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Red Pollard’s Seabiscuit Saddle
It's like something out of the movies. The story of Seabiscuit, the little horse that could, captured the hearts and minds of pre-War America, and then again in 2002 with the publication of the bestselling Laura Hillenbrand book, “Seabiscuit: An American Legend” and the subsequent hit film. The classic tale of an underdog horse, trainer, owner and jockey, never fails to inspire as Red Pollard rode the legendary horse at the 1940 Santa Anita Handicap using this very saddle. It sports his name, R. Pollard, handwritten in pen and ink in a diagonal stripe across the seat, dated 1934 and embellished with a leaf design. It also bears a woman's name, Lucille Johnson (perhaps the artist, maybe his girlfriend), now barely legible. Parts of other names are also faded. The saddle was once owned by the mayor of Butte, Montana - Archie McTaggart - who took Pollard under his wing before he became a well-known jockey. It has not been used since that day in 1940 yet remains in EX condition, including its stirrups and leathers. It measures 13.75" pommel to cantle and 18.5" across from flap to flap. It weighs one pound, 11,6 ounces. While it is not possible to definitively state in which races Pollard used this saddle, it is known that jockeys tend to be superstitious and want to ride their tried and true saddles in important races. The saddle is accompanied by a lengthy LOA from the McTaggart family, complete with letters, photographs, and newspaper articles describing the history of the piece.
Past Sports Card, Memorabilia, Non-Sports Card and Collecitble Auction Items
Other past auction items that may be of interest to you.
Red Pollard’s Seabiscuit Saddle
Seabiscuit Race Worn Horseshoes from War Admiral Match Race and Santa Anita Handicap
Original Seabiscuit Etching by Pierre Nuyttens (1944)
Unique Limited Edition Signed Print
Seabiscuit Signed Photograph
George Woolf and Seabiscuit Photo Signed by C.S. Howard
Seabiscuit 1940 Santa Anita Signed Photograph
