Though all three men faced the same hardship, their differing perceptions of it appeared to be shaping their fates. Louie and Phil's hope displaced their fear and inspired them to work toward their survival, and each success renewed their physical and emotional vigor. Mac's resignation seemed to paralyze him and the less he participated in their efforts to survive, the more he slipped. Though he did the least, as the days passed, it was he who faded the most. Louie and Phil's optimism, and Mac's hopelessness, were becoming self-fulfilling.

His conviction that everything happened for a reason, and would come to good, gave him laughing equanimity even in hard times.

The biggest problem has been exhaustion. I've spent about 6 of the last 14 years completely bedridden.

When he thought of his history, what resonated with him now was not all that he had suffered but the divine love that he believed had intervened to save him.

Books on horse racing subjects have never done well, and I am told that publishers had come to think of them as the literary version of box office poison

For 'Seabiscuit,' I interviewed 100 people I never met.

I just thought I was empty and now I'm being filled...and I just wanted to keep being filled.