Seabiscuit (2003, USA)

Aichi Insurance Physicians’ Newspaper

In 1910, Howard (Jeff Bridges) achieves success as an automobile dealer, but after losing his beloved son in a car accident, he is abandoned by his wife. Around the same time, a cowboy named Smith wanders from job to job as a horse trainer in Western films, a consequence of the declining demand for horses due to the rise of the automobile industry. Meanwhile, in Canada, a young boy named Johnny is honing his talent for horseback riding.

With the onset of the Great Depression, Johnny's parents lose everything and pin their hopes on their son's riding skills. Nicknamed "Red" for his red hair, Johnny (Tobey Maguire) makes his debut in regional horse racing, but earns only meager prize money. In 1933, in Tijuana, Mexico, Howard meets a woman named Marcela. Influenced by Marcela, a passionate equestrian, Howard becomes involved in the world of horse racing.

One night, Howard sees Smith in the forest tending to a horse with a broken leg. Moved by Smith's words, “You don’t throw a life away just because it’s banged up a bit,” Howard hires him as a trainer. Three months later, at a racetrack in New York, Smith spots a horse with great potential—Seabiscuit—and recommends that Howard purchase it. Smith also sets his sights on Red as the jockey.

With all the key players in place, their success story begins to unfold. Ordinary people, suffering through hard times, are inspired and uplifted by Seabiscuit’s string of victories. Riding this wave of momentum, Howard goes on to arrange a race with the highest prize money in history. But how will it end?

This dream of striking it rich—driven by a renowned trainer, a gifted jockey, a remarkable horse, and an ambitious owner—turns out to be a fleeting struggle against the harsh realities of the Great Depression. Lotteries and gambling offer only dreams—so why do we still put our faith in the invisible hand of the market?