Release Date:

April 22, 1939

Main Character(s):

Porky Pig

Summary:

Porky Pig’s dad, Phineas, sends him to collect $11 after selling animal feed. Unfortunately, Porky stops in front of an auction on the way back and accidentally wins a racehorse just as he is yelling the time to a hard of hearing old geezer (11 o’clock). The racehorse Porky wins is a weak and feeble one named Teabiscuit, who only goes fast when he hears a balloon pop.

That’s Not All, Folks:

This is the first cartoon to have the words “Warner Bros.” above the shield in the opening. Up until “Hare-um Scare-um”, “Warner Bros”, would be used in a banner above the shield.

This is the only Porky cartoon directed by Hardaway and Dalton to have him portrayed as a child.

The cartoon combines the plots of “Porky the Rainmaker” and “Milk and Money”.

What I Like About This One:

Porky pretending to be in a race while riding on a makeshift racehorse (with wheels) that he calls “Cheesecake”.

The absurd idea that an auctioneer would be willing to sell a racehorse for something as low as 8 to 11 dollars.

Porky yelling the time to the hard of hearing old man: it unfortunately happens to be 11 o’clock and the auctioneer misinterprets Porky as wanting to buy the racehorse he’s selling (animated by Gil Turner).

Porky protesting that he “didn’t buy this rope” before the auctioneer tells him to look on the other end to see what he actually bought. He is pleased to see a smart, healthy looking racehorse, but it turns out to belong to another jockey competing in the race. Porky is dismayed to find out that the rope was attached to the sickly Teabiscuit (animated by Rod Scribner).

The bugler for the race having a record attached to the bugle.

Teabiscuit wondering off while Porky changes into a racing outfit where it’s revealed that Teabiscuit is obsessed with watching trombones slide.

The announcer speaking in spoonerisms (animated by Turner).

When Teabiscuit runs off with Porky, they cause three spectators’ long beards to be wrapped around their heads.

Teabiscuit getting ahead of another horse by biting his tail.

Teabiscuit running into a truck with a water barrel, getting the barrel stuck on his body. Upon getting free of the barrel, it flies onto another participant in the race.

When Teabiscuit is again distracted by the trombone player, he wins the race thanks to a kid blowing a balloon which pops behind Teabiscuit, and scaring him into going very fast.

After they win, Teabiscuit gets frightened by the camera flashing and reappears playing the trombone before going into a fit of coughing and wheezing (animated by Richard Bickenbach).

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕 ½