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As a diversion from the increasingly grim news from the Winter War, we’re going to follow the last three weeks of the racing career of the great Seabiscuit. We can do this largely because of the fine book by Laura Hillenbrand, “Seabiscuit: An American Legend.” I will post excerpts periodically to supplement the Times coverage. For those of you not familiar with the story here is the book’s preface:

Regarding the “severe injuries” Hillebrand mentions in the preface: In February 1938 Pollard was riding in the San Carlos Handicap at Santa Anita when his horse, Fair Knightess, somersaulted at 40 mph. She landed on Pollard. A partial list of his injuries included a crushed chest, several broken ribs, a shattered collarbone, internal injuries, a broken shoulder, and a concussion. His survival was in doubt for a day or so. Then in June of that year he was working out a horse named Modern Youth as a favor to a trainer he knew. The horse bolted and crashed into a barn. In that accident Pollards leg was “nearly sheared off below the knee.” In February 1939 George Woolf rode Seabiscuit in the Los Angeles Handicap at Santa Anita. During the race Seabiscuit suffered a ruptured tendon in his ankle. So both horse and rider should have been through. They retired to owner Howard’s ranch at Willits, California and began a long, painful rehab. When we pick up the story Howard has decided to try Seabiscuit one last time in the Santa Anita Handicap, a six-year-old race with a huge $100,000 prize. That race will be run on March 2, but he needs to prep with some earlier races to see if his horse will hold up. He is not at all sure about allowing Pollard to ride, since the jockey’s leg has not recovered as well as Seabiscuit’s ankle. On to chapter 23 - - -

To be continued.