Product Description
Using many never-reported facts, award-winning writer Anne Hagedorn Auerbach chronicles the compelling and tragic story behind the downfall of Thoroughbred racing's crown jewel.
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Customer Reviews (29)

It's about the history of the farm.
Had no idea what happened to one of the greatest race farms in America. This told it all. Quite a shock, very devestating.

A Story That Is Told
Actually, I am still in the process of reading the book, but nearing the end. It is really sad. I read it with tears because back in 1969, my parents took my sister and I to visit Calumet, and I was extremely impressed as a horse-loving (and owning)teenager.
One of the highlights of the trip was seeing 29 year old Citation. We also saw Needles, another Kentucky Derby winner who was standing at Calumet at the time, and I'm surprised no mention was made of him.

The same day, we visited Leslie Comb ll's Spendthrift Farm that actually went belly up before Calumet, but not that long before.
There, we saw Nashua, Swaps, Creme dela Creme, Sword Dancer, and Gallant Man. The lesson is that these are living, breathing creatures, not meant to be portfolios or their welfare put at the whim of human greed and avarice.

I read the book wishing I could slap Lundy full in the face, and to this day, I fully believe he had a hand in Alydar's death because it would be to Lundy's advantage at the time to collect on the insurance. I am surprised that the Lloyd's of London didn't require a more extensive investigation before the payout was made, but they probably still believed in Calumet's peerless reputation, and a part of them didn't want to imagine anyone at Calumet would do anything like this. They just didn't know Lundy. That's too bad. I hope Lundy lives the rest of his life in regret, poverty, and pariahhood.

Excellent Reporting
This is an awesome piece of reporting on a complex subject. I am interested in horse racing, but you don't have to care a bit about it to enjoy this book. What an epic story of the rise and fall of one of America's richest families. The only downside is it's so discouraging to know how it all got squandered.

Better than Fiction
You couldn't make this stuff up. There isn't a book of fiction that reads and plays out like this book. I am a Horsemen in the industry and there were times i wanted to throw this book across the room! But it was to good to destroy.

Mostly Money
What happened to Calumet makes for a great story.

Ms. Auerbach gives myriad details of Calumet's accounting practices ..... money here, deals there.And there are plenty of notes and a very complete index,but there is limited information about the people involved.

Why did the 16 year old heiress to the farm marry a local share cropper's son?And how did her wealthy, powerful family react at the time?

This book paints a detailed financial picture of the deals that (likely) led to Calumet's fall. But there remain considerable back stories to be told. ... Read more

Product Description
A collection of stories about horse racing includes the work of Damon Runyon, Molly Keane, Banjo Patterson, Dick Francis, John Welcome, and others. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Gripping, fast and furious
Dick Francis puts you in the midst of the action. Close your eyes and you are there, smelling the sweat, feeling the adrenalin and the rush of the wind as you hurtle over the fences onto the next adventure. Reading DickFrancis ensures the reader always comes away with a new found knowledge,whether it be photography, veterinary science,painting,skiing, .the listis endless. Once read, you will be chomping at the bit in anticipation ofhis next masterpiece. ... Read more

Product Description
Why is it bad if horses 'cough' but good if they 'hack up'?Why do jockeys sometimes have to 'call a cab'? What are those 'tic-tac' men in the white gloves doing? These and many other quandaries are solved in the RACING LEXICON. If you've ever been baffled by talk of 'Berlington Bertie' (100/30) or 'Major Stevens' (evens), or just wanted to understand more of the 'sport of kings', this is the book for you. No pastime generates as much paper or as much talk - the gift of the gab is required whether you are in the horsebox or the commentary box, and there is jargon to master from the early morning gallops to an afternoon mission in the betting ring. Words like 'Bismarck' and 'bombproof', 'jig-jog' and 'jolly' may not come straight from the horse's mouth (even 'talking horses' cannot speak) but they capture the passion of everyone who loves the races, from the 'legendary' J P McManus to the humblest 'mug' punter. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Horseracing words explained from Abba to Zing
The inclusion of Abba tells you that this book isn't entirely serious. How did they get in anyway? Well, British racecourse have in recent years provided musical entertainment for those who are able to stay on after the racing has finished. Although Abba didn't re-assemble to do those gigs, there are tribute bands around who are happy to fulfil that role. Of course, many other singers and groups have also done those gigs, but if you're going to choose just one act to include in the book, it might as well be Abba, who are very popular with British racegoers. Maybe this is because of some of their song titles (Winner takes it all, Money money money, Name of the game, Take a chance on me,) not forgetting the immortal line (I feel like I win when I lose) mentioned in the book, have a particular resonance.

The book helpfully explains the difference between assistance (pressure applied by the jockey) and aids (equipment fitted to horses to help them concentrate) in a humorous way. Other words and phrases described include All dressed up, All out, Argument, Armchair ride, Ask, Banker, Black type, Blow his cover, Blow up, Bonus, Buy money, Call a cab, Card, Change of scenery, Come too soon, Credentials, Cruise, Dangerous, Daylight, Difference of opinion, Different horse, Distress signals, Duck, Effing, Embryo chaser, Empty, Engine, Expensive to follow, Exposed, Extended, Ferrari, Fiddle, Fire, Fizzy, Fluff his lines, Fly a kite, Fun horse, Gaff track, Game, Head in the air, Home, Hoodoo, Ideas, Jar, John Wayne, Jolly, Juice, Keen, Keep something for himself,Kill himself, Leg, Lucky last, Mackeson, Made him look good, Make up, Moderate, Monkey, More letters than numbers, Mug, Nowhere, Office, On his tod, On sufferance, Organise, Parish, Pipe opener, Press the button, Problems, Proximity, Quit the saddle, Rags, Raider, Rule four, Scene, Sheepskin noseband, Side door, Squiggle horse, Take it in turns to win, Tissue, Try, Two ways of running, Up and down on the spot, Visit, Well in, Wrong, X-rated, Yardstick and Zest - and that's just a few of them.

These words and phrases do not always mean the same in horseracing that they do elsewhere although there is usually some sort of derivative connection. Even when they do mean the same, they usually have a very specific usage in racing. For example, proximity is a somewhat pejorative term in horseracing, being used to describe a race in which a horse of modest ability finishes close to much better horses, so the form of the race can`t be trusted. Those who follow steeplechasing quickly understand the meaning of more letters than numbers and that it's usually not wise to bet on such horses. Those horses tend to be expensive to follow and may need a change of scenery to improve their jumping.

Although all the entries are in alphabetical order, not every piece of jargon gets its own entry. For example, there is no entry for Sent off, but it is mentioned in the description for About. In horseracing, the phrase has a completely different meaning (started the race) to its use in team sports (player told to leave the field of play). In this particular case, it would be obvious even to the racing novice what the meaning is, but there are many words and phrases used in the book that don't have their own entry, for some of which a separate explanatory entry might be helpful to such novices.

One of a series of such books (others cover football (soccer) and cricket) that poke fun at sporting jargon, I think it will appeal more to those already familiar with the sport than those learning about it. Nevertheless, this is a very funny book that shows just how silly some of the jargon really is. ... Read more

Product Description
One of the most remarkable books about the horse industrythat has ever been published. Discover for yourself the engaging dramathat gave birth to the kingdom for the horse. You will learn about thegenesis of the American horse pedigree system - the genius of onemans devotion to quality control and exceptional care in pure bredanimals - the terrifying raids during the Civil War on Woodburn bysome of the countrys most notorious outlaws and the vigorous chase byunion forces to recover stolen horses - a romantic visit to one cornerof the virgin Bluegrass where a noble Scotsman developed the pedigreesystem that created many of the first horse reacing giants in America- a striking documentation of lingering influences of the Alexanderfamily and their rich heritage including two modern day governors andother important contemporary breeders. It will etch into your memorythe unforgettable events that make the beginnings of great Americanhorse racing as refreshing as a good day at the track. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent overview greatly marred by typos
Maurizio Bongianni, Champion Horses (Bonanza, 1983)

This could havebeen the perfect coffee table book on horse racing, and if you have relatively illiterate friends, it is. The book is a compendium of, not surprisingly, various champion horses of years past (selected, seemingly, at the discretion of the author). The lavishly illustrated book concentrates on Thoroughbreds and, to a lesser extent, trotters, but does give small amounts of space to steeplechase horses and quarterhorses as well.

Where the book dies is in the absolutely incompetent proofreading and editing. Especially in the latter half of the book, typos abound (Fort Erie Racetrack as referred to on successive pages as Port Erie and Fort Eric, for example, and a number of race records are different in the career boxes than they are in Bongianni's descriptions; one particularly amusing gaffe has Bongianni describing a horse winning fourteen times in an eight-race career). Still, if you're willing to overlook the typos, the illustrations are worth it. ***

Champion Horses
This book focuses on an assortment of champion race horses from Europe and America--Thoroughbreds (flat racers and steeplechasers), harness racers and even a Quarter Horse makes an appearence. The author is Italian and therefore the book is heavy on European horses. A gorgeous full color painting of each horse accompanies the horse's history, racing stats and 5 generation pedigeee, which really helps you to see how champion lines evolved. Also, there is a good introduction to the evolution of the Throughbred, Quarter Horse, French Trotter and American Standardbred with an extensive family tree, as well as maps of the world's most famous tracks and charts of the worlds most famous racing silks! It's a great resource tool for those interested in horse racing all around the world. BUT the writing is dry--this is translated from the Italian and it always seems to be translations lack a certain flavor that keeps one interested in reading and not just looking at the pretty pictures. And, what hurts this book the most, is the author's choice of the Champions. He has included horses that have won recent (for then) major races, but had NO stud record or a very unspectacular one. Exceller--the horse who beat Seattle Slew is included but NOT Seattle Slew--and guess who was a major force in the Thoroughbred breeding industry and who wound up as a Trivial Pursuit question? The American sections are weak, with horses picked at the author's whim instead of their breeding shed record, which is what the book claims to be about--the most important contributors to the breeds therein and to their nation's racehorses ... Read more

Product Description
The training secrets of Hall-of-Fame trainer, Preston Burch, are once again available in his classic book, Training Thoroughbred Horses. In it he explains how to select, train and campaign horses of all aptitudes to become tough, competitive winners. Burch will teach you how to select yearlings with potential, break and train impressionable young horses, select training regimens to condition horses as individuals, select races which will improve the horse, and how to pick the jockey which is best suited for the animal. You will learn how to feed simple rations that turn into strength and stamina, manage your racing stable so horses remain calm yet fit and how to win more races by understanding the condition book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A Great Start to Understanding The Basics of Training....
The author writes from legendary experience as a thoroughbred trainer.Of course with any knowledge presented it can not possibly include every little detail regarding the subject but certain it can only enhance the experience one can acquire as a trainer.

Be that as it may, my motive behind purchasing this material was not that of becoming a trainer, but rather to become an outstanding horseplayer.To me, the more a horseplayer can learn about the horses including important details about how thoroughbreds are trained, the better.

This book offers exactly the information desired about training.I truly recommend others reviewing this material and also let me know what you think about the information, perhaps we can dialogue about the sport of training thoroughbreds.All the best! --- Stanley Pall

Superb
Impossible that present day horses would beat any horse trained by Preston Burch.Just read the exercise prescriptions in this book and be blown away.I certainly was.Here is carefully controlled training by a trainer understanding that his horses are participating in an athletic event.This is a book about conditioning equine athletes and also contains every other aspect of training and caring for thoroughbred race horses in a well written book by an individual who apparently understood the great care required.I held off reading this fearing it was dated, but what a pleasant surprise to find the extreme if succinct comprehensiveness here, every aspect is covered by a fellow who tried to do everything correctly.This is Ivers before Ivers, and one does wonder whatever happened to trainers like Max Hirsch and Preston Burch.

Preston Burch, where are you?
If every owner had a trainer like Preston Burch, there would be a lot more owners.

This is a cornerstone book for a racing library.There is a large amount of fundamental training information in this simply writtenlittle book.

The sections on conditioning schedules are invaluable.Thedegree of conditioning Burch afforded his horses is probably unmatchedtoday.

Read this book, and then end it to your trainer (if he can read).

If you are just starting in this business...read this book.
If you are just starting out in this business, you should read this book.Preston Burch gives you a simple, direct and enlightening understanding of thoroughbred horses.This book may have been published almost 50 years agobut in every advancement man has made we constantly find ourselves goingback to old knowledge and wisdom. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great Book For All Levels of Barrel Racing
I have been training and riding barrel horses for 24 years and feel that this is the best barrel racing book I have ever come across.It is a great tool for all levels of barrel racers- from beginner to experienced.I found the chapters regarding barrel horse bloodlines and solving commonproblems very interesting.This book is easy to read and comprehend andhas magnificent pictures to visually display the content.Worth the money!

THE most comprehensive book on barrel racing out there
This book covers it all!From selecting certain barrel racing pedigrees, ground work with colts, first rides, beginning barrel work, problems, tack selection and much more. This book contains hundreds of beautiful colorphotos and is nice enough to be a "coffee table" book (that'swhere mine is).Ed and Martha even take the time to answer your questionsif you e-mail them, first-class all the way... ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Nice present for a horse lover
My father enjoys reading about the horse racing so I thought this would be a good book for him.And he enjoyed it!Good book if you like reading about past races.Photo's were good too.

Husband Loved It
My husband is an avid horse race lover and this book provided him with alot of enjoyment and facts.He thoroughly enjoyed it.

An enjoyable treasury and giftbook especially for horse racing enthusiasts
Compiled by the staff of Blood-Horse Publications, Horse Racing's Top 100 Moments is a nostalgic compilation of great instances in the history of the sport of kings. Each two-page spread of this trade paperback is devoted to memorable occasions ranging from Cigar's historic victory of the first Dubai World Cup, to the very first race call as conceived by George Schilling in the mid-20's, to the broadcast of Man o' War's funeral, each great moment is described in clear prose and illustrated with vintage black-and-white and color photographs. An enjoyable treasury and giftbook especially for horse racing enthusiasts.

Solid book for new and experienced fans of horse racing
In this review of the top 100 moments of Thoroughbred racing you will find all of the captivating moments you would expect.However, you also get a glimpse into some other, less publicized events and how they have affected the game. The inaugural Breeder's Cup, for example, was much more important that I had imagined.The chapters are well written by educated and experienced individuals who make strong points for their 'moments.'This book can be at home on a coffee table, or in my bookshelf with 50 other horse books. ... Read more

Product Description
By Thomas Tobin, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky. With a chapter by Richard Heard. With Forewords by H.R.H. Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and Ernst Jokl. Written with authority, clarity and a sense of humor, this book contains information on all types of drugs used in horses. The author explains how these drugs act, how they influence performance, and how they cause problems. The five sections of the text deal in turn with the history and basic aspects of drug use in performance horses; the controversial drugs of controlled medication, including phenylbutazone, other nonsteroidal drugs, furosemide, corticosteroids, and anabolic steroids; illegal or banned medications, including all pertinent stimulants, depressants, narcotics,local anesthetics and tranquilizers; the use of vitamins, minerals, fluid therapy and antibiotics; and medication control, with data on the techniques and capabilities of chemical testing, the rule-making process, and legal aspects of rule enforcement. All horsemen, owners, trainers, coaches, competitors, judges and administrators will deem this book the definitive guide to equine drugs. ... Read more

Product Description
The author's first-hand investigation of some of the country's most successful and lucrative Thoroughbred-racing training facilities offers a wealth of information for handicappers and racing enthusiasts. An entire chapter is devoted to each conditioner, which uncovers many profitable training methods. These top-notch outfits have clearly separated themselves from the thousands of others struggling in this competitive business. What's their secret? What do they all have in common? Each chapter follows the trainer and his staff through a typical day of barn preparation and management, which is sure to uncover some sound wagering advice during live afternoon racing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Interesting
Good read , really enjoyed it. Interesting to see the diffrent backgrounds that
have produced such top trainers. Excellent stories about their rise to the top and the horses that took them there.

Critique of"The Training Game".
A very balanced and objective treatment. Karen Johnson is the daughter of Hall Of Fame Trainer Phil Johnson and grew up around the racetrack scene. In this book she profiles ten of the most prominent trainers of thoroughbreds. She presents their backgrounds, follows their careers, and gives some insights into their individual training methods. Not written merely as celebrity profiles, she deals directly with any issues of controversy...........particularly those that surround the careers of Rick Dutrow and Bobby Frankel. The training methods discussed are very general, however, so handicappers won't discover any tricks of the trade that aren't already well known. A very enjoyable read, though, and a good overview of the current game of thoroughbred racing.

Thoroughbred Horse Racing
I really enjoyed this book. If you are a horse owner this is a must read. This will give you insight on what to expect from a trainer and why some are better than others

True Insider Look
These are up-close and personal portraits that don't pull punches. History that routinely gets glossed over elsewhere is presented and discussed. I was surprised by the level of candor that runs through the book. I've followed the careers of these guys for years and can pretty well predict what kind of responses they'll offer to any given question; what you find here is different and deeper, more reflective and strategic, primarily because the focus is total career as opposed to the questions these guys normally get, which are all about the last race or the next one. A worthwhile and recommended read. ... Read more

Product Description

A new superstar appeared on the American sports landscape in the spring of 2006: Barbaro, a three-year-old racehorse, won the Kentucky Derby by six and a half lengths, the largest margin of victory in sixty years. Barbaro's impressive performance immediately stirred talk of a possible Triple Crown. But in the opening yards of the Preakness Stakes two weeks later, the horse suffered a catastrophic leg injury that ended his undefeated career and left him fighting for his life.

Customer Reviews (21)

Braveheart.
Easily the saddest racetrack story since Ruffian (Ferdinand's trip to the slaughterhouse was the worst off-track one), Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado rides to the rescue and saves Barbaro's tale from the depression heap. The warmth of friendship between horse and rider along with Prado's detailing of the many good things that Barbaro's battle and passing have inspired make the book a heroic work.
Prado feeds readers added carrots by showing what it's like to be a successful jockey. Yep - as some may have guessed - horse racing is a business. Even a big-time winner like Prado needs to continually compete and excel or the game will pass him by. The pull of work/profession is something most of us feel and to see Prado bucking it a bit to be with Barbaro during the horse's hospitalization connects with us on a deep level.
Biographical information about the jockey's rise from a poor yet productive family in Peru is well-placed. The gifts bequeathed to the author by his parents are an important part of "My Guy Barbaro." Yet I lost track of Prado's father in the story. The book left me uncertain whether the father is living or dead. The love of animals the father instilled in Edgar lives on and that's the more important thing.
Another fuzzy point is the reason why Roy and Gretchen Jackson switched Barbaro from grass to dirt running. We don't read it from the Jacksons' mouths but we can conjecture that they were seduced by the allure of winning the Triple Crown. They're certainly not the only owners captured by this idea but it's tragic just the same. The tragedy becomes sharper when reading Marcus Hersh in the Daily Racing Form on the day of the 2010 Arlington Million writing about the dearth of top-level American grass runners and considering that Barbaro could have been a foundation sire for a surge in U.S. grass success. The Jacksons must have felt an additional blow from the American dirt ethos when another horse they bred - European grass champion George Washington - fatally broke down in the 2007 Breeders Cup Classic (run in the Monmouth Park slop), a race he should never have been in.
Racing is becoming more international (Great Britain now has a Kentucky Derby qualifying race) and this should prompt American owners and breeders to try harder in the grass game. The waning of the U.S. Triple Crown and lessening the obsession with breeding for dirt speed would likely improve the health of the American thoroughbred and boost interest in the American game, especially in Europe. Funny that the Triple Crown is American racing's biggest asset and biggest liability at the same time.
Besides the bravehearts shown by Barbaro, Prado, trainer Michael Matz, and the Jacksons, the most compelling thing about "My Guy Barbaro" is that it shows what it's like to be a human being in a suddenly tense and fluid situation. Prado (with the help of co-author John Eisenberg) puts us in the saddle at the 2006 Preakness. Our hearts pound as the jockey has to make the most weighty decisions in split seconds. We also get a glimpse of the grand fact of horse racing and almost everything else - that things converge from the distant past and the near present, creating a situation no one (other than G-d) could have imagined. Consider Barbaro's turf beginnings when mulling Matz's saddling of the horse on the Pimlico dirt backstretch then leading him onto the grass course where Preakness runners are traditionally saddled. Barbaro probably thought he was going to run on the grass and may have adjusted his physiology accordingly. Also, consider the troubled loading of Diabolical and how that second gate click sent Barbaro off prematurely. Prado considers them in hindsight but his reaction at the moment was the eternally human - "Why is this happening now?" Our hearts go out to this braveheart.
The puzzle is solved by studying the words of the great scientist/philosopher Ernst Mach, who said you may think you can predict the outcome of the most simple situation/experiment but don't be surprised if the expected results don't become actual. In other words, be cautious. Dr. Mach inspired me to question the certainty of Barbaro in the Preakness. I went three deep with Bernardini on my Pick 3 that day and it paid nicely.
Prado and Matz were consoled in the aftermath by teaming up on 2006 Breeders Cup Distaff winner Round Pond and separately winning Barbaro Stakes races the next year at Pimlico and Delaware Park. The author had hoped for extended joy through Barbaro brother Nicanor in the 2009 Triple Crown but it was not to be.
My hope is that Prado gets his first Preakness victory (all those wins in Maryland yet winless in the state's biggest race) aboard a Barbaro sibling or at least a product of Dynaformer (Barbaro's sire). It would be great if Matz and the Jacksons are part of it. 2011 will mark five years since Barbaro's breakdown. The stage is set and I'm willing to place a futures wager on the fact that our spiritually attuned jockey/author is ready to ride and write a new and glorious final chapter.

Great Gift
I purchased this book for my wife because she is an avid horse racing fan.She read it completely in a few days and could not count how many times she cried.She said she loved it!

Relatable Story for Horse Owners
I knew little of Barbaro's story prior to reading the book.I knew that he won the Derby, was injured and eventually had to be put down.I loved hearing the story from Edgar's point of view.The story of Barbaro's final year really struck home and I could absolutely relate to what Edgar said.I owned a horse that took me to two World Championships in a different aspect of the industry (horse showing).I lost him in 2009 due to a careless vet's mistake.I could whole heartedly relate to Edgar's words regarding the loss of Barbaro.I think the book was well written and definitely gave the story from another point of view than one would expect.It is a good book for people who followed Barbaro's story and already know many of the facts of the story.My favorite part was the quote from Mrs. Jackson, "Grief is the price we pay for love."So very true for anyone who has lived a similar situation.

"Our Guy, Barbaro"
After Barbaro's tragic Preakness, I called a friend, whose daughter is an animal lover, just to tell her to be aware of what may be in store for the horse.Little did I know that this potential Triple Crown winner would win the hearts of people in all parts of the world.This giant of a horse probably would have won the Triple Crown.We will never know.But what we do know is that the owners, his trainer, groom and his beloved jockey, Edgar Prado, have had their lives changed forever.

I find it difficult to type through the tears, but I can tell you that this story is one of great love and tenderness for an animal that captured everyone's heart ,for just a short time, but will be remembered forever.

A prayer will be said for Edgar Prado and his guy this evening and many evenings forthwith.They once again will be in heaven, riding races and playing games with each other some day.

Viva Edgar Prado!!!!

Animal Lovers United
Interesting insight behind the scenes on horse racing.I loved this book.Yep!I cried at the end, even though I knew the ending already.Edgar obviously loves horse and gave an insider's opinion on how horses in the race world ought to be treated - with dignity, respect, and most of all, love.Barbaro's owners are to be commended as being horse lovers, first and foremost.Barbaro was a majestic, spunky, and beautiful creature.Edgar is a horse lover, too, and a fine horesman.His ethic of not injuring a horse for the sake of any race, no matter the stakes, is sheer love and respect for the horses he has spent his life with.The horses are lucky to have a gifted, kind and caring jockey to work with them.i can hardly wait for the 2008 Derby and see if Barbaro's sibling can finish what Barbaro so magnificently started.Barbaro did for equine health what Nicole Simpson did for domestic abuse. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

Ten great American Thoroughbreds
Ten great American Thoroughbred fillies and mares are featured in this book, and not the ones that you might guess, either.For instance, the unbeaten Personal Ensign was never elected `Horse of the Year,' so she is not included.Neither were the Kentucky Derby winners, Genuine Regret or Winning Colors, nor Ruffian, who was perhaps the greatest racing filly of them all.Miss Woodford (who won the title twice), Imp, Beldame, Regret, Twilight Tear, Busher, Moccasin, All Along, Lady's Secret, and Azeri are the only American Thoroughbred females who were crowned `Horse of the Year' (or its equivalent back before there was such a title). According to the various authors who wrote a chapter for "Women of the Year," female Thoroughbreds weren't usually chosen for top honors unless there was no outstanding Thoroughbred male for a particular year.For instance Personal Ensign, who won thirteen out of thirteen races, most of them grade I stakes, was beaten out for the 1988 Thoroughbred crown by Alysheba.The following year, Bayakoa won seven grade I races and was nosed out by Sunday Silence, who won just five, but they included the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Okay, life isn't fair but "Women of the Year" is still an interesting read for Thoroughbred fans.I personally wasn't acquainted with the stories of most of these ten great racing fillies, especially the ones who raced in the first half of the 20th Century.

The authors of this book all wrote for the weekly magazine, "Blood Horse" and their individual chapters range from pleasant to scintillating.I was particularly fond of Judy L. Marchman's story of Moccasin, who was the first and only two-year-old filly to win the "Horse of the Year" title.During her 1965 two-year-old season, the big chestnut filly defeated everything that set foot on the track with her, including the boys.She ended her juvenile season "with a record of eight wins in eight starts, with a combined margin of victory of fifty-one lengths..."

"Women of the Year" includes black-and-white photographs of its four-legged subjects, along with their various human connections.I would rate it as a very pleasant way to spend an evening if you are an American Thoroughbred racing aficionado.

HOW DARE THEY
How dare they NOT include ruffian in this book!!!! She is by far the best filly to EVER set foot on a track!!!! That is HORRIBLE!!!!

Superb profiles of the ten fillies named Horse of the Year.
Horse of the Year, the most prestigious of the Eclipse Awards, is an honor that traditionally goes to male horses. There is no rule that says this has to be so, but year after year it is nearly always won by a colt. Only ten fillies and mares in the history of American racing have managed to come away with the title. Those ten outstanding females are profiled here in yet another excellent book put out by the staff of "The Blood Horse."

Official voting for Horse of the Year honors was not begun until 1936, after the eras of the first four fillies included in the book. Miss Woodford, Imp, Beldame, and Regret are, nevertheless, said to have earned the equivalent of the title based upon the general consensus of the racing world at the times they ran. They are included in what is considered a "legitimate, although unofficial, list of champions dating back . . . to 1870," compiled by then-editor of "The Blood Horse" Kent Hollingsworth in 1970 (pg. 8).

Miss Woodford, the first filly to earn the Horse of the Year title, was also the first and so far only female to be accorded the honor twice, in both 1883 and 1884. Her career earnings of $118,270 also made her the first horse of either gender to earn more than $100,000 in America. Of 48 lifetime starts, she won 37, placed second seven times, and third twice. By the end of her career she had earned the equivalent of seven Eclipse Awards - "one division title for each of the five years she raced and two Horse of the Year honors" (pg. 28), proving her a truly phenomenal athlete even by today's standards.

Imp, nicknamed the "Coal Black Lady," next earned the title in 1899. A homely-looking mare, and the daughter of parents who each raced only once, Imp herself started in an astonishing 171 races, placing in the top three in 126 of them. She was also the first mare to win the $10,000 Suburban Handicap. Imp was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1965, more than five decades after her death in 1909.

Beldame, for whom the grade I Beldame Handicap is named, captured the Horse of the Year title in 1904. Bred and owned by August Belmont II, who also bred the great Man O'War, she was the second female to win the Suburban Handicap, and was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1956.

Regret was named Horse of the Year for 1915. She was raced only lightly - her heaviest season was in 1917 with four starts, but she attained champion status in three out of the four seasons she ran, winning nine out of eleven starts. Even more impressive, Regret was the first of only three fillies to win the Kentucky Derby (Genuine Risk would win it in 1980, and Winning Colors in 1988). Her two losses were to male horses. She was never beaten by another filly.

Twilight Tear was the first filly to be officially voted Horse of the Year, named in 1944. Her career accomplishments include winning the Pimlico Special against the colt Devil Diver, in which she matched Seabiscuit's stakes record of 1:56 3/5, and also besting stablemate and Kentucky Derby winner Pensive.

Busher earned the title the very next year, in 1945. She won 15 of her 21 career starts, placed second three times, and third once. Busher won both the Arlington and Washington Park Handicaps against colts, conceding weight to all opponents. Her win in the Washington Park also brought the defeat of 1947 Horse of the Year Armed.

Moccasin earned Horse of the Year honors in 1965. The 16 hand, 1 3/4 inch filly broke her maiden by eight lengths and entered every subsequent race of her career as the odds-on favorite. She won eight of eight starts in 1965, and is the first and only female to win the Horse of the Year title at age two.

All Along, named in 1983, was the first European to be voted American Horse of the Year. In 1982 she won the Arc de Triomphe in her native France, only 1/10 second off the record time. The author states: "By the end of 1983, All Along had become the most popular French female to grace the shores of America since Brigitte Bardot" (pg. 131). She was also the leading money-winning filly of her time, earning over $3 million.

Lady's Secret, nicknamed the "Iron Lady," earned the title in 1986. She racked up 22 career stakes wins, won the Fall Triple in New York in two consecutive years, and distinguished herself as the first female Whitney Handicap winner since Gallorette in 1948. She was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1992.

Azeri rounds out the group, her 2002 Horse of the Year title making her the most recently named filly. She is the only one of the ten who never ran against males, but she nevertheless proved herself by winning a string of eleven graded stakes races in a row, including a five-length victory in the Breeder's Cup Distaff. She is the first horse to win the Apple Blossom Handicap three years in a row, and is also the richest American female racer of all time (the book lists her second to Spain, but she now has the lead with over $4 million).

Each profile was contributed by a different author, but each is well-written and the book as a whole remains solid and engaging. Also included is information on ancestors' and offspring's accomplishments, pedigrees, and numerous great photos. At the end is a full list of past performances for each horse, excepting Azeri who was still in training at the time of publication. "Women of the Year" is a quick and easy but fascinating read, and I'd highly recommend it to any Thoroughbred racing fan. ... Read more

Product Description
A humorous, sideways look at horse racing that recounts many of the strangest moments and incidents from the last 150 years of the sport's history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Interesting book for horse racing fans
This book was written and first published in Britain, so most of the races described happened in Britain, with only a few examples from elsewhere. Nevertheless, it is possible to enjoy the book wherever you are in the world - where they happened is irrelevant. Another point to note is that the book covers races spread over two centuries. Many of the strange things that happened during races in the nineteenth century just could not happen now because regulation is much tighter now.

Among the more recent races covered are the Grand Nationals of 1993 (abandoned after a false start) and 1997 (delayed by two days because of a bomb hoax) as well as the day at Ascot when Frankie Dettori rode all seven winners - a case when the races individually were not strange, but the combination of results was noteworthy. But of all the modern races, my favorite is the stun gun case, concerning a horse that seemed all set to win at Royal Ascot when well clear, before suddenly swerving.

The ancient races covered include (inevitably) the 1844 Epsom Derby, in which the winner was disqualified because he was a four year old (the race is for three year olds), the 1913 Epsom Derby, in which Emily Davison ran on to the course and was trampled to death by a horse, the 1962 Epsom Derby in which seven horses fell, the 1928 and 1967 Grand Nationals in which only one horse completed the course without mishap (Tipperary Tim and Foinavon respectively) and the 1956 Grand National in which Devon Loch collapsed within sight of winning.

There are other Epsom Derbies and Grand Nationals here too, as well as many more modest races in which strange things happen, including where no horse wins and the race was declared void. A fair number of novelty races are also included. On a sad note, the Hong Kong disaster of 1918, in which the stands caught fire with the loss of 604 lives, is also covered - the worst sporting disaster in the world.

Scandals are also represented. Quite apart from the 1844 Epsom Derby, these include Trodmore races 1898 (a fake race meeting) as well as Francasal in 1953 and Flockton Grey in 1982 (both cases of horse-swapping).

Some of the races described are not strange at all. Star Appeal's victory in the Arc De Triomphe is included, but nothing strange happened, although he was (and still is) the longest priced winner of the race. There are other races whose inclusion could also be questioned, especially as others with more obvious claims have been omitted, like the race at Royal Ascot in the 1970's in which the first three horses past the post (all well clear of the fourth) were all disqualified for interfering with each other and the race given to the fourth horse. In the 1980's, the St Leger had to be switched to Ayr because of holes in the ground at Doncaster. This episode is not included either.

Despite these reservations, inevitable with a book of this kind, this should provide plenty of amusement to horse racing fans everywhere. For those interested in other sports, be aware that this is one of a series covering a variety of sports including golf, motor racing, cricket and soccer.

Only for those with interest in horse racing history.
This book disappointed me somewhat due to two factors. First, nearly all of the races that are discussed are from the pre 1940 era of horse racing. I was looking for something a little more recent. Second, they are also primarily races from England. If you are interested in strange old races from England, buy this book. Otherwise, save your money. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

An insightful new look at the racing world.
This book is a collection of interviews with eighteen women working in different aspects of the Thoroughbred racing industry - trainers Linda Rice, Jenine Sahadi, and Christine Janks; jockeys Patti Browne, Donna Barton Brothers, and Zoe Cadman; reporter Charlsie Cantey; breeder Alice Chandler; groom Francesca Rabadan; photographer Barbara Livingston; track veterinarian Mary Scollay; publicist Jane Goldstein; racing officials Christine Salvino and Donna Porter; chart caller Sheryl Stefanowicz, journalist Maryjean Wall; jockey's wife Dot Sibille; and pari-mutuel clerk / horse tattooer Charlene Burkhardt. The range of perspectives is very nice.

Each woman brings a unique view of the industry, but there are also a lot of similarities running between them. Many, though not all, had families with backgrounds in horses. Almost all noted the fact that they had to work much harder than men in the same fields. Some were very conscious of sexism in their workplaces, and others found that the best way to deal with it was to ignore it entirely. Most of the women interviewed commented on the growth of the industry which has led to a more cutthroat atmosphere in recent years and the loss of great racing personalities. Every single one arrived at their place in life through an intense love of horses.

In terms of good writing, the book is not the best. The interviews are transcribed very directly, and the simple fact is that people do not speak in the same way that they write. There are times when the reading is awkward due to grammatical errors or patterns of speech that are not used in written language. The book would have flowed more nicely if the authors had either done their own write-ups on the women (the brief introductions before each interview read very well, for example) with extensive quoting, or had at least done a little more editting to the interviews themselves. Words such as "like," which are found randomly placed in sentences, could have been removed.

On the whole, however, the book is a fairly easy read (I was able to finish it in one day), and is very worthwhile. The women's stories are inspiring and often heartwarming. The chapter on Jenine Sahadi really made me smile. She's a tough and determined woman who's good at what she does, and I have gained a whole new respect for her. Francesca Rabadan's story brought tears to my eyes - she's been through so much and has come through with her gentle soul intact, and that is truly amazing. I also particularly enjoyed the interviews with Charlsie Cantey, Zoe Cadman, and Dot Sibille. I would love to see a sequel to this book someday that would introduce us to more of the outstanding women involved with Thoroughbred racehorses.

Women In Racing worthy read
"Women in Racing" is a collection of stories from many different facets of women in the sport. And frankly, you'll be suprised at what some of them have to say.

None of the chapters are too long and the book is just as good read skipping randomly from chapter to chapter as it would reading it cover to cover. Reading it is easy, no fighting to stick with a laboring plot line through 350 pages like some books.

A very good read with interesting characters. The best part is, like Seabiscuit, the women in this book are real. That is better than fiction.

Women in Racing: In Their Own Words
Here's a real treasure for girls and women who grew up loving horses and those who didn't--and for boys and men who want to know more about what goes on behind the scenes and on the turf in horseracing. These interviews with 18 women in all facets of horseracing are inspiring, informative, and just plain fun. There are trainers, breeders, and jockeys, of course, and backstretch workers, grooms, veterinarians, racing publicists, journalists, and photographers, as well as paddock judges, chart callers, mutuel clerks, and the most exotic of all-a horse tattooer! For ages 12 to adult, this is a special look into a world most of us know little about but are intrigued by the excitement and pagentry we catch glimpses of from time to time.

Women in Racing In Their Own Words
That interviewees in Women in Racing are so forthcoming and honest about their lives in the horse racing world speaks to the quality of the McEvoys' rapport and relationships with this large cast of women that includes a pari-mutuel clerk, a track official, a clocker, a jockey, owner-breeder, veterinarian, and more. They have a drive and tenacity that is probably only rivaled by women at the top of Fortune 500 companies. Each story is inspirational to anyone who dares to dream.

The chapter on Maria Rabadan, a groom, can move you to tears. Nevertheless, her story and each of the other stories are about triumph. You'll get a lot of chuckles out of these stories. Christine Salvino, a paddock judge, tells a hilarious anecdote about a horse that wouldn't allow a saddle on its back except when the call to post was played by the bugler! Read chapter 13 to get dieting tips from the "girl in red" Zoe Cadman (the jockey). She goes on the "Don't eat" diet to get thin and she doesn't lift weights because she says she's too muscular already.

Interestingly, many of these women seem driven by successful fathers with high expectations. (That would make a great psychological study!) All of them are serious sportswomen. Many describe themselves as conscious of the women's movement, but too busy to have taken part in it. Some of the women focus on gender as a defining issue and others ignore it, but they all say they had to work twice as hard as men to get the same opportunities.

The narratives bring the reader into each woman's private world. I always wanted to know what Charlsie Cantey thought while having to ride alongside jockeys with a microphone strapped to her or how women in racing coped with sexual harassment and so few ladies' rooms! Almost all of the women lament the loss of "characters" and colorful people in the racing field, as well as the change from racing as a family passion to a bottom line business.

Donna Porter (a racing official) recounts that she could only get on the back side unless her husband signed her in at the stable gate. Whether it was fear of lawsuits claiming discrimination, women's demands, or the changing times, thankfully the racing world has changed. Women have become president of the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, president of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and winners of the Eclipse Awards. Go Baby Go is right! ... Read more

Product Description

In the first book of this engrossing middle-grade trilogy set during the Civil War, a young Kentucky slave dares to pursue his dream of becoming a jockey.

The year is 1864 and twelve-year-old Gabriel hopes to one day become a famous jockey. Although he is a the son of a free black father and a slave mother-making him a slave as well-he loves to help his father, one of the best horse trainers in Kentucky, care for the thoroughbred racehorses on Master Giles's farm.

But the violence of war disrupts the familiar routine of daily life on the farm. One-Arm Dan Parmer and his band of Confederate raiders are threatening area farms and stealing horses. When Gabriel's father enlists in a Colored Battalion to help the Union Army and earn enough money to purchase freedom for his wife and son, Gabriel is both proud and worried. But the absence of his father brings the arrival of Mr. Newcastle, a white horse trainer with harsh, cruel methods for handling horses...and people.

Now it is up to Gabriel to protect the horses he loves from Mr. Newcastle and keep them safely out of the clutches of One-Arm Dan and his men.

Author Alison Hart mines the complex relationships between white and black, slave and master, Unionist and Confederate, and old and young in this gripping work of historical fiction. Young readers will experience the danger and drama of a time when war split the country and human beings were segregated into the owners and the owned based on the color of their skin. Background historical material and photos are included.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Book
This was purchased for a children's program at our local library.Can't comment on the book itself, as I haven't read it.But shipping was fast and book was in the condition promised.

Raced away with my heart!
I chose this book as a read aloud for my 3rd grade class because it was a former Texas bluebonnet book.I didn't know anything about the author or the story before reading it, but was so impressed that I had to buy a copy for my collection.Alison Hart uses such vivid description and beautiful language to capture the reader's attention.The suspense kept the kids on the edge of their seats- and they begged me to keep reading!They complained, "You always stop at the good part!"One student replied, "They're ALL good parts!"She was absolutely right.This book was also excellent for teaching writing- word choice, sentence fluency, and voice.I definitely highly recommend it!

A new look on freedom
Gabriel, a young slave, dreams of becoming a famous jockey of his Master's horses. During one race, the current jockey's arm gets broken, and Gabriel gets to race for the first time. His hopes to become the official jockey, though, are crushed when his father enlists in the Union army to buy his mother's freedom. His father is quickly replaced with a new man, who doesn't mind using the whip-- either on the slaves or the horses. If that's not bad enough, there's also a new jockey from ireland, who's just as bad. When the notorious One Arm raids the farm, though, Gabriel gets a chance to finally prove himself.

Though this book may not look entertaining from the cover, reading it will prove you wrong. This book is well-written, and easy to read. The characters were fun to read about, each with their own distinct personality. I learned much more about the civil war from Gabriel's point of view that I might not have learned somewhere else. I definitely didn't know very much about horses and their care, but now I know a bit more about them. The book was obviously researched very well, from the treatment of the slaves, to the Union army.

One thing I didn't like was how quickly all of the horse races are. One of the more critical races only took up roughly a page or so. I would've liked more details then, because I didn't really get a sense of how an actual race would be like. The author made it seem almost easy.

Mostly, though, I liked the book very much. It was fast paced, and fun through the whole book. You'll definitely put this book down with more knowing about the Civil war, and a new look on what it means to be truly free.

The Start of a Great Trilogy
Hart's beautifully researched and written story illuminates a forgotten aspect of Black, Civil War, and horse history. Her exploration of the meaning of freedom is particularly thought provoking. Gabriel's humanity, courage, and intelligence make the fact that he was born a slave all the more poingnant.

Susan Williams,
Wind Rider, Harper Collins 2006

Good book!
I am a social studies teacher in Florida and I'll admit it--I did not know anything about horse-racing during the Civil War. This book was very informative, fun to read, and well written. I applaud Ms. Hart for writing a book that middle school children can understand AND learn about history from! I couldn't put it down and found myself telling my classes about it. If you love horses, horse stories, history, or reading about the fight for freedom, you'll enjoy this book. ... Read more

Product Description
In praise of Horse Sense

"Bert Sugar wears his hat and waves his cigar and looks like some old-time fight manager. But this is far from being true. Bert Sugar is a brilliant man. And pride would not allow him to do a book that doesn’t reflect this much work and care for English: ‘Robinson Crusoe without a boat.’ The reader gets a big break with this one."
–Jimmy Breslin, Pulitzer Prize Winner, author of Sunny Jim: The Life of America’s Most Beloved Horseman–James Fitzsimmons

"Even Damon Runyon would have considered Bert Randolph Sugar to be Runyonesque. Here, he takes the reader beyond the rail or the $2 window and behind the scenes, with the rich cast of characters who make up the Sport of Kings."
–Bob Costas, NBC and HBO Sports

"Bert Sugar’s Horse Sense is a great read, capturing racing’s unique and colorful history with humor, priceless anecdotes, and genuine love and respect for the noble equine competitors who define the game."
–Tim Smith, Commissioner, National Thoroughbred Racing Association

"The roll-call of unforgettable characters from owners to trainers to jockeys to the horses themselves–the whole mystique of this addictive sport is spelled out for you in a book that lives up to its subtitle, An Inside Look . . . Before you hurry off to Belmont, Gulfstream, or Hollywood Park, or to your nearest OTB parlor, you’ve got a winner with your ticket to Horse Sense."
–Budd Schulberg, author, Academy Award Winner, On the Waterfront

"The business of horse racing can be dry stuff, but not with Bert Sugar on the case. He mixed the dollars and cents with the colorful characters and nonsense and came up with a potent sporting cocktail. Horse Sense is a must-read for any fan of the Sport of Kings."
–Jason Levin, author of From the Desert to the Derby ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Experiencethe beauty, intensity and hard work of horse racing
Horse Sense is a book written in order to either bring to life a flicker of love or reignite the passion for horse racing.Once you have read this book, your interest and fascination for this "Sport of Kings" will give you a desire to experience thisfor yourself, to be at a race, to watch the jockeys, the owners, the crowd.You will want to see and hear the sound of the horses as they sweep down the track.
Bert Sugar's book may contain some factual errors, but heintroduces the novice to the charm, glory , dangers andthe history of this amazing sport.His ability to reveal life at the track from the point of view of owners, jockeys, trainers and even those who wager at the windows is intriguing.
He gives a striking overview of the tracks, from the glorious tradition of Churchill Downs, to the grand and beautiful Arlington Park to the lesser ranked tracks.
The future of horse racing which took a major hit in attendance due to legal casino's and off track betting is also a subject that is well covered.
Bert Sugar shares the joyand intensity of watching the horses run and the appreciation for whatgoes into makingwinning horses,great jockeys, and successful trainers.

The World According to Bert
The murmur of the crowd, the electricity in the air - "they're off" and the smell or dirt and cigar all permeate this fine book by Bert Sugar- Runyonesque, wheeler dealer, yarn spinner and general sports know-it-all.
You'll love the cast of characters; jock's, trainers, owners and the horses, colorful, and bizzare, a whole stew of odd ducks and delightful stories.

A must for all racing fans!
Bert Sugar goes behind the scenes, interviewing owners, breeders, trainers, jockeys and track operators with anecdotes, history and charm only he can do.
Horse Sense follows the money behind the business of racing which was once dominated by eccentric families and strange characters.
A real nice read for any horse enthusiast! ... Read more

Product Description
When Jim Squires set up shop as a horse breeder in the bluegrass country of Kentucky, no one held out much hope for him making a living at it. But he had been raising horses for 20 years, including equine athletes. This is Squires s rollicking tale of how a novice in the world of Kentucky horse culture did more than merely stay in business: he brought together the stallion & mare who produced Monarchos, the colt who went on to win the 2001 Kentucky Derby. Squires lays bare the close-knit & secretive world of the thoroughbred community, tweaking the self-important owners at the Keeneland & Saratoga auctions, & skewering the preening trainers at Churchill Downs & Gulfstream Park. Photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Insights into the breeding and selling of thoroughbreds
I enjoyed this book a lot as it gave me insights into the industry that I didn't know before. Having sold racing quarter horses at auction, I especially enjoyed reading how he sold his horses and the stories involved. I highly recommend this book. It brought back many memories for me and it was an exciting story. I read it slowly as I didn't want it to end.

Horse of a Different Color
This is one of the BEST written horse stories I have have read. I have now purchased 3 extra books at Amazon to give to friends.

Wow! Enlightening & Entertaining at the Same Time
Just finished reading Jim Squires' outstanding book "Horse of a Different Color" which details his experience breeding,raising and racing Kentucky thorobreds, plus other bits & pieces of interesting lore.Haven't enjoyed a book this much in years.If you want to learn about the thoroughbred horse business, in general, and Kentucky horses in particular, and how Jim and his wife Mary Anne went about it, you won't find a more intertaining book anywhere.

Derby Fans...What clever insight into horse racing!
Jim Squires provides a very unique approach to writing about an industry few have had the luxury of being on the inside of."Horse of a Different Color" is intelligently presented and cleverly written.What a refreshing way to present information on a "culture" which exists in and of itself that few will ever have an opportunity to learn of otherwise.If you are at all interested in the horse racing industry, this book is a must read.

More Horse, Less Author
"Horse of a Different Color" shines when it shines the spotlight on Monarchos, winner of the 2000 Kentucky Derby.It sinks when the author looks at himself.

Somewhere along the line, an Editor should have warned the author against using a second person narrative style.It just gets annoying after a while.And his dubbing of his wife as "The Dominant Female" is kind of cute at first, but after 300 pages it really grates on the nerves.

Cutesy writing has no place in a book for adults. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good intro for youngsters.
Kent Baker, Thoroughbred Racing (Chelsea House, 2002)

The main problem with Thoroughbred Racing is that it could've used a good fact checker in the final chapter (Skip Away was headed by Gentleman in the 1998 Jockey Club Gold Cup? Funny, I thought it was Gentlemen. And Cigar was retired after the 1996 Jockey Club Gold Cup? News to those of us who watched him finish third in the 1996 Breeders' Cup Classic). That aside, this is a fine little book to introduce kids to the various aspects of Thoroughbred racing behind the scenes-- breeding, training, and history. It's a slim book, only sixty-four pages, yet it packs a good deal of (simplified, as expected) information in a rather accessible package. Definitely worth a look if your kids have expressed interest in a career in the sport (or if you just want them to learn more about it). *** ½ ... Read more