Grand National — John R. Tunis / John Roberts Tunis

Jack Cobb has lost everything -- his wife, his son, his career -- but a thoroughbred horse named Quicksilver may give him a new lease on life

Recently widowed Baltimore stockbroker Jack Cobb is increasingly disheartened when his son, Stan, loses interest in pursuing his college degree in history. Stan prefers riding his thoroughbred horse, Quicksilver, and sees little point in academic work when he is about to be drafted into the army to fight in Vietnam.

Barely a month into his first tour of duty, Stan is killed by a civilian in the street, and soon after that Jack's business begins to fail. Forced to sell the house, Jack stakes his last hope on Stan's beloved horse and enters Quicksilver into the prestigious Grand National in Aintree, England.