Replica of original Seabiscuit Statue was installed at Ridgewood Ranch as a memorial to the Champ in 2007
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Where is Seabiscuit buried?

This question lingers and we expect it will linger for years. The Seabiscuit Heritage Foundation appreciates that after 70 years, racing fans young and old, care enough to ask this question.

Seabiscuit is buried at Ridgewood Ranch in Willits, California, the property once owned by Charles and Marcela Howard where 'Biscuit spent his final years. Seabiscuit was privately owned by the Howards, not by a racing syndicate, and when he died an untimely death at Ridgewood Ranch on May 17, 1947, the Howard family wanted his burial to be personal and private. Their sense of loss was said to be profound and long-lasting.

According to Howard family historian, Colonel Michael C. Howard, USMC (Ret.), great-grandson of Charles S. Howard, the tree that stands over Seabiscuit's grave still stands, undisturbed, and is under no threat from development. The location of that tree remains a family secret.

The History of the Seabiscuit Statue

Charles and Marcela Howard have both passed. Nevertheless, upon Charles Howard's death in 1950, Ridgewood Ranch was sold to a logging concern, Welch & Welch. As part of the condition of the sale, the original statue of Seabiscuit was removed by Lindsey C. Howard, Sr. and the site where it stood was paved, permanently changing the landscape. The statue stood for the next half-century at BingLin Stock Farm, Moorpark, Ca and was eventually donated to the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, Saratoga Springs, NY by the Howard family.

As a memorial to the champ, in 2007, a replica of this statue was installed at Ridgewood thanks to the generosity of Chris and Anita Lowe of Wiltshire, England. The statue was publicly dedicated with members of the Howard family in attendance and with the blessing of the current ranch owners, Christ’s Church of the Golden Rule.

Dedication Ceremony Befitting a Champion

	Members of the Howard family pose with the newly dedicated statue, which rests in front of the Howard House on Ridgewood Ranch The Statue reads: 'Biscuit's courage, honesty and physical prowess definitely place him among the thoroughbred immortals of turf history. He had intelligence and understanding almost spiritual in quality.
Bugler Pete Estabrook of Santa Rosa, California performs a call to post during the dedication of the Seabiscuit Statue June 23, 2007		The statue was donated by Chris and Anita Lowe of Bishopstone, Wiltshire UK

Willits, CA, June 23, 2007 -- After an absence of more than 55 years, a life-sized bronze sculpture of the legendary American racehorse Seabiscuit came back to its original home in northern California. Former Vice President Walter Mondale and his wife Joan, celebrated throroughbred racehorse owner Harry Aleo, and descendants of the owner, trainer, and jockey of Seabiscuit today paid tribute to the legendary American racehorse as a classic, life-sized bronze sculpture of the equestrian giant was unveiled and formally dedicated at Ridgewood Ranch in Willits. (Read full Press Release)

Ongoing Preservation Efforts

Today, ranch owners and Howard family descendants have no interest or plans to disturb Seabiscuit’s final resting place and, furthermore, strongly believe Charles and Marcela Howard would not wish Seabiscuit’s remains to be disturbed. Current historic preservation and land conservation efforts by the Seabiscuit Heritage Foundation will ensure a safeguard of the gravesite into perpetuity.

A Seabiscuit Memorial Garden is currently being considered at the site where Seabiscuit’s original statue stood, feasible once sufficient funds can be raised to create and maintain it and with the approval of the property owners.

Donate Now

Donations in support of a Seabiscuit Memorial Garden or ongoing historic preservation efforts at Rigewood Ranch such as the nomination of Seabiscuit's stud barn to the National Register of Historic Places may be sent to:

Seabiscuit Heritage Foundation, 16200 N. Hwy 101, Willits, CA 95490 or made securely online.

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