It is the most famous match race in the history of the turf, and quite possibly the most famous horse race of all time.

Two horses, one a rags-to-riches underdog who symbolized perservance in the Great Depression, and the other a formidable equine who seemed unbeatable more often than not, met in a long-awaited showdown that could very well have been the first significant chapter in the rivalry between the East and the West.

Contested on November 1, 1938, the meeting between Seabiscuit and War Admiral was the biggest event of the year, attracting a huge audience on track as well as on the radio. Even President Franklin Roosevelt famously stopped a meeting to listen to the race, which illustrates just how popular Thoroughbred racing was in the 1930s.

Whether someone was seeing the race in person or not, they did not want to miss the action as it unfolded.

But the story starts a little earlier than that. Going back to 1937, both Seabiscuit and War Admiral had tremendous campaigns. After spending the winter at Santa Anita (where he took the San Juan Capistrano Handicap), the Biscuit traveled the United States, embarking on a seven-race winning streak that saw him take the Bay Meadows, Brooklyn and Massachusetts Handicaps, among other races. Save for a fifth in the San Antonio Handicap early in the year, Seabiscuit never finished worse than third in fifteen starts. Since being purchased by owner Charles Howard and trained by Tom Smith, Seabiscuit had come a long way from routinely competing in claiming and allowance races back East at the beginning of his career.

While the Biscuit embarked on his cross-country tour, War Admiral owned the three-year-old division. Owned by Samuel Riddle and trained by George Conway, War Admiral went undefeated in eight starts, the highlight of which was his sweep of the Triple Crown, something his sire, Man O' War, missed out on back in 1920. War Admiral was much a win machine like his father, and that carried on for most of 1938. Of his first nine outings as a four-year-old, War Admiral was victorious in all but one, that being the Massachussets Handicap where he finished fourth.

As for Seabiscuit, who was a grandson of Man O'War, he again went from circuit to circuit, finishing third or better at tracks between the West, Midwest, and East. He also got a win down south in Mexico, taking the Agua Caliente Handicap in early spring. After winning at Laurel in October, the Biscuit had won or placed in ten starts at five.

Those separate journeys finally converged on the same path. The connections of both horses agreed upon Maryland's Pimlico Race Course to be the site of the match race. Seabiscuit and War Admiral were well acquainted with the track. War Admiral of course had won the Preakness, and Seabiscuit captured the Riggs Handicap there the previous year and finishing second in the Bowie Handicap a few days later.

They would square off in the Pimlico Special at one and three-sixteenth miles, and each Thoroughbred was proven at the distance. War Admiral was actually familiar with this specific race, for he happened to be its defending champion. But Seabiscuit had experience in a match race. He made an appearance at Del Mar in August, taking on Ligaroti in what was a major event for the nascent venue. The Biscuit held off Ligaroti by a nose, so he knew what it was like to participate in one-on-one competition.

The purse was $15,000, winner take all. But the race held more meaning than money. It had Horse of the Year implications, too. The contestants had produced excellent seasons, and this was the best in the East taking on the best in the West. Claiming the Pimlico Special trophy was going to be instrumental in deciding the champion Thoroughbred of 1938, despite what either horse had accomplished earlier in the year.

War Admiral had regular jockey Charley Kurtsinger in the saddle, while George "The Iceman" Woolf piloted Seabiscuit. In fact, Woolf had taken over riding duties for much of the year following injuries to Pollard. And with all due respect to Pollard, who definitely had a magic touch with the great horse, Woolf also knew the Biscuit, and was a respected money rider. If Pollard could not ride Seabiscuit, Woolf was the man to do it.

It has been said in regards to match races that early speed is the key. Thus, getting the lead as soon as possible to control the tempo is paramount. Despite not being in a match race before the Pimlico Special, War Admiral knew all about taking command quickly. Seabiscuit was no stranger to it, either, though it could be said he had tactical speed as well. In any event, favoritism went to the Admiral, who was made the 1-4 choice over Seabiscuit, who settled in around 2-1. Thousands showed up to Pimlico on that Tuesday for the event, knowing this was going to be something special. Those who could not be there listened on the radio, with countless supporters coming from either the Seabiscuit or War Admiral camps.

There was no starting gate for the Pimlico Special. War Admiral, listed at number one on the program, was to the left of Seabiscuit, who donned saddlecloth number two along with his blinkers. They moved slowly before getting into position, each looking calm, cool and collected for the run around Pimlico's main track. As excited fans watched in the grandstand, Seabiscuit and War Admiral turned and straightened. After they took a couple of steps, the bell rang and the most anticipated race of 1938 was underway.

Both horses had a good start, but War Admiral and Kurtsinger were caught off guard as Woolf hustled Seabiscuit to the lead. Unbeknownst to War Admiral's group, Tom Smith had been preparing for the start of the race. He knew War Admiral's usual game plan, and of course had been cognizant of there being no starting gate for the contest. As Bob Ehalt wrote for America's Best Racing, "a bell was used to signal the beginning of the race. Smith worked long and hard to teach Seabiscuit how to start running at top speed at the sound of a bell and that played a key role in the outcome."

Seabiscuit guided War Admiral down the first stretch run around the first turn as fans lined the rail around the infield. The 1937 Triple Crown champion was not far behind, and Kurtsinger was not about to let the Biscuit get away. War Admiral trailed Seabiscuit by roughly a length as they met the backstretch, but he found another gear in no time to draw level with Seabiscuit, even gaining a slight advantage. Seabiscuit took it back, and they were side by side heading into the far turn. The Pimlico Special was easily living up to the hype, much to the delight of everyone watching.

The titans were not giving an inch around the far turn. Fans dashed to the rail in the stretch to see the epic battle up close, even for just a split second. War Admiral appeared to have his head in front again before the top of the lane, but then Seabiscuit looked to have it back. Then they looked to be on equal terms. As they turned for home, either one was capable of winning the Pimlico Special and Horse of the Year.

As they straightened, Seabiscuit began to draw clear from War Admiral. Racing along the rail, the Biscuit had more than a length on his opponent. War Admiral tried to keep up, but the Biscuit was unrelenting. As the fans cheered, Woolf pumped the reins in the final yards. Seabiscuit's attention was up front. He had the focus of a champion, and did not let up as the wire neared.

With a four-length cushion, Seabiscuit took down the strongest horse in the East for what was then the biggest victory of his career. It was his sixth victory of the year, and it propelled him to the top of the mountain. He went on to be voted Champion Handicap Horse and Horse of the Year for 1938, a long way from the days of taking on claiming horses at Hialeah.

War Admiral raced two more times in his career after meeting Seabiscuit, winning each time. Though he is remembered for both his Triple Crown and the match race, he is one of the true greats of the sport, having won twenty-one of his twenty-six starts and finishing third or better all but once.

They are both part of one of Thoroughbred racing's historical moments, two immortals of the turf battling in the biggest match race of all time. Their records before the Pimlico Special ensured they would be remembered for generations, but they took it to a whole other level in Baltimore.

Those who saw the Biscuit and the Admiral have become part of the legend, and that goes for anyone who listened to the race on radio. They instantly transformed into keepers of history, handing down their accounts of where they were when the top two Thoroughbreds of 1938 met at Pimlico.

The tale continues to be told today, and not just for the greatness of Seabiscuit and War Admiral. It can be called the first chapter of the East-West rivalry, which is among the most storied in all of racing.

When one thinks of Seabiscuit, two races come to mind. His encounter with War Admiral is one, and the 1940 Santa Anita Handicap is the other. They are special for different reasons. The Big 'Cap was years in the waiting, and given Seabiscuit being based at Santa Anita, his career might have been considered incomplete without winning the Hundred Grander. Given that it was his final race and he took over the all-time earnings record, the Big 'Cap stands as Seabiscuit's biggest and most popular triumph.

But with his victory over War Admiral, the little bay horse who was once trained by two-time Triple Crown winning conditioner Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons completed the journey from underdog to champion.

Seabiscuit completed his career in the 1940 Big 'Cap. But he became a legend in the 1938 Pimlico Special.

Source:

"a bell was used..." Ehalt, Bob. "Hollywood Can't Diminish War Admiral's Triple Crown Achievement." America's Best Racing, January 27, 2020. https://www.americasbestracing.net/the-sport/2020-hollywood-cant-diminish-war-admirals-triple-crown-achievement