By Scott Burton

Your winnings from High Chaparral's glorious efforts in the Breeders' Cup still burning a whole in your pocket? Or perhaps you want to see more of the breathtaking Santa Anita track?

Action from the film Seabiscuit was filmed at racetracks across America

The makers of the film Seabiscuit believe they have the answer for you.

A lavish adaptation of Laura Hillenbrand's award-winning book, Seabiscuit tells the true story of one of America's best-loved racehorses from before the war, and of the men who helped turn him from no-hoper into a champion.

Much of the credit for the dramatic and faithfully reconstructed racing action in Seabiscuit must go to two of the sport's great names.

The reel deal Stevens on Hollywood

Former royal jockey Gary Stevens makes his acting debut as the legendary George Woolf - the greatest rider of his day, and known universally as 'The Iceman.'

Those better acquainted with the American scene will know Chris McCarron as a winner of more than 7,000 races, including six Triple Crown events and nine successes at the Breeders' Cup.

After hanging up his boots in June 2002, McCarron immediately came on board the production under the title 'race designer.'

In partnership with director Gary Ross and cinematographer John Schwartzman, he has done just that - reproducing the thrill and speed of dirt track racing.

Unlike many other films with a sporting theme, McCarron and the crew have got the action just about spot on.

Film makers brought the movie to life with scenes at well-known tracks

Races don't just have the right historical finishing order - they look as though the horses and jockeys are actually trying to beat one another.

The film takes the audience from the country backroads of jockey 'Red' Pollard's first race (played by Spider-man Tobey Maguire), to the legendary match at Pimlico between Seabiscuit and 1938 Triple Crown winner War Emblem.

By using real racehorses and real jockeys, the film makers have brought a physicality that is often missing in these days of computer-generated effects.

Perhaps from a racing fan's view the real stars of Seabiscuit aren't the actors (though unlike plenty of other sportsmen who have tried acting, Gary Stevens is actually very good).

They aren't even the ten different horses who portray Seabiscuit. They are, in fact, the locations.

Many of America's great cathedrals of racing date from the Depression era of the film's setting.

Santa Anita was completed in 1934, and as modern as the facilities might seem on Breeders' Cup day, the huge art deco grandstand hasn't altered much in shape since its construction.

Other tracks were dressed for the occasion - Lexington in bluegrass country was the on-screen double for Pimlico.

And most thrillingly of all, these magnificent backdrops are filled with thousands of extras.

It seems strange to us in this era of multi-millionaire footballers, but Seabiscuit reminds us of a time when racing had unrivalled pulling power on both sides of the Atlantic.