen, sister, I'm Ted Knowles." "Should that impress me?" "You never heard the name?" "Not that I recall." "Well, look, I've gotta work this thing." "I'll be right back." "Come on, boy." "Come on." "Little five, be good to me." "Fever, destroy the South." "Could you lads tell me something now?" "Who is Ted Knowles?" "Ted Knowles?" "Yonder he goes on War Chief." "Yes, I know, but what does he do?" "Does he work here?" "Work here?" "He's top jock." "Yeah, he wins more big stakes than he's got freckles." "Thanks." "Hey, Lightning, come get him." "Were you giving me the runaround a few minutes ago?" "The what?" "The runaround, the business." "What strange language are you talking?" "l forgot." "You're fresh out of Ireland." "And the top of the morning to you." "Not bad, huh?" "Bad enough to start a fight in Ireland." "You know, you've got an accent just like old Shawn." "On you I like it." "My, you're a fast starter." "That's my reputation." "Then you did know all along who I was." "I found out." "Interested?" "I should've known you were a jockey." "That's all right." "I can't expect you to know everything before we've even got started." "Jockeys have sort of a special something about them that's easy to tell." "The bandy legs?" "'Tis more a secret thing of the spirit." "Say, what's your name?" "Margaret O'Hara." "Margaret." "I'll tell you what." "I'll win my first race this year for you if you promise to be there with maybe a two-spot on his nose." "No." "Never." "Why not?" "It would be bringing back a black memory to torment me." "Well, now who's talking crazy?" "Margaret, I've gotta work a couple more horses." "Where can I see you again soon?" "No place at all." "No place at all?" "Am I that hard on the eyes?" "You're not hard on the eyes at all, Ted, but you're a jockey." "Goodbye." "Hello, Mr. O'Hara." "Hello." "ls this the lot we're letting go?" "'Tis worse luck." "The vans will soon be loaded and ready to go." "Say, I think your niece is swell." "You can't start an argument with me that way, me boy." "I just wanna know if it'd be okay by you if I dated her." "And if it shouldn't be okay by me I'm thinking you'd start an argument." "Well, I thought maybe you had it in for jocks too." "Darned if I don't think I'd stand a better chance with her if I were a stable boy." "She's a mystery, that Margaret is." "Maybe you could put in a good word for me." "Being the kind of man you are, I've an idea you can solve that mystery without my help." "However, I might be willing to put in a word here and there if you do me a bit of a favor in return." "Anything you say." "l'll not say much." "Just buy that colt there, Seabiscuit." "Me, buy that little squirt?" "What for?" "l like him." "But he hasn't got a chance." "George doesn't think so either." "I think you're both mistaken." "Why don't you buy him yourself?" "No, no." "So long as I train for other people, I'll never race one of me own." "I might be tempted to give him special consideration." "I feel the same way myself." "Hello, Uncle Shawn. I'm catching the next bus. I've had a wonderful time." "Maggie, darling, before you go, I want you to do something for me." "What is it, Uncle Shawn?" "l want you to turn your charm on Ted and do all you can to persuade him to buy Seabiscuit." "I'd do anything I can for you, Uncle Shawn, but that." "No, you'll do that too." "You know how I feel about Seabiscuit." "Go on, now." "Hello, Ted." "Hello, Margaret." "That uncle of yours is all wet." "That colt, Seabiscuit, is a washout." "Anybody can see that." "Uncle Shawn sees more than anyone else." "He has a second sight. lf he says Seabiscuit's good, there's no other answer." "Inside information. ls that it?" "Yes, from the little people." "The who?" "The Irish that are fey talk to the little people and get inside information." "lt never fails." "How about you?" "You talk to that bunch too?" "Sometimes." "They told me about you." "No kidding." "But nobody could make me buy a colt like that one." "Not even me, Ted?" "Hello, son." "What's on your mind?" "Sir, I've taken a fancy to one of the colts you're shipping to the sales." "Seabiscuit." "If you put a price on him, I'd like to buy him." "You'd like to buy him?" "Yes, sir." "Give it to me straight, Ted." "Who put you up to this?" "You won't make trouble for anyone if I tell you?" "No, my word for it." "Well, O'Hara held him out of the shipment." "I've promised a certain party to buy him." "O'Hara?" "No, his niece." "She knows a lot about horses." "I see." "To begin with, you know a jockey can't race his own horse in this country." "Well, no, but I can have him trained." "And then what?" "Well, if he was any good, I could sell him." "I'd sell him to you." "Now, that's a thought." "Right back where we started from." "No, Ted." "Here's the best way out of it." "I'll keep him." "That'll be fine." "Fine!" "Thanks!" "Hello, Margaret." "Hello, Ted." "lt's nice to see you again." "Thanks." "By the way, I appreciate what you did about Seabiscuit." "Well, that's all right." "What are you doing here?" "It's your day off." "I'm driving you to the farm." "I'm not going to the farm." "Why not?" "l have work to do, studying and the like." "I'll tell you a little secret." "I don't believe you." "Well, please, Ted, I'm not going out." "All right. I'll drive you home or wherever you're going then." "Thanks, Ted." "Goodbye." "Wait a minute, Margaret." "What's the matter?" "What have I done?" "Last week I thought" "Last week I flirted with you a wee bit for Uncle Shawn." "He wanted to keep Seabiscuit where he could keep an eye on him." "Anyway, 'twas all for Uncle Shawn I did it." "No, Margaret, you're a bad liar." "Come on, give out." "All right, then. I'll give out." "I should've told you before but you happened along so sudden-like I didn't have the chance." "I saw my own brother killed under a horse and he was the best jockey of them all." "You poor kid." "I could never stand to see you ride races day after day or even to know you were riding them after we'd grown as close as" "As I know we would." "We'd say here your brother's number was up." "It could've happened in a car, in a plane crossing the street, just as it did on the track." "But you can't let a thing like that come between us." "I love you, Margaret." "Thanks, Ted." "'Tis a terrible cruel blow they're aiming at me and I'm not going to take it." "I'm a coward, Ted, and no girl for a man like you." "Now, sit still on the colts, boys." "Don't get them excited." "Take Seabiscuit in last, Ted." "Well, it won't be long now, Irish." "True." "It won't be long till what?" "Boss, I don't think there's room for this guy and me on one breeding farm." "If I can't have the say as to what we keep or what we let go, I want no part of it." "So we've made a deal." "Go on." "He finagled around until you held Seabiscuit over a full year against my advice." "Shawn's agreed if he's wrong..." "...he'll get out of my hair." "How?" "Beat it, go somewhere else." "If he's right, I'll be pulling out." "So there's the little runt up there with the other 2-year-olds ready to lay it on the line." "And to show you I'm a fair guy, guess who's on him?" "Ted Knowles." "Well, of all the childish, nonsensical-- Shawn, did you agree to this?" "I did, sir, for two reasons." "George has been unhappy about my interfering ways." "I'd feel the same if a stranger moved in on my domain." "That's one." "The other is this:" "If I'm wrong about that colt I shouldn't be here." "I should be in a home for the demented." "You two, without consulting me, decided to go--?" "They're running." "Come on!" "Come on, boy!" "Come on!" "Well, he broke in front, stopped to a walk, and ran last with Knowles up." "He ate a lot of grain and hay in a year, Irish." "Most of it went to his knees from the looks of him." "I've got to think this out." "Have you thought about where you'll go?" "Shut up, George!" "I've got to think this out." "Now, listen, George, I've had enough of this." "You proved your point." "Drop it right here." "Okay. lf you say so, boss." "Have him admit I'm right, and I'll forget it." "Shawn!" "Glory be, that's it." "Listen, Shawn George is willing to call off your deal." "Admit he's right and shake hands." "Right it is." "He's as wrong as a man can be." "Boss, he'd drive anybody nuts." "Surely, you can't say that after what we've just seen." "Yes, I can." "You see, he's a sociable little fellow." "He was out for a nice gallop with his pals that he's been in pasture with for a year." "Why should he run away from them with no carrot at the end?" "Carrot?" "What are you talking about?" "Never mind, never mind." "At the races now, with strangers in it, he'll be leaving them behind easy enough." "So now he's to go to the races." "Bless your heart and soul, yes, as quick as we can get him there." "Well, tie that!" "Stick, Irish." "You'll give me a laugh every day." "I'll stay, and gladly, on one condition." "The little fellow goes away with the string to run the carousel." "Such faith as that should be rewarded, George." "l agree." "Thank you, sir." "The horses are approaching the starting gate." "I'd have had you closer to the finish line, but I thought it better to hide out." "You see, I'm supposed to be on the farm." "Why, Uncle Shawn." "It's Seabiscuit I'm spying on." "So far that little colt has started 1 1 times and never won once." "What's the matter with him?" "lt's a mystery." "Carson should've found out before this." "Now I'm going to find out." "He's in this race, far out." "All right, boys, get ahold of your horses and keep them moving." "That friend of yours is on the Biscuit." "Ted Knowles." "Turn that three horse around, Jack, and take him in easy." "He's in number three, a nice spot." "They'll not cut him off." "Ted'll see to that." "He's a great lad to get a horse away." "Get ahold of that seven horse." "Turn his head around." "And they're off and running." "At the start it's Seabiscuit breaking on top." "Microbe is second." "Green Mist is third." "Trance of Lady is fourth." "He's in the lead." "Up to now." "Passing the half-mile post, it's Seabiscuit in front by two lengths." "Green Mist is second by a head." "Microbe is third." "He's in front, running easy." "Too easy, I'd say." "Both ears forward. I don't like that." "Microbe is third." "And Knowing is making a bid on the outside." "Put your ears back and listen for them." "They're not your friends." "They'll do you no good." "Knowing racing wide on the outside is second." "Here comes Pullman closing ground between horses." "Come on, come on!" "Come on!" "They're catching him." "They're catching him!" "They passed him." "In a driving finish, it's Pullman in command." "Maggie, he's beat." "It's Pullman winning it by a half a length." "Knowing is second by a neck, and Royal Fox is third." "Out of the money again, a wicked shame." "Come on, Maggie, I want a word with the boss even if it means me job." "Stopped to a walk." "Always does." "He didn't finish like a tired colt." "He just didn't seem to be trying." "Hello, Mr. Millford." "Hello, Shawn and Margaret." "How do you do, Mr. Millford." "Well, my dear I just saw a colt beaten that you selected." "That was only today." "He'll do better." "It runs in the family." "I'll wait for you, Uncle Shawn." "Sit down, Shawn." "What are you doing here?" "l get it." "Came to watch his handpicked horse." "Two years old, and he's tired already." "Now, listen, both of you." "You just saw a colt beaten that should've won going away." "Great balls of fire, here we go again." "I'm asking a favor, sir." "I'd like to go the stables and make a little change in the Biscuit's blinkers." "While you're at it, you might trim his mane." "It may be throwing him off balance." "Well, how about it, sir?" "Irish, you give me more laughs than the funny papers." "Well, sir?" "George is training him." "What about it, George?" "Save yourself the trouble, Irish." "We're not taking the Biscuit on from here." "He's going to the farm for the winter." "George is the boss." "That cough of yours stays with you like poor relations." "What is that you've got there?" "Your sassafras tea." "That vile concoction." "Now, you drink it down!" "I'm not touching it." "Take it away." "Take it out of me sight!" "Here now, what's all the rumpus?" "He won't drink his sassafras tea." "Why, Uncle Shawn, you ought to be ashamed of yourself." "That poison is worse than me cough." "It's nothing of the kind." "We're only trying to help you." "You're not helping me." "You're killing me." "Get me a glass of water." "You hear me?" "Just a minute, Uncle Shawn." "He's getting awful fussy here of late." "Awful fussy, Miss Margaret." "What's in this?" "Just sassafras and Indian herbs." "It's to soothe his bronchial tubes." "Here, take this." "And get out of here before I blow a germ on you." "Now, no more shenanigans, Uncle Shawn." "You drink this." "Taste it for me, please." "That's all that I'll do, just taste it." "And to think I've been throwing this nectar into the fire." "I feel better already." "I agree with you, Margaret." "He should get to a warmer climate." "Where should I take him for a warmer climate?" "You'll go with him?" "Indeed, and I will, sir." "What about your nursing?" "I'll be nurse to him and him alone until he's well." "Well, then I think we'd better make it California." "Charlie Howard bought a stock farm out there." "He could use Shawn." "Oh, yes." "I'll write to him." "Thank you." "Thank you, Mr. Millford." "Hello, honey. I'm glad you didn't go to town." "I want you to meet our new trainer." "This is Mrs. Howard." "Mr. O'Hara, how do you do?" "The Mr. O'Hara bothers me, sir." "Shawn is what I answer to best." "Well, I've heard so much about you from Lady Maitland in London I feel I really know you." "I trained for Lord Maitland for 20 years." "She raves about you." "Says you're a wizard with horses, the greatest trainer in the world." "Well, Lady Maitland is extremely emotional." "We'll do all right with him training for us." "How about it, Shawn?" "If you called me Mr. O'Hara, I'd have quit before I started." "Well, Shawn, you've seen it all now." "What do you think of our farm?" "How many acres have you now?" "Six thousand." "Did you ever see an acre win a race?" "As bad as that?" "We got to go east and do some buying." "I've got my eye on one or two we can get." "We'd better start right away." "Wait, I don't know if I trust you two to go shopping." "Shawn will see that no one puts anything over on me." "Have you any particular favorites?" "No, not offhand." "Yes, come to think of it now, I do know of one." "And he shouldn't cost you too much, either." "Sir, it'll be a pleasure to go east to the sales with you." "indeed it will, sir." "Now we're gonna get someplace." "Gentlemen, this is the last consignment of the evening and a good one." "Tip number 47, a brown filly, trained as you'll need by Gallant Fox out of Mistletoe." "She'd by Sunbolt." "There she is." "What do you give for starters?" "Let's have a bid." "l'll give 8000." "Eight thousand?" "This is Saratoga, Gus." "Did they clean you at the track this afternoon?" "I've got $8000. I'll stand on that." "Who'll make it 1 0?" "Ten thousand." "Ten thousand I've got, $ 1 0,000." "Let's stop fooling around." "I've got 1 0." "Who'll make it 1 5?" "Fifteen thousand." "Fifteen thousand it is." "Look how she's bred." "I've got 1 5,000 now." "Whisper 20,000, somebody, and I'll get you." "Twenty-five thousand." "Twenty-five thousand!" "Twenty-five thousand I've got." "Who'll say 30?" "I've got 25,000 once, 25,000 twice." "Any more?" "And sold over there for $25,000 to Samuel D. Riddle." "I'll bet you when that filly goes to breeding paddocks the sire of her first foal will be none other than" " Remove your hats." "None other than Man o' War." "That's all for tonight." "Thank you very much." "Now is a good time." "Speak to him before he gets outside." "l thought we came east to get the best." "We did." "You want me to buy a selling plater." "l do." "If you get him and anything goes wrong, I'll work for you for 1 0 years as a stable boy." "All right." "Come along." "No, leave me out of it. I'll see you later." "And the Knowles contract." "Get that if you can too." "Hello, Tom." "Hi, Charlie. I saw you across the sales ring." "This is my trainer, George Carson." "Hi." "Did you buy anything?" "No, but I'll buy one now if you'll sell." "I saw a 3-year-old of yours in a selling race smallish sort of colt with big knees, Seabiscuit." "Seabiscuit?" "Why do you want him?" "You can't always shoot for the stakes." "I gotta have some for cheap races." "He was entered for 6000." "Will you take 8000?" "I think so." "How about it, George?" "The string's pretty large, boss." "We got a lot like him." "lt's a deal." "Good." "We'll get him tomorrow." "By the way, Tom, I hired Shawn O'Hara on the strength of your letter." "What's the joke?" "Nothing." "Only George and I know now why you want the Biscuit." "When you get him back to California don't let Shawn stable him in the living room." "He ran pretty good today, Shawn." "Yes, as far as he went." "Ted, you're riding for a grand man." "I persuaded him to buy your contract." "I didn't need much persuading." "This puts me nearer to the O'Haras." "Friday the 1 3th didn't bother the biscuit." "He ran third." "That's better, anyway." "It's a great deal better, Mrs. Howard." "He knew to cock an ear at the last 1 6th." "Mr. Howard, I think he knows now." "Today did it." "Let's enter him in the Governor's Handicap in a week." "The Governor's Handicap?" "Him in a stake?" "Yes." "l think I hired a completely mad lrishman." "Well, I don't." "Go on, enter him, Shawn." "Thank you." "l'll see you later, Mrs. Howard." "People will laugh at us." "The best horses are entered in that stake:" "Azure Car, Biography, horses like that." "I know, but remember what Lady Maitland said." "Shawn was never wrong once." "Your Lady Maitland's making a fool out of me." "No, not a chance." "What are you doing, Shawn?" "Listen, Ted, you just finished third on a colt that could've won." "is that so?" "The bad ride beat him, huh?" "No, his disposition beat him." "He's too friendly, too sociable for his own good." "Now, I've been working on an idea." "I cut two holes in his blinkers, and here's what you've got to do." "The next time you start with him, take him to the front if you can." "When you see the head of a horse closing in on you out of the corner of your eye hit the Biscuit with all the power that's in you, three times, no more." "After that, hand-ride him to the wire." "is that clear now?" "Sure, that's easy." "And get this, do it every time you start, three terrible, hard cuts." "Okay, then what?" "He'll soon learn it's not play, and it won't be long till you notice him cocking an ear back to hear what's coming up behind." "After that, you won't need a whip." "He'll go to get away from it when he gets a peek at the closing horse through the holes in his blinkers." "Well, it won't hurt to try." "I'll ride him just that way." "I think it'll work." "Turning into the stretch, it's Seabiscuit by two lengths." "Ned Gray is second by two, Challopan is third." "He's still out in front." "Come on, little Biscuit!" "He's got an ear back." "He's listening for them." "They're coming down to the wire." "It's Seabiscuit in front." "And it is Seabiscuit, the winner by a length." "Yeah!" "He won!" "Now, what do you think?" "Lady Maitland was right about Shawn." "She certainly was." "He's a wonderful man." "Well, me lad, it won't be long now." "Los Angeles in two hours." "What do I ride first?" "Fair Knightess in the San Carlos Handicap." "What's in it besides her?" "Not so much." "She should win." "Margaret's in Los Angeles, isn't she?" "Yes, she's a fully fledged nurse now." "You know, I can't get her out of my mind." "Maybe you don't want to." "Are you in love with her, Ted?" "You're darn tooting." "I'm tooting she's in love with you too." "So that ought to make it a sure thing, but it doesn't." "You'll have to bear with her." "She's running away from Danny's memory." "But she's not running away from it, Shawn." "It's right with her all the time." "I wonder if she saw me ride a winner if maybe that would fix things." "What do you think?" "That's an idea." "l'll have her at the San Carlos." "That'll be great." "Hello, darling." "Girl of me heart." "You look fit as a fiddle." "And Seabiscuit, I wonder what Mr. Millford and Carson think of him now." "Well, to make the understatement of the year, Maggie, they're not happy." "I'll tell you later." "Get in some clothes." "You're going to Santa Anita with me." "Seabiscuit isn't running today." "No, but you'll see something with two legs who's in a fair way to become a champion himself." "Need I tell you his name?" "No, you needn't." "I can't go. I'm on duty." "You love Ted, don't you?" "Please, Uncle Shawn, this isn't the time or the place." "l told you, I'm on duty." "l'm thinking of your duty to yourself." "You're neglecting it shamefully." "You'll never be happy sticking your head out of sight like an ostrich." "Hold it up proud, me girl, and face the truth." "Now, hurry, you're free for the afternoon." "Who said?" "The superintendent." "l just talked to her." "You didn't say we were going to the races." "I told her you were my niece, I was from Ireland and that I'd be in Los Angeles for just this afternoon." "Well, you lying old devil." "You do me a great wrong, Maggie." "There's not a word of a lie in it." "You're me niece, right enough, and surely I'm from Ireland." "And I'm driving back to the ranch this very night." "Are you sure it was the superintendent, Ms. Newsome, you saw?" "I doubt her letting anyone off." "That's it." "Newsome." "A sour, old witch with a voice like a foghorn and a eye like a tomcat." "Did I hear my name?" "Me dear lady, you did, indeed." "I was just talking about a Ms. Newsome of County Kerry." "I was thinking how strange it was that you, so kind, so generous, so understanding should have the same name as that old harridan." "Get into your street clothes quickly, child." "There's a service at All Saints at 2:00." "Yes." "The horses are approaching the starting gate." "Sit here in front, Margaret." "No, Mrs. Howard. I'm fine here." "All right." "Let's go." "Pull that number 3 horse a little slow, Ed." "He's a bad actor." "Stay with him." "Fair Knightess will be all right." "l'll say this, Mr. Howard the jockey doesn't live that can get a horse away better than Ted." "That's fine, boys." "Now take that 6 horse in." "You never saw him win one, did you?" "No." "No, I didn't." "Well, I think you're going to see it now." "Watch him, he's on Fair Knightess." "Get up with that number one horse, Jack." "There they go." "It's Legal Light going to the front, Indian Broom is second, Pompoon is third He Did is fourth, Time Supply is fifth...." "He got off all right, Shawn." "Yes, he's fine now." "Star Shadow in front by a length and one half." "Pompoon on the inside is second by a half-length." "He Did is third...." "He's right up with the leaders." "Yes, ma'am." "This is where she does her run." "There goes Fair Knightess on the inside, turning for home." "He Did in front by two lengths." "Pompoon is second by a half-length." "Fair Knightess, moving between horses, is third, by a half-length." "Star Shadow on the outside." "Turning on the stretch, it's Pompoon in front by three lengths." "He Did is second, a half-length." "Star Shadow is third." "It's Pompoon in front by three lengths." "Star Shadow is second by a half-length." "Time Supply-- And Fair Knightess fell." "It's Pompoon in front by one length." "Star Shadow" "Oh, Charles." "He Did is third." "They're coming to the run with Pompoon winning it by one length." "Star Shadow is second and He Did was third by three lengths." "Knowles is hurt." "He hasn't moved." "Let me go, Uncle Shawn." "Let me go." "Now, Maggie" "Let me go!" "Yes, yes." "You're such an understanding soul, Ms. Newsome." "I'm sure you'll agree we can't run away from things." "The sooner we face them, the better." "I quite agree, Mr. O'Hara." "I'll put her on the case." "Yes, thank you, ma'am." "Yes." "Reporting, Ms. Finch." "Oh, yes, Margaret." "Private room 1 7, contusions and fractures." "Talbot is on duty now." "Relieve her." "Yes, ma'am." "There's no special orders." "Just keep him quiet." "Alice?" "Yes, what is it?" "Stay five minutes longer, please." "I want to see Ms. Newsome." "Ms. Newsome, I've been assigned to the case in room 1 7, night duty." "Please, take me off." "Give it to someone else." "Why?" "Well, I know the patient." "It's a personal matter." "Personal matters and feelings must not enter into the profession of nursing." "You will remain on the case." "But...." "Hello, Margaret." "This is the best break I've had today." "You must be quiet." "Come over here with that pencil." "l want you to write your name on my cast." "That's silly." "If you say so, I won't let anybody else sign it." "I'll give you exclusive rights." "What do you say?" "There you are, now." "Dr. Fowler will be here any minute to give you a final." "Then you can go." "That'll suit you fine I'll bet." "A nurse is always glad at seeing a patient well enough to leave." "Yeah, especially when he's been a pain in the neck to her." "No, Ted." "Don't say that." "Why not?" "You showed it plain enough." "To you I was just another patient." "l've tried to fill your every need." "You missed the big one." "What was that?" "This." "Take care." "Your arm." "I wish I could use it." "Kiss me, Margaret." "Stop this now. lt's unseemly." "You're my patient." "Always the nurse." "Can't you be a girl for one little minute?" "I can try." "Now, that's more like it." "Try again." "No." "No more, ever." "Are you crazy?" "Yes, crazy like a loon, or I wouldn't say what I'm going to say now." "Would you...?" "Would you really want me for always?" "That's what the man said back in Kentucky." "It's the same in California, anywhere." "l'd give up nursing." "You bet your sweet life." "I'd give up anything." "Would you?" "Honey, I think I would." "Wait, you only think." "You must be sure." "All right. I'm sure." "Well, then, here comes the craziest part." "Could you...?" "Would you give up riding?" "Give up riding?" "I couldn't bear it." "It would tear the heart out of me." "Why don't you ask me to give up breathing?" "l know. I know." "Look, Margaret, it's my life." "All those people, my friends, I'd be letting them down." "Don't you see?" "Yes, I see, Ted." "It was wicked of me to ask it." "You'll be all right till the doctor comes and lets you go." "Goodbye and good luck." "Well, here we are right atop the grandstand at Santa Anita Park." "Just one of 70,000 excited folks who've come to witness the fabulous $ 1 00,000 Santa Anita Handicap." "Among the starters will be the greatest horse running, the one and only Seabiscuit." "He lost this race to Rosemont last year." "The horses are in the saddling ring." "It won't be long before they're on the track and away." "Don't worry." "Woolf's good." "He'll give him a heady ride." "He isn't called "Iceman" for nothing." "George is okay, but Mr. Howard, I wish I was gonna ride him." "Plenty of speed here." "We'll take care of that." "Hi, George." "Hello, kid." "How's the Iceman?" "l'm glad you're able to be here." "The main thing is how are you?" "I'm good." "I've got a few bones left to break." "So you're gonna ride the Biscuit?" "Yeah, and listen I'm gonna split my fee with you too, fellow." "Go to your horses." "Riders up." "You've one horse to beat." "Stagehand." "l know." "Watch him." "Shawn, do you think he'll win it?" "lf he does, it'll be a miracle." "I don't believe the horse lives that can give that Stagehand 30 pounds and a beating at the distance." "The horses are at the starting gate." "There they go." "Primulus is going to the front." "Aneroid is second." "The Biscuit got in trouble at the start." "They crowded him." "Woodbury is fifth." "Sceneshifter is sixth." "Time Supply and Top Row." "Passing the grandstand the first time is Whichcee in front on the inside by a head." "Primulus, between horses, is second by a head." "Aneroid, on the outside, is third, a length and one-half." "Top Row, on the rail, is fourth by one length." "Pompoon is fifth." "And the Seabiscuit is far back." "Around the clubhouse turn is Whichcee in front on the inside by a head." "He's so far back." "He's so far back!" "Aneroid, on the outside, is third by a length and one-half." "And Woodbury." "Turning into the backstretch is Whichcee in front on the inside by a half-length." "Aneroid is second by 3 1 /2 lengths." "Count Atlas is third by a head." "Primulus is fourth by a head." "Top Row is fifth." "And Seabiscuit on the outside." "Passing the half-mile post, it's Aneroid in front by one length." "Woodbury is second, a head." "Whichcee is third by a half-length." "Pompoon is fourth by a head." "And there goes Seabiscuit on the outside." "Seabiscuit is fifth." "Seabiscuit is fourth, moving very fast." "Seabiscuit is third." "It's Seabiscuit, now second on the outside." "And Seabiscuit is taking the lead." "It's Seabiscuit in front." "Turning for home, Seabiscuit in front by a length and one-half." "Aneroid is second by a head." "Pompoon is third by a head." "And here they come...." "He ran that half in 45 and 4/5ths." "lmpossible." "No horse ever ran that fast." "There it is, way below the world record." "He'll have nothing left for the finish." "Stagehand on the outside." "Here comes Stagehand." "It's Seabiscuit in front on the inside by a half-length." "Biscuit!" "Come on, Biscuit." "And Pompoon in the middle of the track." "It's Seabiscuit and Stagehand." "Seabiscuit on the inside, Stagehand on the outside, head and head." "It's Stagehand and Seabiscuit." "They're driving hard." "It's Stagehand and Seabiscuit, and it's very close." "Did he win it?" "l don't know." "A dead heat, after all the trouble he was in." "What a horse!" "Yeah." "Please hold all tickets." "It's a photo finish." "l say Stagehand." "No, Seabiscuit by a nod." "Stagehand." "Seabiscuit." "Well, who won it, Oscar?" "Seabiscuit." "No, no, Stagehand." "Or was it Seabiscuit?" "You're such a help." "The winner is Stagehand." "The result of the race has been declared official." "Poor baby." "Mr. Howard, I'll win this race with him next year. I promise you that." "The horse has been doing very well." "Very well indeed." "What about a match race between Seabiscuit and War Admiral, Mr. Howard?" "They're the two top horses." "l'm agreeable with conditions fair to both." "And a proper purse." "You favor any particular track?" "No, just one that'll accommodate as many people as possible." "There any calls, Phil?" "Mr." "O'Hara is waiting to see you." "Hello, George." "Hello, Mr. O'Hara. I just read the big news." "What are you doing here?" "l dropped in for a word with you." "All right." "Let's go over there and sit down." "Well, what I have to say won't take long." "Now, here's the idea." "Be at the track ready to ride at 4:00 tomorrow morning." "At 4:00 in the morning?" "For what?" "I want to school a horse." "School a horse at 4:00 in the morning?" "Look, I'm no exercise boy." "True, you're a jockey." "You're the jockey who'll ride Seabiscuit against War Admiral." "Would you like to win?" "Would I." "Listen then." "In this race we're using the walk-up start." "It's their idea because War Admiral is the fastest-breaking horse in the world." "He's used to being three jumps ahead before the starting bell stops ringing." "Now, I've got a notion that if a horse got away stride for stride with him or better, it might bother him hurt his pride." "He mightn't run his race." "You see how the walk-up could be worked to our advantage?" "Yeah, yeah. lt sure could." "Very well then." "We get into Biscuit's mind that the start is no frolic." "It's strictly business." "But how?" "Be at the track at 4:00 and you'll find out." "Okay, I'll be there." "Listen, Goldy, when you hear the bell, hit him a crack." "What bell?" "This one on the alarm clock." "Okay." "Walk him up slowly, George." "Give him his head when you hear the bell." "All ready, Goldy?" "All ready." "Come on with him, George." "Come on back with him, George." "Go get him, Goldy." "Once more, George." "We'll try it again." "How often we gonna do this?" "Once more." "We keep it up until he understands what he's got to do at Pimlico." "Okay by me, if you say so." "And now friends, here's that well-known sports commentator, Fred Baker whose subject this afternoon is the race of the century." "Hello, everybody. lt won't be long until we know which is the champion of champions, War Admiral or Seabiscuit." "Easterners are prepared to bet Wall Street holdings on the great 3-year-old." "Westerners declare that the gold in them there hills is called Seabiscuit." "I've studied the record of both horses very carefully." "Here's my advice:" "If you want the winner, bet on both of them." "One thing is certain at any rate:" "It'll be settled this afternoon down in Maryland." "Each horse carries 1 20 pounds." "He'll race for $ 1 5,000 winner take all, after a walk-up start." "That's why all roads today lead to Pimlico." "At Baltimore's Pimlico track, the program tells the story." "Seabiscuit versus War Admiral, in what is destined to become one of the outstanding horse races of all time." "Betting is heavy on the first match race in almost a century between horses of the same blood." "It's about time." "The great crowd waits anxiously." "It's to be a walk-up start." "No gate." "War Admiral breaks first, but no-go." "False start." "Easy boy, steady now." "They're together, and they're off!" "And War Admiral, on the inside, breaks to his usual fast start." "Woolf goes to his whip on Seabiscuit." "He's out to beat the Admiral at his own game." "Driving to the front, he takes the lead over War Admiral as they go into the turn." "Racing fans are stunned." "None believed that Seabiscuit has just the speed to outrun so fast a horse as War Admiral, but he's doing it." "War Admiral accepts the challenge." "They glide down the stretch with ground-eating strides." "Jockey Kurtsinger calls on the Admiral for more speed." "There he goes." "He's catching the Biscuit." "He's got him." "The battle is on." "They run neck and neck like a team harness." "This is one of the fastest stages." "The crowd roars as Jockey Woolf relentlessly urges Seabiscuit to the limit." "None, but a wonderfully game thoroughbred can stand a drive like this." "Fans know that one or the other of these magnificent thoroughbreds must crack." "They watch breathlessly, wondering which it'll be." "Will it be War Admiral or the Biscuit?" "Whichever, the crowd is seeing one of the greatest races of all time anywhere in the world." "Only 400 yards to come as they head toward the homestretch." "Kurtsinger goes to the whip on War Admiral on the outside." "Now, it's do or die, jockey against jockey true thoroughbred against true thoroughbred." "It's the blood of Man o' War, his grandson next to the rail, his son on the outside." "No more is it speed." "Now it's heart and stamina." "And Seabiscuit pulls away with powerful strides." "As the big California 5-year-old, veteran of 83 hard-fought races says:" ""Catch me if you can!"" "It's Seabiscuit under the wire 4 lengths ahead to prove himself America's undisputed thoroughbred champion." "We won." "We won." "And now, my dear, may I escort you to the winner's circle?" "Let's go." "Well, what do you think of early rising now, George?" "I'll meet you at 4:00 in the morning anytime you say." "How fast did he go?" "Now, that's a remarkable 3/4 of a mile 1 1 2 and 1 /5th with 1 30 pounds on his back." "I've got a hunch this is Seabiscuit's year." "By a strange coincidence, I've got the same hunch." "It's the Biscuit's year, all right." "His year to win the Santa Anita." "Wouldn't that be wonderful?" "indeed and by even stranger coincidence, I've got the same hunch." "Of course, we're all somewhat prejudiced." "Yeah." "Well, a hunch is a hunch, Mr. Howard." "Don't let anyone tilt you off it." "Don't worry, I won't." "That's encouraging." "Yes." "lsn't he beautiful?" "He certainly is." "Feeling good, hey, Tom?" "Yes, sir." "Good boy." "Good old Biscuit." "Get down, Tom." "Lead him around once." "That's bad." "What's the matter?" "What is it?" "The way he was using his right foreleg." "His leg?" "I didn't notice it." "l hope it's not what I'm thinking it is." "What is it, Shawn?" "Tom, get the bed." "Yes, sir." "I can't rightly tell, but I don't like the feel of the leg at all." "But, Shawn, he wasn't limping badly." "He was trying not to, bless his heart but I doubt if he'll be able to run in the Santa Anita." "Oh, no." "That's terrible news." "A good soldier home from the wars." "So many, many battles, poor darling." "No Santa Anita for us, fellow." "Don't say that yet, Ted." "What else would I say?" "l don't know." "What about it?" "The stud is the place for him." "He can't be brought back?" "l don't think so." "Charlie, he's earned a rest." "You brought back Golden Girl, remember?" "A young thing that ran half a dozen races with a feather on her back." "He's run near 1 00, 30 of them in record time with high weight on him." "Then there's no chance?" "A faint one, if any." "Faint or not, we'll take it." "Not even you can talk me off the Biscuit." "As you say, sir." "What's the program?" "Give up everything and devote ourselves to nursing him." "All right, that's it." "Ted, you stay and help us." "We'll bring you back too." "Thank you, sir. I'll stay." "Put him in a stall." "And so we started on the long, tedious road to bring the Biscuit back." "The first step was to cool his leg off." "So Shawn would sponge his leg daily." "It was a labor of love, and no one loved a horse more than Shawn did this one." "Then he was turned out to crop grass." "He looked at peace there, limping around far away from the races and the excitement of the crowds." "I put in my two bits worth, and used to walk him around the ring for the limbering up process under the watchful eye of Mrs. Howard, who never once lost faith." "Next, we ponied him and I used to get up early and pony him around our little track." "Not too far at first, and just slowly." "As you know, from the time he was a baby, he always liked carrots." "And Shawn used to reward him after a day's work." "They seemed to have a lot of fun together." "At last, on to the training track for a slow breeze." "Just easy at first, but the Biscuit knew how to handle himself and went just the pace we wanted him to." "They say a champion never comes back, but he was the exception." "He really was feeling his oats and raring to go." "Shawn and he were happy over the whole thing for the people's choice, as the public called him was ready for his first stiff work and the Santa Anita Handicap." "Uncle Shawn, it's been ages since I saw you." "Well, I have you for two whole weeks now." "My vacation has shrunk to two days." "Ms. Newsome reminded me that nurses are too scarce and cases too plentiful." "Bother Ms. Newsome, that old harridan." "She only let me go at all because she remembers you, sentimentally." "She asks after you." "You better watch out, Uncle Shawn." "She asks after me?" "Never fear." "I've been watching out a long time now." "So has Ms. Newsome." "Gruesome Newsome, blast her." "In there with you." "You'll be right in your element here, Maggie." "We're all nurses now." "Nurses?" "The patient is one little horse." "Seabiscuit." "We're getting ready to try for the Santa Anita again." "But the paper said he was finished." "Yes, and I'd have sworn it too but now I know that so long as he can draw breath, you can't finish him." "Tomorrow, Ted is working him against the best horses in the ranch." "Ted?" "is he here?" "As if you didn't know." "I've forgotten all about him." "How is he?" "Coming along as fine as Seabiscuit." "In the Santa Anita, you'll see Ted up on him." "I won't see him." "You still love the lad, Margaret." "l tell you, he's out of my mind completely." "But not out of your heart." "Sure and I can't help myself." "The devil take Ted Knowles." "Margaret, your happiness is more important than the big race." "Would it lift the cloud off your eyes if I tried to talk Ted out of riding?" "I'd be the happiest girl in the world." "Uncle Shawn, you're a darling." "Hold on now." "It's not an accomplishment as yet." "You won't have any trouble getting someone as good as Ted to ride." "I've asked George Woolf to stand by in case Ted doesn't come around." "Jockey for jockey, there's little to choose between them." "Well then, things are going to work out right for everyone, aren't they?" "'Tis to be hoped for, Maggie darling." "Where's Ted Knowles, Goldy?" "He's getting a rubdown too, Mr. O'Hara." "Okay, Ted." "Turn over." "How's it going, Ted?" "Man, did the Biscuit want to run today." "Santa Anita, here we come." "You're looking as good as new yourself." "Except for the inner tube around his waist." "He's gotta lose 9 pounds." "Okay, Ted." "How long do I have to stay in this thing?" "About half an hour." "You asked for it." "Brother, I got it." "You're going to feel like a million dollars, though." "So it's back to pounding and sweating it off and dieting for you, hey, lad?" "I'll say. I haven't had a good feed for two weeks." "Salads and toast." "Oh, brother." "You seem like a smart lad." "What made you want to become a jockey?" "Are you kidding?" "You got to be smart to bring home as many winners as I have." "Peanut?" "Excuse me, my mistake." "No, the smart ones in this game are the trainers." "How do you figure?" "We make the important money." "And what good is money to a man when he can't satisfy his stomach?" "Here's your eats, Shawn." "Thank you, me lad." "You don't have to eat all the time, do you?" "Well, excuse me, I'm taking me lunch on the fly today." "Hamburgers, one of America's great institutions." "To think they were here all the time I was spending the best years of me life in Ireland." "There's lots of good food in the world." "Steak and kidney pie with nice dainty dumplings well worked in." "A tender roast of pork with applesauce." "How was the Biscuit?" "Did he eat his breakfast this morning?" "He ate more than I did." "I'd like to steal some of that." "Well, that's the way it is with jockeys." "You starve when you're out of work, you get yourself a job, you starve some more." "A sad state of affairs." "Talk all you want, there's nothing to beat the thrill of a race." "Where's your trainer then?" "l was coming to that." "The trainer sits on the grandstand nice and easy with his girl beside him. lf he has one." "He listens to the band." "He sits there all comfortable, holding his girl's hand. lf he has one." "You talk too much." "One word more." "Come over to my place for dinner." "Dinner?" "You think I'm crazy?" "What's got into you anyway?" "Wait, now. lf you do well up there, the one thing in the whole world a lad of your age thinks more of than a good meal." "I'll be there." "Me appetite isn't what it used to be." "What have you got there, Ted?" "Carrots, huh?" "That's Seabiscuit's favorite dish." "You ate better when you were in the hospital." "Very funny." "Very funny." "Children, I made a strange discovery this morning." "It was while I was shaving." "Strange indeed and tragic." "Oh, Uncle Shawn." "It came on me all of the sudden without any warning." "Startled me into speech." ""O'Hara," says I, "you're not getting any younger."" "Oh, the shock of it." "I was in a panic all day thinking and thinking about it." "Well, here's the conclusion I've come to." "I've got to look for a young lad, a lad who knows horses who gives his heart to them." "I'd put him on as assistant trainer and he'd soon learn enough to take over when I move into slippers and a chair by the fire." "Well, I've got to go and have a look at a colt that has a touch of colic." "I'll take me cake along with me." "Me poor back." "There's little left of me." "Aren't you going to have some chocolate cake?" "Wong makes it grand." "No, I can't touch it." "But I could have some if...." "Margaret, listen to me." "You wouldn't marry Ted Knowles the jockey." "Would you marry Ted Knowles, your Uncle Shawn's assistant?" "Ted, do you really think he meant you?" "Yes, that scheming, conniving old faker." "He's as sound as he ever was." "You know what I think?" "You put him up to it." "No, Ted. lt was his idea entirely." "You O'Haras. I think maybe I'm marrying a" "An O'Hara will do anything to get what he wants." "At least, that's the way it is with this O'Hara." "Here." "Try this on." "Oh, Ted, darling." "It's sparkling like my heart." "And how did you happen to bring it along tonight?" "Could it be you planned the whole thing with Shawn?" "No, I bought it the day before I went to the hospital." "I've been carrying it around just in case." "O'Haras have nothing on the Knowles when it comes to getting what they want." "Ted, darling, you're a wonderful boy to give up what you love best for me." "What I used to love best doesn't count anymore." "You're my favorite across the board." "Me take dishes now?" "Dishes wait." "Romance." "Hello, this is George Woolf." "This is Shawn O'Hara." "Hello, Mr. O'Hara." "Say, how would you like to ride Seabiscuit?" "You bet I would, but you're too late." "Hey, you can't say that, George." "You can't let me down." "I'm not letting you down." "Ted Knowles told me he was gonna ride him." "With Ted on Biscuit and Hoss on Kayak, what more do you want?" "Kayak?" "There's only one horse in the race, George, and that's Seabiscuit." "He's all yours." "I'm sorry, Shawn, it's impossible." "What's that you say?" "Me ears must be playing tricks." "You heard right, but I couldn't stall any longer." "Yeah, but listen, listen, George." "George." "I'm sorry." "For my money, the Biscuit's the greatest horse in the world." "But look out for Heel Fly in a cap, you guys." "That's my mount." "Cute little fellow, isn't he?" "Ted, I've just had news of a startling nature." "George Woolf has signed to ride Heel Fly for the Circle F." "No kidding." "We're in a pickle." "And there's only one way out." "That's a bad break." "No, sir." "Nothing doing." "I'm going to be sitting up in the grandstand with my best girl by my side." "Ted." "Just a minute." "Now, see here, lad." "You brought this about." "You'd no right to tell George you were riding Biscuit." "Now, wait a minute, that" "Don't evade the situation." "It rests squarely on your strong, young shoulders." "Would you let Mr. Howard down?" "And through Mr. Howard, me, your uncle-to-be?" "And through me, Margaret, the girl you love." "Look who's talking." "Who got me to give up riding?" "Who talked about food until I was starving?" "Food is for pigs." "Who forced me to take the job of assistant trainer?" "It was an old man talking to you, boy." "An old man with blood dried in his veins." "Never listen to such nonsense." "I don't know. I like the idea of sitting in the grandstand." "The saints preserve us." "Did I ever think I'd see a young jock ready to swap a seat on a horse for the grandstand?" "Talk all you want. lt won't do any good. I promised Margaret." "Yes, but was your heart in your promise?" "Do you want some other jockey on the Biscuit in the handicap?" "Are you the sort of boy that any old fool like meself can talk out of the greatest thrill in the world, winning the Santa Anita?" "What's grandstands compare to checking your horse at the starting gate?" "And the gate sprung and you're off." "You feel Seabiscuit running swift and" "Cut it out." "You know I'd give my eye to be there." "You shouldn't have interrupted." "I had the race all but won for you." "But I won't be winning it." "When Margaret returns, she expects me to be a trainer." "That's what I will be." "Ted, a word to the wise." "The O'Hara women are not inclined to favor men they can dominate." "I recall sadly the case of me great Aunt Sheila, rest her soul." "A beauty if there ever was one, and every young man for miles around showed he's willing to be a slave." "She went to the grave an old maid." "She didn't want slaves." "She wanted to be one." "Now, Margaret is much like Sheila." "l'll write to Margaret, and if she says" "No." "Let me do the telling." "When she sees you again, she'll melt, loving you more because you're a headstrong young bucko with a will of your own." "Let me do the telling." "She's an O'Hara and O'Haras understand each other and stick to each other through thick and thin." "Okay, Shawn." "You've got yourself a boy." "Just square it with the future Mrs. Knowles." "Get in the hot box and sweat off that steak and chocolate cake." "Quickly now, or do I have to take the whip to you?" "Ted, you and the Biscuit are like one." "'Tis the poetry of motion, indeed it is." "Wong!" "Wong?" "Yes, missy, please?" "When did Ted start riding again?" "Maybe one, two days after missy left last time." "He ride Biscuit in big race." "Wong has placed a bet." "I see." "Call a taxi for me right away, please." "But missy just arrive." "Call a taxi." "And give this to Mr. Knowles when you see him." "Hello?" "Hello, taxi?" "Come quick." "Howard ranch, O'Hara house." "Yes." "No." "Please." "Right on the dot." "Perfect, me boy." "Everything perfect." "Excuse, please." "Missy O'Hara at home, but go quick, like flash." "What?" "Make sense, man." "Make sense." "Missy O'Hara find out you ride, ask Wong to carry bad tidings." "So you fixed it. "She's an O'Hara and the O'Haras understand each other."" "You wrote and explained everything." "l must confess I didn't write the letter." "It seemed a matter to be talked out face to face after all." "Oh, brother." "Excuse, please." "l should like to finish the race." "You got us into this." "You talk it out with Margaret and talk fast." "I'm thinking the duty should be yours, me lad." "Lovers have a way of solving these problems that present difficulties to innocent bystanders." "Little problems. innocent bystander." "Why you old goat." "You talk it out with her or I'll break-- l'll break training right now." "Easy, me lad, easy." "Your word is my command." "Excuse, please." "Where is the taxi that was supposed to come here?" "Now, wait a minute, Maggie." "Give me that phone." "Hey?" "What goes there?" "Maggie, me darling" "You miserable, deceitful man." "Calm down, me girl." "Calm down." "You never called a cab for me." "Excuse, please." "Wong just recall, wash dishes." "You men are all alike." "Now, Maggie, hold your horses." "Don't mention horses to me again." "lf you only listen, I'll explain." "An emergency call." "Woolf signed with another stable." "Ted was obligated to save the situation." "Why Ted?" "There are jockeys to be had for the asking." "None of them know the Biscuit as well as Ted." "Maggie, darling, I had the devil's time convincing him." "I persuaded him you'd see things in the proper light." "I should never have trusted him alone with you." "You're a deceitful old man." "And tell me this, Shawn O'Hara:" "Why should I see it in what you're pleased to call "the proper light"?" "Because as promised, it would have led to the lad's ruination." "He was losing respect for himself." "And before long, he would have lost respect for you as well." "Go to him and tell him you're as happy as a lark he's riding the Biscuit." "I can't do that." "You ought to understand." "You know how I feel." "I understand this, Margaret, that you're lacking in courage." "That's not fair." "You've been running and running away from your problem instead of facing it squarely." "Ted's going to ride in the big race." "And I want you to want him to ride." "It's the only thing that'll cure you." "Since when did your knowledge of horseflesh extend to women?" "You-- You two-faced old meddler." "What Missy O'Hara say." "Me own flesh and blood." "Margaret." "Was ever a woman so humiliated to have her man stolen by a horse?" "You don't mean that it's over." "'Tis not tricks that I'm up to, Ted." "I came to say goodbye and to wish you and Seabiscuit the best of luck." "I thought you'd forgive me when you saw how it was." "Forgive you for allowing Uncle Shawn's tongue to sway you?" "l'm not hiding behind your uncle." "The old conniver." "Aren't you now?" "l suppose he had nothing to do with it." "l would have anyway." "Because I love you, I thought it was right for me to quit riding." "But it wasn't right because it made me quit a loser." "This much I do know about the O'Haras." "You wouldn't want a man that was a loser." "So I'll quit a winner or not at all." "ls that all you have to say, Ted?" "That's all, Margaret." "Except, I love you." "This is one time I'm glad I'm a radio announcer because I'm up here on the roof away from that mob of people." "Santa Anita's jammed again, and I really mean jammed, and the reason is simple." "The great Seabiscuit is making another bid for the $ 1 00,000 handicap." "Nine months ago, the wonder horse broke down, but he's here today for one last try." "What do I think of his chances?" "Well, I hate to say it, but champions don't come back." "And now the horses are on the track and parading to the post." "Number one looks good." "He won't be in the money." "Can't Seabiscuit win, Ed?" "Broke down, 1 30 pounds on him." "Not a chance." "Knowles is on Seabiscuit." "Two cripples." "Howard must be out of his mind." "He's got Seabiscuit for sentiment and Kayak to win." "Well, if it goes wrong, Shawn, I'm to blame." "Sure enough, sir." "And if it goes right, you're the fellow who did it." "They'll be at the post soon." "You can't see from here." "I don't want to." "Couldn't bear to watch." "I see." "The horses are at the starting gate." "He's quiet as usual." "There they go!" "Wedding Call is on the inside, Whichcee is second, Specify is third By Golly is fourth, Seabiscuit is fifth, and Royal Crusader." "Passing the grandstand the first time is Whichcee in front on the inside by a head." "Seabiscuit is second, a half-length." "Specify is third by a head." "Royal Crusader is fourth by a length, Wedding call is second." "Around the clubhouse turn, Whichcee in front by a half-length." "Seabiscuit is second, a half-length." "Wedding Call is third by one length." "Specify on the inside is fourth by one length, Royal crusader on the outside is fifth by 3 lengths, and By Golly." "Into the backstretch, it's Whichcee in front by one length Seabiscuit is second on the outside by 3/4 of a length Wedding Call on the rail is third." "Royal Crusader is fourth by 3 lengths, Specify is fifth, a length and one-half and By Golly." "Passing the half-mile post, Whichcee in front on the inside." "Come on, Biscuit." "Come on, Biscuit." "Seabiscuit is second by one length, Wedding Call is third, Can't Wait is fourth and By Golly." "Turning for home is Whichcee in front on the inside by a half-length." "Seabiscuit is second, a half-length." "Can't Wait is third, a half-length." "Wedding call is fourth and Kayak on the outside crossing very fast." "Come on, Biscuit." "Come on!" "Seabiscuit is in front by a head." "Whichcee on the rail is second." "Kayak on the outside is third and Can't Wait." "Seabiscuit in front, responding to the drive." "By a length and one-half, and coming clear." "Kayak is second and Seabiscuit wins it by one length!" "Kayak is second by a length and Whichcee is third in front of the Wedding Call." "Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please." "In winning the Santa Anita Handicap this afternoon Seabiscuit established a new track record: 2 minutes, 1 and 1 /5 second." "We take you to the winner's circle, where Seabiscuit will receive all the plaudits due a real champion." "lt's our day. lsn't it wonderful?" "Yes, ma'am." "They're saying Kayak could have won." "ls that what they're saying?" "Yeah." "What do you say, Shawn?" "No horse could have beat Biscuit today." "l say that too." "Thank you." "Me too." "Come on, Ted." "Give us a nice smile." "Look this way, will you, Ted?" "l told you I'd quit a winner." "You did." "Hey, we need more shots." "Lay off of that." "You can do that later." "That covers the story of the one and only Seabiscuit one of the greatest thoroughbreds of our times." "Turf notables from all over the country are here at Santa Anita park to witness this ceremony." "Now Mrs. Charles Howard will unveil the statue." "All right, Mrs. Howard." "Well, there he is." "Boy, would I like to take him to the post again." "Ted." "Don't worry." "He spoils you for riding any other horse." "And look, baby, I'm not a jockey anymore." "When those boys are fighting for position with mud in their eyes, I'm in the stands-- l know." "Nice and easy with my little old sweetheart beside me." "Good day." "Lovely day, isn't it?" "Yes, Shawn." "Yeah, charming, yes." "$8000 and you advised it." "Haven't I heard enough about that in the last 5 years, boss?" "[english]"