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| | Friday, May 4 Chat wrap: Laura Hillenbrand | ||||||
Hillenbrand has been writing about Thoroughbred racing since 1988 and has been a contriuting writer/editor to EQUUS magazine since 1989. Her work has also appeared in American Heritage, Talk magazine, ABC Sports Online, The Blood-Horse, Thoroughbred Times, The Backstretch, Turf and Sports Digest, and many other publications. Her 1988 American Heritage article on Seabiscuit won the Eclipse Award for Magazine Writing, the highest journalistic honor in Thoroughbred racing.
ESPN Classic's "Road Show" will travel to Louisville, Ky., site of the Kentucky Derby, where from noon-3 p.m. co-hosts Steve Cyphers and Suzy Kolber will be joined live by Jerry Bailey, Tony Bennett, Denny Crum, Joe Drape, Paul Hornung and Julie Krone as they look back at some of the most memorable moments in Derby history.
Below is a transcript from Hillenbrand's May 4 chat:
Anand Rao from res.cmu.edu at 1:58pm ET Are you related to Red Sox rookie Shea Hillenbrand?  Laura Hillenbrand at 1:59pm ET
I've been waiting to be asked that! Not that I know of. I only met my cousins when I was 22 so who knows. But I've been waiting for someone to ask that! JIM LONGENECKER from [63.68.16.100] at 1:59pm ET LAURA, I LOVED THE BOOK AND THE WAY YOU "BLENDED" THE LIVES OF ALL THE CHARACTERS TOGETHER!...QUESTION THOUGH...IS THE GRAVESITE WHEREABOUTS OF SEABISCUIT KNOWN TO THIS DAY, OR DID AND DO THE FAMILY MEMBERS ONLY KNOW IF IT? Laura Hillenbrand at 2:00pm ET
As far as I know only a few family members know. The owner wanted it be kind of secret and didn't want people walking on the gravesite. So he told only his sons. Laura Hillenbrand at 2:01pm ET
To this day, there is no gravestone only an oak tree. Larry from [207.247.25.86] at 2:01pm ET Your book is fantastic! I'm halfway through my second reading. What is the status on the movie? Is there a screenplay, and if so, did you write it? When can we expect it out? Laura Hillenbrand at 2:03pm ET
The screenplay is now being written, I am not the author. I am serving as a consultant on the movie. The director has told me that there is a 100 percent chance that the movie will be made. It's probably a year and a half away. Colin Brown from proxy.aol.com at 2:03pm ET Did Seabiscuit ever race at Saratoga? Laura Hillenbrand at 2:04pm ET
Yes. That is in fact where Charles Howard, the owner discovered him running in a claiming race in 1936. Vicki Vinson from dialsprint.net at 2:04pm ET OK Laura, the question on everyone's mind is who do you like for the Kentucky Derby this year? Laura Hillenbrand at 2:05pm ET
Oh wow! The favorite Point Given is a legitimate one, but I would not overlook Balto Star. Joe from dialsprint.net at 2:05pm ET Great book! I highly recommend it. Will you be attending any of the Triple Crown races to do a book signing? Also, who do you like in the Derby? Thanks! Laura Hillenbrand at 2:05pm ET
No. I am in poor health so I can't attend the races this year. Gabe Colon from [209.178.173.11], at 2:06pm ET Wonderful book Laura! 2 Questions: Would you rank Seabiscuit in the ranks of the Seattle Slews, Secretariats, Citations? Also, what are thoughts on the Derby? Laura Hillenbrand at 2:08pm ET
I would rank him with them, but I'm not a fan of straight numerical rankings. Because it is so difficult to compare horses of different generations running under different circumstances. However, if I were to be asked to choose one horse in history to be in a head-in-head fight from the quarter pole to the wire there is no horse in history I would choose over Seabiscuit. George from [63.66.8.254], at 2:08pm ET Saw the piece on HBO with Bob Costas. It was enlightening. My questions are how long did it take you to write this book and what was your inspiration to write about Seabiscuit? Laura Hillenbrand at 2:09pm ET
It took four years to research and write. The story of the horse had been told in basic form before. What had never been researched and told before were the stories of the owner, trainer and jockey. These stories ar at least as compelling as that of the horse itself. Lew Koch from tnt2.huntsville.al.da.uu.net at 2:10pm ET I'm curious as to why we see only a portion of Seabiscuit on the cover of this wonderful book? His head is cut off. Is this a subtle way of telling a mass audience this is JUST about a thoroughbred? tx Laura Hillenbrand at 2:11pm ET
The cover was Random House's decision. I think what they were trying to demonstrate was that this is a very human story. I think the fact that the horses head leads off the right side of the cover beckons people inside. I objected to the cover at first but it has grown on me. ziff from fc.anc.net at 2:12pm ET Although he was popular during his career, is Seabisquit so little remembered because he never ran the Kentucky Derby??? Laura Hillenbrand at 2:14pm ET
I think that is part of it. I think also part of it is that as history passes memories of an athlete get pared down to statictics and athletes with greater win percentages are remembered longer. Seabiscuit under his first trainer was an adject failure and ran 42 races under that trainer. Once he was in the hands of Tom Smith he was competing under handcapped conditions, for example he usually carried at least 20 pounds more than his rivals, as a result he lost more often than horses like Man O War. But it does not mean he was a lesser racehorse. james mcgill from [12.75.103.8], at 2:15pm ET I just finished cigar's book, All i got to say is, I'am glad your one great writer, & the seabiscuit story is by miles superior. Question, most beautiful racetrack you have visited? Laura Hillenbrand at 2:16pm ET
Arlington Park in Chicago. It's a Xanadu! It's about the prettiest place I have ever been. Doug from 153.38.64.in-addr.arpa at 2:17pm ET From the book cover, you don't look old enough to remember Seabiscuit. What inspired you to write about him? Laura Hillenbrand at 2:17pm ET
I'm only 33! jim gilchrist from willinet.net at 2:17pm ET Did KayakIIs' jockey pull up and allow Seabiscuit to win his last race and become the leading all time money winner at that time?? I saw the race and Kayak was closing fast. It sounds feasible as both were a C.S. Howard entry. Laura Hillenbrand at 2:19pm ET
There was a lot of speculation on this at the time. But Kayak's jockey said unequivically he did not. The people surrounding both horses argued that had Kayak come up to Seabiscuit again, he would have fought him off and Seabiscuit almost never lost a fight. david from [64.12.102.29], at 2:20pm ET I am very impressed that you were able to write this magnificent book while you have a disabling illness. I am familiar with CFS, so I know that few (if any) people "overcome" it (in the sense of being "cured"), but many of us learn how to have lives within its limitations. Could you talk a little about the limitations imposed by your CFS, and how you have adapted the writing process to those limitations? Thanks. Laura Hillenbrand at 2:23pm ET
The limitations were quite profound. I have been housebound virtually since the beginning of this book. In addition I suffer from vertigo which makes reading and writing very difficult and uncomfortable. I worked whenever I had the strength to do so and I arranged my life around the task of writing, making writing the priority. When I was too dizzy to write, I conducted interviews. I was able to work everydday of the four years I was writing this. Lyn from mn.mediaone.net at 2:23pm ET The book was a gift. What's your next work? Laura Hillenbrand at 2:24pm ET
We are thinking of adapting the book into a childrens book. Right now my vertigo is very severe and I can do virtually no reading and writing. So any projects I do will have to await some degree of recovery of my health. Cindy from [204.86.125.9], at 2:25pm ET Do you have a favorite jockey? Laura Hillenbrand at 2:25pm ET
Historical jockey: George Woolf whom I regard as the greatest who ever lived. Contemporary jockey; Gary Stevens. highmaybulin from dsl.connectnet.net at 2:26pm ET Wow. What a great story. Need someone to write your biography? I'm inspired now myself... Laura Hillenbrand at 2:26pm ET
Thank you but I don't think I'm intersting enough to merit a biography!! Rich from [208.36.202.30], at 2:26pm ET Laura, this book was fabulous! I can't tell you how much I enjoyed the story. Towards the end of the book, I found myself reading and rereading passages. The greatest line is when Smith was walking Seabiscuit away to say goodbye, and Seabiscuit looked toward the track and Smith's eyed watered over. From who did you hear that incident? Also, do you have any intention of writing another book involving horse racing? Laura Hillenbrand at 2:29pm ET
The account of his departure from the track was written by 10 or 11 journalists who were there that day. As for other books about racing, I won't limit myself to racing in the future but I won't exclude it either. If I find another story in racing that is as compelling as this one was I will write it. Joe from mpiua.com at 2:29pm ET How much money will you bet on Saturday? Laura Hillenbrand at 2:30pm ET
None!!! I'm not much of a bettor. I'm just a thrilled spectator! Georgia from gulliverschools.com at 2:30pm ET why didnt anyone attend Smits funeral? That part made me cry he was so amazing Laura Hillenbrand at 2:31pm ET
Tom Smith was a man who while he connected very deeply with his horses, was never able to connect to people. As a result he was a very isolated man throughout his life. ziff from fc.anc.net at 2:31pm ET What became of the younger Smith? Laura Hillenbrand at 2:32pm ET
He trained several good horses and after that I was unable to find what became of him. Ruth from subasekb.navy.mil at 2:32pm ET Laura, i loved the book! What became of Marcella Howard? Laura Hillenbrand at 2:33pm ET
Marcella had a wonderful long life. She married an actor named Leslie Senton a few years after Howards' death. She remained very close to all of Howard's descendants for the rest of her life. She passed away in 1987. Tim Sao Paulo Brazil from [200.198.76.4] at 2:33pm ET After the first turn Saturday where do you see Millennium Wind laying and will he have had any trouble getting there Laura Hillenbrand at 2:34pm ET
I think he will be in the second tier of horses. I do not see him as one of the biggest threats to win the race although I am rooting for his 54 year old jockey Llaffit Pincay. Vicki Vinson from dialsprint.net at 2:35pm ET Hi Laura - Back when Seabiscuit was racing he had already raced more times as a 2 yr old than most of tomorrow's Derby horses will race in their careers. Do you think horses should be raced more at a young age or do you think horses aren't as durable as they were in Seabiscuit's days? Laura Hillenbrand at 2:37pm ET
It is hard to say. But it is possible that by working them as lightly as we do today, we may not be teaching thier bones and soft tissues to model to hard work so that they are less durable animals. But it also could be that we are not breeding them with soundness as a high enough priority. Monte from tnt1.redondo-beach.ca.da.uu.net at 2:37pm ET Your book on Seabiscuit was great. I would love to see you do one on the legendary "John Henry". He too, would make into a fine movie. Laura Hillenbrand at 2:38pm ET
Yes, of all the great racehorses, John Henry is the most similar to Seabiscuit. He would be the subject of an excellent biography. Leo from Baltimore from [64.105.101.202], at 2:39pm ET I enjoyed the book very much. You obviously spent considerable amount of time, effort and expense in doing the research for the book (did you really buy Seabiscuit memorabilia off of eBay?). Can you discuss a little bit about the process of researching and writing the book, including perhaps any brief anecdotes about the process? Good luck with the movie! Laura Hillenbrand at 2:41pm ET
THousands of dollars worth! I bought his shoes, programs, lots and lots of advertisements featuring him endorsing products, board games, a Charles Howard pocket knife. I can't name everything. All of this material is now at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame at Saratoga for an enormous exhibit beginning in June and running through December. The exhibit also included Seabiscuit's silks, blankets, trophies and other memorabilia. ziff from fc.anc.net at 2:42pm ET what happened to the Howard Automobile Empire? Laura Hillenbrand at 2:43pm ET
He slowly ceded control to others over time. His sons took over a lot of it late in Howard's life. Bob Zweibel from [24.31.62.47], at 2:43pm ET How do the sires of the 2001 Derby compare in "stature" to recent years. Is that as important as before? Laura Hillenbrand at 2:47pm ET
It is always of tremendous importance because more than anythig, the ability to negotiate the distance is a matter of genetics. I think it is as important as it always was. I have to go now, but thank you all for coming and for reading the book and for asking such intelligent questions. For those who would like to see more of Seabiscuit, there will be a lengthy profile on The News Hour with Jim Leyer tonight on PBS. Check your local listings!!! Thanks again! | |||||||
Hillenbrand is currently serving as a consultant on a Universal Pictures movie based on Seabiscuit: An American Legend. Born in Fiarfax, Virginia, Hillenbrand lives in Washington, D.C. and can be found at