Seabiscuit

Hillenbrand briefly describes the role of radio and other mass media in Seabiscuit’s story. Expand on that by researching the dominant forms of communication at the time and how they contributed to Seabiscuit’s nationwide popularity. Do you think he would have been as popular in an earlier era, before the advent of radio? Why or why not?

Horse racing is not as popular today with the general public as it was before World War II, when it dominated spectator sports along with boxing and baseball. What are the reasons for this? What made it more popular then and why has it become less popular today? 

The formation of the Jockeys’ Guild, thanks to the efforts of jockey Tommy Luther, is mentioned in passing toward the end of the book. What was the Guild and why was it necessary? Hillenbrand writes that the steward of the Santa Anita Park banned Luther from racing there for one year, accusing him of forming a union. Why were racetrack managers so opposed to this effort by jockeys to help each other?