Maguire Rides Seabiscuit

Tobey plays the jockey of fabled horse

Spider-Man star Tobey Maguire plans to saddle up for the true-life horse racing drama Seabiscuit.

Maguire, who previously starred in The Cider House Rules and Wonder Boys, will play Red Pollard, the jockey atop the horse that became a fabled figure during the Depression.

"There was an incredible toughness and sensitivity to Red that few people could capture, and Tobey is uniquely capable of doing that," said Gary Ross, who wrote the screenplay and will also direct.

The film is an adaptation of author Laura Hillenbrand's non-fictional best seller Seabiscuit: An American Legend.

Her book chronicled the life of the famed horse, owner Charles S.

Howard, trainer Tom Smith and Pollard, who rode Seabiscuit more than any other jockey.

Ross and Maguire previously collaborated on 1998 fantasy Pleasantville, in which the actor played a teenager who was magically drawn into his favourite 1950s sitcom.