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Exhibition Not an Ostrich: & Other Images from America's Library

Not an Ostrich: & Other Images from America's Library

ACME. “King of the Turf: Seabiscuit thunders four lengths ahead of War Admiral, Pimlico Race Course.” Baltimore, Maryland, 1938

Acme Photographs. “King of the turf Thundering home three lengths ahead of War Admiral, his arch rival, Seabiscuit, captured the mythical championship of the American turf, in their nerve-tingling match race at Pimlico track, Maryland.” December 17, 1938. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress (05.00.00) © ACME/Getty lmages/Bettmann Collection

ACME. “King of the Turf: Seabiscuit thunders four lengths ahead of War Admiral, Pimlico Race Course.” Baltimore, Maryland, 1938

With America trying to climb out of the Great Depression, this race between two legendary horses gave people a temporary respite from their daily hardships. War Admiral, who had won racing’s Triple Crown in 1937, was the regal son of the great Man o’ War (though Seabiscuit was related as well). The aristocratic horse seemed unbeatable. Seabiscuit was the underdog, the Cinderella Man of racing. “He was the horse from the other side of the tracks who became a champion,” wrote Laura Hillenbrand in her book on Seabiscuit and the race he won.