Now... What Can We Learn From a Horse?

THE RACE OF THE CENTURY

Pimlico Race track, Baltimore, November 1, 1938

A frenzied horse racing fraternity had billed this as the greatest matchrace of the century. On that day, the race course at Pimlico was a vast sea of humanity. The grandstand, the clubhouse, the galleries were all filled to capacity. The betting lines were throbbing with frenzied activity. Even the infield of the race track was not spared of its free space. The rich, the poor, businessmen, wage workers, the elite and the common folk were all present to witness this match of a lifetime. By noon, an estimated 40,000 people (the actual seating capacity was 16,000) were present to witness this great spectacle. Elsewhere a nation had virtually stopped as if it were caught in a time freeze. Shops were closed and offices had allowed their employees to leave early. People were glued to their radio sets to hear the match broadcast by the energetic and colorful presenter Clem McCarthy. An estimated 40 million people had tuned in to listen to the broadcast of the match race that day and even President Roosevelt was one among them.

The contenders were a contrast of opposites. War Admiral was the match favorite at 1 to 4. Tall, majestic, all-black and handsome, he was what a champion ought to have been and looked like. Being the son of Man-o-War, arguably the greatest racehorse of the century, he was clearly the epitome of blue-blooded thoroughbred lineage and impeccable breeding. War Admiral ranked among the top ten juveniles during his early years and was always considered a winner. In 1937, he was only the fourth race horse in racing history to win the prestigious Triple Crown.

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