Brave, Braver, Bravo - Seabiscuit

In the face of massive handicaps, some stars have overcome incredible odds. Their stories have inspired millions and continue to do so. This time, we look at the story of racehorse Seabiscuit.

The story of Seabiscuit - as told in the 2003 Tobey Maguire Hollywood film - is more than just a story of a racehorse. It's a story of the remarkable triumph of the spirit and a story you couldn't hope to invent.

An undersized, knock kneed, lazy and cantankerous colt, Seabiscuit, was used as a workhorse before being 'off loaded' to entrepreneur Charles Howard. Under Howard and unorthodox horse trainer Tom Smith, Seabiscuit slowly emerged as a genuine racehorse, and was paired with down on his luck jockey Red Pollard.

Seabiscuit and Pollard seemed to have all the odds stacked against them: a racing accident had left Pollard blind in one eye, and Seabiscuit never seemed to lose his wild streak. But the two were a fascinating pair, and Depression era America fell in love with them and their tireless quest to win California's most prestigious race, the $125,000 Santa Anita Handicap (known to punters as the Hundred Grander).

In 1937 Seabiscuit was America's leading money winner; but while the horse became a national celebrity, Pollard ran out of luck, breaking his ribs and arm while falling during a race and shattering his leg soon after his recovery. Then in 1939 a horrific racing accident left Seabiscuit lame, with Pollard commenting bitterly that they only had four good legs between them.

Smith slowly guided Seabiscuit to recovery, and by 1940 Seabiscuit and Pollard - himself battling alcoholism - were ready to take the gate at the elusive Santa Anita.

Seabiscuit's resounding win in the 1940 Hundred Grander is the stuff of Hollywood endings, made all the more incredible by the fact that, for once, it's all a true story.