Book Description
With his breathtaking victory in the 2006 Kentucky Derby, Barbaro immediately captured racing fans' hearts and excited hopes of finally seeing a Triple Crown winner. His story was that much more captivating for the real-life heroics of his trainer, former
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful.......2007-07-18
Sean Clancy did a marvelous job with this book. I laughed, I cried (a lot). If anyone followed what happened to Barbaro this book is a must. Thank you Mr. Clancy for writing such a glowing story about this beautiful animal.
A truly wonderful, must-read story.......2007-06-08
This book was beautifully written and I enjoyed every page. Barbaro touched the lives of so many of us and I still feel the sorrow of his tragic injury and ultimate death. What a courageous animal! I also want to give praise to Edgar Prado who wept for Barbaro and probably still does.
This strong, tough as nails jockey has a heart and lots of soul and I admire him tremendously. Barbaro meant much more than a paycheck to Mr. Prado. I am a fan and admirer of this man who felt so much for Barbaro mand who grieved with the rest of the world at his loss.
No praise and no words could pay proper tribute to Dr. Dean Richardson and all the staff who fought so hard to keep Barbaro alive and whose main objective was that he live a life free from pain. What a valient struggle!
It's wonderful knowing there are still professionals who truly care, and human beings who aren't afraid of having a heart and aren't afraid of allowing the world to see it.
Read it Without Crying..........2007-05-13
This is a very well written book of the Barbaro story told with insight and compassion, without being maudlin. Of course when he wrote the book he thought Barbaro would live, as most of us who were rooting for him, did. So the tone is positive and the pictures are worth the price of the book. A great horse and a great story - worth every penny!
Barbaro: A Nation's Love Story.......2007-05-12
What a gift this is. Wonderful pictures and step by step story of this incredible horse. Wouldn't trade it for the world.
A compelling read and especially recommended to horse racing enthusiasts in general.......2007-05-08
Not since the legendary Secretariat has any thoroughbred race horse captured the imagination of the public so swiftly and enthusiastically as Barbaro. His was a story of high achievement over great odds and the promise of a Triple Crown winner - only to suffer a catastrophic racing injury that resulted in the shattering of his right hind leg. "Barbaro: The Horse Who Captured America's Heart" is also the story of a dedicated trainer, Michael Matz, and a veterinary science that brought the cutting edge of medical technology to the service of a badly injured and beloved animal. Profusely illustrated with full color photography throughout, "Barbaro" is a compelling read and especially recommended to horse racing enthusiasts in general, and Barbaro fans in particular.
Average customer rating:
- "Under Orders" an excellent read!
- Classic Dick Francis
- Under Orders
- Tired styuff
- Sid Halley is back
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Under Orders
Dick Francis
Manufacturer: Putnam Adult
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ASIN: 0399154000
Release Date: 2006-09-26 |
Book Description
"Sadly, death at the races is not uncommon. However, three in a single afternoon was sufficiently unusual to raise more than one eyebrow."
It's the third death on Cheltenham Gold Cup Day that really troubles super-sleuth Sid Halley. Last seen in 1995's Come to Grief, former champion jockey Halley knows the perils of racing all too well-but in his day, jockeys didn't usually reach the finishing line with three .38 rounds in the chest. But this is precisely how he finds jockey Huw Walker-who, only a few hours earlier, had won the coveted Triumph Hurdle.
Just moments before the gruesome discovery, Halley had been called upon by Lord Enstone to make discreet inquiries into why his horses appeared to be on a permanent losing streak. Are races being fixed? Are bookies taking a cut? And if so, are trainers and jockeys playing a dangerous game with stakes far higher than they are realistic?
Halley's quest for answers draws him even deeper into the darker side of the race game, in a life-or-death power play that will push him to his very limits-both professionally and personally.
Customer Reviews:
"Under Orders" an excellent read!.......2007-09-28
I was one of many fans greeting Dick Francis' new book with open arms, and it certainly didn't disappoint. I took it to Sedona and had to finish it before I could begin to enjoy the "Red Rock Country" scenery! His stories surely must have been one of the original descriptions for not being able to put a book down once started. I'm eagerly anticipating "Dead Heat", written with his son, Felix.
Classic Dick Francis.......2007-09-21
Apparently the itch to write runs deeper that Francis thought. He's always maintained publicly that when his wife, Mary, passed, his writing days would be over. Thankfully for all of us Mr. Francis reconsidered. He has provided us with another wonderful romp through the world in and around horse racing and does so by reprising one of his greatest and most enduring characters, Sid Halley.
I won't spoil the plot and story with too much detail but this book follows--mostly--Francis' time proven formula--an intrepid protagonist, plenty of villains, the most generic sex scenes in the business and a good dose of physical violence. There is a significant love interest here for Sid which spices up the story and enlivens the plot.
Halley is a truly marvelous character, full of the physical courage such an occupation requires along with the inner turmoil that rends his soul--the sort of character that, say, Parkers Spencer was at the beginning before the crush of novels buried any semblance of the original character. It's a credit to Francis that he's given us only rare doses of Halley--a decision that allows the character the room to develop and grow without becoming stale, predictable or-worse of all-irrelevant.
These aren't and never will be truly great novels in any literary sense but as a diversion and a source of entertainment they are first rate and this puppy ranks right up with his best.
I see another book is hot on the heels of this one. What a joy to have both Francis and Halley back in the game!
Under Orders.......2007-09-21
Under Orders This was a great book. Another episode in the life of Sid Haley, I had great difficulty putting it down.
Tired styuff.......2007-09-15
Dick Francis had accustomed us to mentions of the narrator-protagonist's sex life, mostly discreet and bone-dry, rarely going into the details, often humorous. The signs of decay of a writer start when he begins to indulge into that kind of stuff.
In this book there is, also, an overdose of mawkishness, of glutinous sentimentality.
Another overdose is that of Sid Halley and his complexes. "Odds against" was very good, and its immediate sequel, "Whip Hand" was also admissible. "Come to grief" was already an excess, and this one is frankly a surfeit.
I read somewhere, in the jackets of Francis' books, that his wife used to help him in his writing. I very much suspect, from the style of writing and from the dose of mawkishness that can be found here, that in this instance there was much more than just "help"
It's alright, Mr Francis. You gave us plenty of enjoyment with your production, I have all of it on the shelves of my personal library, and I often read them again.. But I guess everything comes to an end, even a good creative vein.
Sid Halley is back.......2007-09-02
The latest novel about ex-jockey turned PI Sid Halley. Many years have passed. Sid's investigations have moved away from the racing scene and he mainly does special investigations for a government agency and background checks on prospective employees for various clients. He is drawn back to the racetrack scene when the agency wants him to investigate gambling, psrticularly Internet gambling, because of pending legislation, and a horse owner wants him to investigate because the horses don't seem to be running as they should.
There are questions about fixing results for the benefit of bookies or gambling syndicates. If you are gambling on the Internet, on a site that is probably operated offshore, how do you know you can trust the people running the computer?? If you are gambling at a race track, someone may have found a way to fix the race results.
Sid Halley's investigations stir things up. People are killed. All is not as it seems, and there are some surprising discoveries about people who are involved. Sid is no friend of investigative reporters, but he is willing to use them when it suits his purpose, willing to give them a scoop if it exposes scum to the light of day.
There are some interesting sidelights in the story, including the attitudes of the House of Lords about its members. You may learn enough about gambling to become cautious. In Sid Halley's words, his best tip is "keep your money in your pocket."
The author draws on personal experience to write about horse racing, and the novel is well researched and well written. If you have an interest in the author, you might want to read his biography.
Book Description
This up-to-minute book follows the story of Barbaro, the Triple Crown contender whose unlikely fight back from almost certain death from a shattered leg and ensuing complications captured the hearts of a nation who responded with a stunning display of love.
In 132 years of derby races, only 11 horses have won the Triple Crown, the last in 1978. Barbaro was a favorite to be the twelfth until May 20, 2006, at the Preakness Stakes, when his jockey, Edgar Prado pulled him up a couple of hundred yards from the starting gate. Subsequent examination revealed that he had virtually exploded bones in his right rear leg so badly that under normal conditions he would have been euthanized right on the track. But his owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, chose another path, one filled with anxiety and tears—but also courageous determination to save his life.
This touching, soaring book—filled with insights from Barbaro's trainers, breeders, caretakers, and owners—follows Barbaro from foal to colt to champion to perfect patient. But In the end it is not just a story of a down-but-not-out champion, but of human beings at their very best.
Customer Reviews:
EXTREMELY Disappointed.......2007-07-11
I waited to buy this book, knowing that I wasn't emotionally ready to read it. I eventually bought it when I bought W. Nack's Ruffian book and the book about Secretariat's groom. I read the other two books first, and then the Barbaro book. The Barbaro book is littered with mistakes. The editors did an extremely poor job. I realize that casual horseracing fans will probably enjoy the book and won't notice the errors, but there is sooo much missing from this book! I was extremely disappointed in this book. It is not a worthy remembrance of Barbaro, his connections and the fans worldwide who followed his story.
Barbaro: A Nation's Love Story.......2007-05-12
The book is a treasure showing many, many photographs of this wonderful horse. It gives great insight as to the challenges he faced and his life prior to his accident.
A heart-warming story.......2007-04-11
Barbaro was an excellent book and one that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. The authors did a wonderful job in relating the facts and the background about the horse that the world fell in love with. I would recommend it highly not only to all horse lovers, but to everyone who followed the amazing, and unfortunately tragic, career of Barbaro. It is book that you will want to share with your friends and family.
Very Disappointed With This Book.......2007-04-09
I was deeply disappointed with this book. Having followed Barbaro's recovery avidly on a daily basis, and having fallen in love with him, there is a hole in my heart now which cannot be filled. He will always remain a champion and will be remembered by all of those who loved him.
Therefore, much to my dismay, I was disapointed, not only by the book's appearance and presentation, but the writing, the errors, the apparent haste in which the book was thrown together to be released quickly.
I was looking forward to a really wonderful book, with photographs and a quality of writing and presentation that would be worthy in honoring this horse. I must say that my expectations were not met. I have returned the book to Amazon for a refund.
Nothing special.......2007-03-29
This book is about what I expected-- an overview of things we've already heard. Anyone who remotely followed Barbaro's story through the media already knows everything written in this book. Unless you've been living under a rock for the past year, this isn't worth the read. This book almost seems a sacrilege to Barbaro and to those who loved and cared for him-- the author seems to be willing to paste the horse's name on a mediocre book for the sake of a quick dollar. Do yourself a favor and read 'real' racing literature, like Hillenbrand's "Seabiscuit" or Nack's "Secretariat- The Making of a Champion." A quick internet search on Barbaro will uncover better information by more talented writers.
Book Description
Just as football evolved with the introduction of the forward pass and basketball with the development of the jump shot, so too was handicapping forever changed by the use of speed figures--and it all started with Andrew Beyer's Picking Winners. This edition features a new foreword in which the author discusses the changes that have swept the sport since the book's original publication. Picking Winners remains a classic in the field of thoroughbred racing.
Customer Reviews:
Save your time and your money.......2007-03-03
Nothing against Beyer or any other handicapping writer, but devoting significant time to the study of handicapping is a fool's errand. The mathematics of beating the game are so prohibitively against the bettor that anyone with the ability to even approach break-even would be better served dedicating his/her time to more lucrative pursuits. Regardless of the race, the only thing that is certain is that the track will take about 20% for straight bets and 25% or more for so-called "exotic" wagers. In order to just break-even, you need the ability to identify errors made by the betting public of at least 20%. For any reasonable series of races in which the market is "efficient" (i.e. the betting populace has done a reasonable job of setting pay-outs) you have zero possibilty of making a profit. Studies have consistently shown that the betting public does a remarkable job in setting an efficient price. Obviously, in order to overcome the 20% "tax", you need superior information to that which is available to the general public. Given that "Beyer" speed figures are now common currency, the advantage clearly doesn't lie here. The racing form and video of previous races are common currency as well. You could take a walk down to the paddock and try to infer something there, good luck! Unless you have the ability to somehow communicate with the horse, this isn't going to really be that fruitful. Some horses look like garbage before a race and spring to life when the gate opens. Others look like Secretariat in the paddock and like a candidate for the glue factory once they hook up at full speed w/ other nags. Another point to consider is that your betting competition includes owners, trainers, stable boys, etc. who are around the horse all the time and certainly have superior information about the horses physical and mental state. Additionally, you can only speculate as to what the owner and trainer are intending from a given race. I'm not talking "fix" here, but it's not always the case that the horse's connections have entered this race with the main objective of actually winning it. Beyer is one of the leading thoroughbred writers in America and revolutionized handicapping with his speed figures, but the difficulty in beating this game should be clearly understood before you find yourself on the proverbial boulevard of broken dreams.
Funny, but not helpful........2007-01-14
It was hard for me to give three stars for this book, because the author revolutionized handicapping. But I didn't think any of the information in the book was useful to me. However, I did enjoy the book as there were a lot of funny stories that I could relate too.
Intelligent & Enlightening horse racing information!.......2006-06-25
Andrew Beyer has been a godsend to horseplayers. He has made it easy to understand and gave us an edge when making selections. Understanding horse race betting and the past performances of horses has opened doors to novice and expert handicappers alike!
Great for picking more than just horses.......2006-05-16
I've never bet on a horse race. I've actually only been to a track once in my life (we don't have a lot of it in this part of the country), and yet I still found this book tremendously useful. Why? Well, it was recommended to me as a guide to "Picking Winners," not just in the horse racing world but in the stock market as well. And, having now read the book I can say that it has proven a more effective lesson in choosing stocks than most of the investment books I've read.
Some of the areas Beyer explores which I think apply to the stock market as well (or to any investment situation as far as I can tell) are:
-the effect different track conditions can have on a horse's performance.
-considering the effects of trainers on a horse's ability to win, lose, progress, or decline in performance.
-spotting potential cases of insider information.
-When to bet on a consistent performer over an unproven newcomer and vice versa.
-detecting signs of physical malady or deterioration early before you lose money because of them.
-How to detect and hopefully stop a losing streak once one begins.
In short this book provides an incredible amount of insight into the ways of selecting the merits of one horse (ie stock) over another without discounting the influence of other factors (the trainer, ie management, for example) on the outcome. I highly recommend this book as a source of investing knowledge and insight and, were I to take up speed handicapping, would absolutely start here.
Very Informative.......2006-04-15
Andrew Beyer takes an interesting and analytical approach to picking winners at the track, while his easy style makes this a fun and understandable read. Beyer's biggest contribution is the use of speed figures - horses that show bursts of speed in their last race are usually good bets. There's also valuable information about track conditions and other factors. As one that rarely visits the track, I didn't realize that not every horse entered in a race is expected to seriously compete. This book came out in the 1970's, and the author has added additional methods for picking winners, but it still makes an interesting read.
Book Description
Breeding the ultimate racehorse has challenged the minds of breeders and theorists for more than 200 years. Now, for the first time, students of bloodstock breeding have an opportunity to examine the theories of genetics, biomechanics, nicking, dosage, inbreeding, outcrossing, statistical methods, female family lines and heart score. The works of Bruce Lowe, Federico Tesio, Harry Laughlin, Joe Estes and many more are examined and evaluated.
Here, in one volume, is a wide and varied assessment of the major breeding systems and theories, as well as the history and background of each. The writers give readers all the necessary information they need to implement the theory and make it part of a breeding program. They also verify the relative scientific validity of the theories and various approaches to breeding. This, more than any other factor, sets this book apart from other attempts to offer breeding theory to owners and breeders. The authors ask, "Does this really work and, if so, how often has it been proven or disproven?"
By studing the varied breeding approaches and theories, modern breeders can use the information that best fits their breeding program.
Book Description
In Exotic Betting, the horseplayer takes a colorful wagering ride by learning to maximize profits by betting on a multitude of exotic wagers including the daily double, exacta, trifecta, quinella, superfecta, pick 3, 4, and 6.
Customer Reviews:
Perfect Book .......2007-08-16
Steve explains the math behind exotic betting and perfect rationale for using multi-race bets. A must read for the fan who wants to get more from the track.
Solid review of sound wagering strategies.......2007-07-12
I thought this was a pretty solid book on the proper ways to construct exotic betting tickets. I found Crist's discussions of exacta and trifecta plays to be particularly interesting. Specifically, Crist tells the player to get away from the boxes (and other "chance plays") and go for big payouts by trusting your handicapping skills. Anyone can throw five longshots into a $1 exacta box and get lucky once and a while. Crist's philososphy, and that of many professional players, is to play less combinations at a greater price. Key your top horse over your second choice for $10. Then the top horse over a longshot play for $5. Crist encourages the player to structure bets in a manner that will reward them the most when their handicapping is spot on.....not just when they get lucky by throwing every longshot on the borad underneath and exoctic play. Why play four horses equally in a leg of the Pick 4 when you like two of them much more than the other two?
This book, along with Steve Davidowitz's classic, is an excellent read for the intermediate player who wants to learn to take his bet structuring to the next level. My only complaint is that the book wasn't longer....I would love to be able to sit down with Steve Crist and talk betting strategies all day. The only caution that I would give is that this book is not at all about how to pick winners. In fact, this book is not going to be valuable at all to a player who does not possess solid handicapping skills. If you have trouble picking winners to begin with then its probably not a good idea to try and get creative with exotic betting.
VERY READABLE INTRO TO EXOTIC BETTING.......2007-04-20
Steven Crist has been a horse-racing columnist, CEO of the Daily Racing Form and is the author of three other books on horse racing. His latest book, EXOTIC BETTING, attempts to fulfill a need, he explains, to glean more profits from racing through "exotic betting" at a time when shorter horse fields and more information available to savier handicappers has made it harder to make money with "straight bets": win, place and show. In EXOTIC BETTING, Mr. Crist patiently and lucidly lays out the mathematics behind daily doubles, exactas, trifectas, pick threes, etc., the so-called exotic plays. At one time, these bets were exotic when win, place and show predominated. But now, exotic betting is a feature at every racetrack. EXOTIC BETTING focuses on intrarace exotic bets like the exacta and trifecta and interrace exotic bets like the daily double and the pick three. Mr. Christ offers betting strategies for each of the exotic bet types. While I have seen most of these ideas in different places elsewhere, Mr. Christ brings them all together in one reference and explains them in very readable prose. Using the principals presented in the first part of EXOTIC BETTING, he finishes by taking the reader through his actual betting at the 2005 Breeder's Cup. A few more examples of the strategies discussed could have been interesting if not necessary but, all-in-all, this is an excellent book and I highly recommended EXOTIC BETTING for the casual or more serious horse player who wants to be a better exotics player.
Take the "Gamble" Out of Gambling.......2007-04-12
Learn how you can start making a profit at the track with these betting techniques. You'll also find out why it's cost-effective to develop a personal strategy for betting.
Guide to making profits on exotic bets.......2007-03-09
I was very interested in the way Steven Crist shows that developing a strategy for creating exotic bets, with your selections, can be both rewarding and mathemetically cost effective. I am currently using his system to develop wagers for exactas and trifectas without boxing horses. After I have become efficient in winning these bets, I will start wagering on superfectas. My overall goal is to cut my expenses and eventually make a profit at the track. I think this book will help me reach that goal.
Average customer rating:
- Wow. Finally.
- from the depths of being burned out and washed-up to becoming a champion...
- Writing Skills
- Seabiscuit
- "Seabiscuit"
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Seabiscuit: An American Legend
Laura Hillenbrand
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
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ASIN: 0345465083
Release Date: 2003-07-01 |
Amazon.com's Best of 2001
He didn't look like much. With his smallish stature, knobby knees, and slightly crooked forelegs, he looked more like a cow pony than a thoroughbred. But looks aren't everything; his quality, an admirer once wrote, "was mostly in his heart." Laura Hillenbrand tells the story of the horse who became a cultural icon in Seabiscuit: An American Legend.
Seabiscuit rose to prominence with the help of an unlikely triumvirate: owner Charles Howard, an automobile baron who once declared that "the day of the horse is past"; trainer Tom Smith, a man who "had cultivated an almost mystical communication with horses"; and jockey Red Pollard, who was down on his luck when he charmed a then-surly horse with his calm demeanor and a sugar cube. Hillenbrand details the ups and downs of "team Seabiscuit," from early training sessions to record-breaking victories, and from serious injury to "Horse of the Year"--as well as the Biscuit's fabled rivalry with War Admiral. She also describes the world of horseracing in the 1930s, from the snobbery of Eastern journalists regarding Western horses and public fascination with the great thoroughbreds to the jockeys' torturous weight-loss regimens, including saunas in rubber suits, strong purgatives, even tapeworms.
Along the way, Hillenbrand paints wonderful images: tears in Tom Smith's eyes as his hero, legendary trainer James Fitzsimmons, asked to hold Seabiscuit's bridle while the horse was saddled; critically injured Red Pollard, whose chest was crushed in a racing accident a few weeks before, listening to the San Antonio Handicap from his hospital bed, cheering "Get going, Biscuit! Get 'em, you old devil!"; Seabiscuit happily posing for photographers for several minutes on end; other horses refusing to work out with Seabiscuit because he teased and taunted them with his blistering speed.
Though sometimes her prose takes on a distinctly purple hue ("His history had the ethereal quality of hoofprints in windblown snow"; "The California sunlight had the pewter cast of a declining season"), Hillenbrand has crafted a delightful book. Wire to wire, Seabiscuit is a winner. Highly recommended. --Sunny Delaney
Book Description
Seabiscuit was one of the most electrifying and popular attractions in sports history and the single biggest newsmaker in the world in 1938, receiving more coverage than FDR, Hitler, or Mussolini. But his success was a surprise to the racing establishment, which had written off the crooked-legged racehorse with the sad tail. Three men changed Seabiscuit’s fortunes:
Charles Howard was a onetime bicycle repairman who introduced the automobile to the western United States and became an overnight millionaire. When he needed a trainer for his new racehorses, he hired Tom Smith, a mysterious mustang breaker from the Colorado plains. Smith urged Howard to buy Seabiscuit for a bargain-basement price, then hired as his jockey Red Pollard, a failed boxer who was blind in one eye, half-crippled, and prone to quoting passages from Ralph Waldo Emerson. Over four years, these unlikely partners survived a phenomenal run of bad fortune, conspiracy, and severe injury to transform Seabiscuit from a neurotic, pathologically indolent also-ran into an American sports icon.
Author Laura Hillenbrand brilliantly re-creates a universal underdog story, one that proves life is a horse race.
From the Hardcover edition.
Download Description
Seabiscuit was one of the most electrifying and popular attractions in sports history and the single biggest newsmaker in the world in 1938, receiving more coverage than FDR, Hitler, or Mussolini. But his success was a surprise to the racing establishment, which had written off the crooked-legged racehorse with the sad tail. Three men changed Seabiscuit's fortunes: Charles Howard was a onetime bicycle repairman who introduced the automobile to the western United States and became an overnight millionaire. When he needed a trainer for his new racehorses, he hired Tom Smith, a mysterious mustang breaker from the Colorado plains. Smith urged Howard to buy Seabiscuit for a bargain-basement price, then hired as his jockey Red Pollard, a failed boxer who was blind in one eye, half-crippled, and prone to quoting passages from Ralph Waldo Emerson. Over four years, these unlikely partners survived a phenomenal run of bad fortune, conspiracy, and severe injury to transform Seabiscuit from a neurotic, pathologically indolent also-ran into an American sports icon. Author Laura Hillenbrand brilliantly re-creates a universal underdog story, one that proves that life is a horse race.
Customer Reviews:
Wow. Finally........2007-10-02
I was so annoyed after reading "Water for Elephants" that my wife recommended this book. Wow. Really wow. The writing was like eating a great dessert, page after page.
There are so many best sellers out there now that are terrible it's refreshing to read someone who can really tell a great story.
Kudos to the author. Thanks for renewing my faith in the craft.
Read this book.
from the depths of being burned out and washed-up to becoming a champion..........2007-09-29
I really like horse racing, but I only go to the races one or two times a year because I'm not good at picking winners. It is an exciting sport that features some of the most beautiful animals you'll ever see. Then there is also the thrill and the adrenelin rush you get during every race.
This book will give you a good insight into many "behind-the-scenes" aspects of horse racing. It is the story of an incredible horse who managed to capture a nation's imagination, but also a trainer, an owner, and a jockey who helped bring Seabiscuit from the depths of being burned out and washed-up to becoming a champion.
This is a great book for racing fans and also for people who never thought twice about horse racing.
Writing Skills.......2007-08-08
This is a worthwhile book even if you have zero interest in horses or racing. It is one of the five best written books I've ever read regardless of topic.
Seabiscuit.......2007-07-29
Very insightful, this is a summer reading project for my youngest daughter, who is 15, and this book although the basis for the movie, goes into more facts, and gives the reader a feel for all of the characters, providing descriptions, and allows for descriptions of their thoughts and emotions. I highly recommend this book for the complete and accurate story behind Seabiscuit well well well beyond the movie
"Seabiscuit".......2007-06-09
I loved this story.....The characters were dynamic, and the story was well written. Lots of impact, held your interest to the end. I bought the audio book, and listened to it while exercising.
Book Description
Thoroughbred trainer Carl Nafzger took 84 year-old Frances Genter's gawky yearling, Unbridled, and turned him into a Kentucky Derby winner and Breeders' Cup Champion. Millions of television viewers were touched as Nafzger hugged the frail first lady of the turf and declared, "You've won the Kentucky Derby! I love you!" Now Nafzger gives you his methods for developing champion Thoroughbreds in his book, Traits of a Winner: The Formula for Developing Thoroughbred Racehorses. In it he explains the four traits every champion racehorse must have and how to find those traits and develop them. Nafzger explains the key elements in successful Thoroughbred ownership. He tells you what to look for in a racing prospect, how much you should spend and how to bid during an auction. Nafzger gives you the key elements to breaking young horses so they reach the racetrack fit and ready to go to work. Once at the track, Nafzger tells you how to get "inside the horse's mind" and design a training program specifically for the individual. Nafzger shares his secrets for winning. He tells you when you should hire the best jockey and when you shouldn't, how to shoe your horses so they remain sound, and how to feed for optimum performance. You will learn how to ship into races so your horse arrives ready to race, how to campaign the Derby prospect, allowance runners, older horses and claimers.
Customer Reviews:
Carl Nafzger strikes again with Street Sense!.......2007-05-14
Carl's treatise on Thoroughbred training deserves another look now that he has won the Kentucky Derby again (2007) with Street Sense.
Carl and Wanda are a class act, he isn't desparately entering horses in the Kentucky Derby so his owners can have cocktail party conversation like so many of the his contemporaries seem to be doing now.
Carl lets the horse bring them to the Derby, if he's worthy.
Inspiring real life .......2007-01-05
Carl and Wanda Nafzger set goals and attained them in the highest manner in a horse business that often takes advantage of newcomers. The writer also gives a very clear picture of how horses attain the rarified status of "Stakes Horses" or continue on to the best of their abilities as "claimers" or in other endeavors. We bought and gave as holiday gifts five copies of this valuable story.
Great.......2000-08-05
this book is so awesome. carl nafzger is a well renowen trainer who can do wonders with a horse. this book tells just how good he really is. i recomend this book to other horsemen and horse racing fans all over the world!!
worthwhile.......2000-05-02
This is a book by a very conventional trainer about the training and care of Unbridled to win the Derby and Breeder's Cup. Mr. Nafzger sets out the training program of Unbridled, and for his stable, and as such the book gives a valuable insight into the methods of one successful trainer. I think Mr.Nafzger is to be congratulated and thanked for putting all this in writing. If you want to know how the majority of your trainers at the race track operate, this book is most instructive.
Very informative and easy to understand.......1999-06-06
Carl Nafzger goes a great job going over the aspects of race horse training in a manor even a person not involved in racing can follow. Great Book for all horseman and wanna be horseman
Customer Reviews:
EX-RACETRACKER.......2006-01-08
The perfect ride is a very well written book about the life of one of our greatest riders. Gary has the ability to describe a race to bring the rider alongside his horse and experience the race in one's mind. He aparently has the touch it takes to have a horse do what the rider wants it to do without unessary force but with a tender hand. He also goes into great detail about things the general public would not be aware of but he explains in terms a layman can understand. I would recommend this book to any horse lover or anyone interested in reading a really good book.
Average.......2006-01-07
I've been a Stevens fan since he brought Thunder Gulch home at 24-1 in the 1995 Derby. This book however, is just average at best, even for a Stevens fan. Sure it details his rise to the top of the industry, but it just doesn't flow very well and doesn't have much personality.
recommended reading.......2005-11-20
I remember seeing Gary ride back at Longacres. Some of the people and horses he talks of in this book were jogged to memory. There's an incredible story of the reality of race riding, and the business, that Gary tells as if sitting across from you. Some of the greatest names in Thoroughbreds and the incredible highs and lows that come with "the game" are there on the page. He doesn't assume the reader knows terminology but doesn't talk down to the reader either. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would definitely encourage racing fans especially to get this book.
Perfect ride not perfect read.......2004-02-26
I admire Gary Stevens as a world class jocky, but world class writer he is not. At times he comes across as quite cocky, maybe he has reason to be proud of his success but he sounds conceited more then proud. Often he writes as though he knows more about the horses he rides then the trainers or owners, that he is a better judge of their capabilities then either of the others, and he has been proven wrong on that score. He also seems to be trying to give us a smattering of his philosophy on success and I think he fails. What has worked for him, a God given ability to ride horses well and an incredible tolerance for pain can not be applied to the rest of us. I have to say, I hope Stevens does not follow this book up with any others. He is a much better jocky then writer.
The Perfect Ride: a perfect read for racing fans!.......2004-01-10
I have long held a great measure of respect for Gary Stevens as a professional racehorse jockey. I've watched him ride some great races on television (having grown up in an area with almost no horse industry at all, I have not had the fortune to see one of his races live). My respect for the man only grew when I saw the movie Seabiscuit (where he plays jockey George Woolf, who rode Seabiscuit in his famous match race with rival War Admiral) and realized he had a bit of acting talent as well. So when I saw his autobiography in the store, I snatched it up right away and am certainly glad I did. Reading it, my estimation of this great athlete went even higher.
Stevens begins with his early childhood, living in Idaho. His father worked with Appaloosas, then moved on to Quarter Horse racing, and later to Thoroughbreds. Gary's older brother Scott began a career as a jockey, and Gary soon followed in his footsteps. He was riding Quarter Horses in races (under Scott's name) before he was legally old enough to obtain a jockey's license. The boy fell in love with the sport, and soon made the switch to riding Thoroughbreds. At seventeen, he left home for California, rode a dismal season, and returned to Idaho. There he got married, and over the next few years his career began to take flight and the book describes all his significant wins, losses, and other experiences.
Though his career soared over the years, Stevens talks of his constant battle with pain. A series of riding accidents over the years left him with terrible knees, requiring frequent surgery. He endured many breaks from riding in order to undergo rehabilitation, and often returned to the track prematurely, riding despite the pain. He even retired for a short time and tried his hand at training, but found he just couldn't stay away from riding. Stevens' frank discussion of his pain is one of the most inspiring things I've ever read. No matter how much he was hurting, he kept pushing forward, and made more than one amazing comeback in the sport.
In addition to race riding, Stevens discusses other major events that helped shape his life - his children, his divorce, his remarriage, and the death of a fellow jockey and close friend, Chris Antley. He also talks of his relationships with various trainers and jockeys; how he makes decisions on which mounts to accept, how to ride his races, and what directions to take with his career; and he evaluates some of the great horses he has ridden, including Thunder Gulch, Point Given, Winning Colors, Serena's Song, Silver Charm, and others. He talks about his struggle with weight, and how he has managed to stay in shape for riding. Stevens has ridden in the United States, Hong Kong, and Great Britain, and he compares the atmosphere and racing procedure in these very different places. All in all, this book is an excellent inside look at the life of a top racehorse jockey.
The epilogue touches briefly on Stevens' acceptance of a role in Seabiscuit, the new movie based on author Laura Hillenbrand's best-stelling book. He mentions a few things about the early stages of filming - what it was like to act for the first time, to work with co-star Tobey Maguire, to see an inspiring true horse story come to life on film, etc. My one criticism here is that he does not tell us enough. I really wish he had delayed the publication of this book another year so that he would have been able to include more about his work on the movie.
A few reviewers here have commented on a lack of accuracy in the book. Stevens himself tells us early in the book that his accounts are based largely on his own memories, which are fallible. He acknowledges the fact that he may have made some mistakes in his recollections. I don't really hold this against him. I suspect that any autobiography will contain some inaccuracies. The author is relying largely on personal memory, spanning a very large period of time. Stevens' goal here wasn't to provide us with a data sheet on the races he's ridden; he wanted to share the experiences of his life - to show us what's brought him to where he is today. And I think he's done an excellent job at just that. Having a date off by one year here, or not being entirely clear on the legalities surrounding building rights on a certain racetrack there don't detract from the messages the book has to offer. I would highly recommend this book to any horse racing enthusiast.
Book Description
A gritty, passionate, behind-the-scenes portrait of a year in the life of Thoroughbred racing's working class, by a racetrack insider.
The great myth of horse racing is that the game is the regal and royal Sport of Kings. It isn't. Not by a long shot.
Anyone who doubts this need look no further than Suffolk Downs, a once-proud racecourse graced in its glory years by boisterous throngs and champions such as Seabiscuit. Now the blue-collar East Boston track is one of many that have fallen on hard times. These days "Sufferin' Downs" is where grizzled Thoroughbreds come to end their careers, hopeful young jockeys aspire against daunting odds to begin them, and diehard fans cheer, curse and gamble on the entire fascinating spectacle. These bit players are not just cogs of a single, struggling horse track. They are the unseen supporting cast for a $15 billion betting industry.
In fifteen years as a racing reporter and press box personality, T.D. Thornton gained access to remote corners of racetrack life off limits to the general public. He got to know the raucously Runyonesque characters and the quirky personalities of the horses; he learned the tricks of the trade from trainers, owners, and jockeys; he witnessed the tragedies and small triumphs of racing lives lived below the radar. One recent season, he finally decided to write it all down.
Not by a Long Shot is a deeply textured portrait of an industry where even the best in the business lose 75 percent of the time.
Customer Reviews:
A stroll on the back stretch.......2007-09-06
For someone who knows nothing about the racing industry this is an enlightening glimpse into the mechanics, personalities and stories that come together to create the excitement of the racing industry. The outsider may see this as the "sport of kings," with all the glamour we watch at the Kentucky Derby but this is a window into the toothless, hapless, shrewd, caring varied characters on the lower scale that keep the racing industry alive. Mr Thornton's style of writing is addictive, one gets caught up in his usage of words and his turns of phrase. A picture forms in one's mind and you can begin to watch the movie in your head.
Just the Best.......2007-08-06
This is the first review I have written for an Amazon book. It is a great read written with such honesty. Hope there are more books from this author down the line.
For those who love the track.......2007-05-23
A fantastic read on one track in particuar and the entire racing industry as a whole. An important and very enjoyable read for anyone who loves the track. Thornton covers it all, from the politicians down to the wackiest track degenerates. Highly recommended for anyone who has been bitten by the racetrack bug at some point in their life.
At some point racing is going to be gone for good. This book tells us all the great things, available nowhere else, that we're going to lose.
The fascinating story of a struggling race track at the turn of a new century.......2007-05-08
Amid the glimmer and glitz, pomp and pageantry surrounding thoroughbred racing's famed Triple Crown it is very easy to forget that most of the folks who choose to make a living in the racing game toil in relative anonymity and many have a very difficult time just making ends meet. Author T.D. Thornton has been around racetracks for virtually all of his adult working life. "Not By A Long Shot: A Season At A Hard Luck Horse Track" is a story that Thornton felt really needed to be told. For only a tiny percentage of the horses, trainers and jockeys will ever see the big time. Yet without those who ply their trade at "mid-level" tracks like Suffolk Downs in Boston, Charles Town in West Virginia and Rockingham Park in New Hampshire, events like the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders Cup simply could not happen. "Not By A Long Shot" takes a look at the current state of thoroughbred racing in this country. Years in the making, "Not By A Long Shot" chronicles the 2000 spring meet at Boston's Suffolk Downs, a once proud facility now struggling to merely survive. Those who follow the sport will certainly understand what T.D. Thornton is writing about. For the rest of us, this book proves to be a real eye opener.
In the early chapters of "Not By A Long Shot" T.D. Thornton spends some time reviewing the history of thoroughbred racing in these United States. In the 1930's and 1940's thoroughbred racing was at the peak of its popularity. Enormous crowds filled the grandstands on a daily basis at major tracks across the country. Thoroughbreds like "Seabiscuit", "Whirlaway", "Citation" and "War Admiral" were household names. In this era, thoroughbred racing was not just the sport of kings but the sport of the common man as well. With the advent of television racetrack operators balked at the idea of putting their product on TV. They felt that frequent exposure on TV would adversely affect attendance and the handles at their facilities. It was a major tactical mistake. In the meantime, the major professional team sports teams gladly offered their games to the new medium and the popularity of these sports increased exponentially. And as Thornton explains the racing industry would never fully recover. Then in the 1960's and 1970's thoroughbred racing faced more stiff new competition from new state sponsored lotteries that would further diminish the sport. And now the racing industry is reeling from the vigorous competition spawned by the opening of dozens of new casinos all across the nation. Indeed, the future of live horse racing seems to be hanging in the balance.
At various points throughout "Not By A Long Shot" T.D. Thornton introduces us to a number of the colorful charactors who make up the fabric of his beloved Suffolk Downs. Readers will come to appreciate just how difficult it is for most of these folks to eke out a decent living in this business and how dangerous the sport can be as well. Thornton tells the tragic tale of top jockey Rudy Baez who was paralyzed in a serious accident during a race at Suffolk in August of 1999. In an instant his career was over and his life changed forever. Thornton also introduces his readers to many of the "Sufferin' Downs" regulars. A motley crew to say the least! At the same time Thornton gets us all up to speed with some spicy racetrack slang. Although it has been many years since I have been to the races T.D. Thornton has succeeded in whetting my appetite. I hope to visit Suffolk Downs before the current meet ends.
I found "Not By A Long Shot" to be a thoroughly entertaining read from cover to cover. T.D. Thornton is a superb writer who is extremely passionate about his subject. An excellent choice for sports fans and general readers alike. Highly recommended!
An Insider's View.......2007-04-04
I've grown up around horses, without really appreciating horse racing, except as the occasional spectator at big event races (or once or twice, as the owner of a former race horse). I found myself completely captured by the book -- not so much because I like horses, but because it brought together for me all of the reasons I worry about horse racing and yet want racing to survive because it is so much a part of the horse "world." Horses are symbols both of freedom and tragedy, as so clearly demnonstrated with this tale.
T.D. Thornton is a masterful writer who does not follow a formula. In some ways, his strong and elegant writing reminds me of another favorite writer, Tracy Kidder, as he lets the story unfold rather than forcing a snappy ending. While Publishers Weekly criticized "Not by a Long Shot" as perhaps not having a strong enough narrative line -- that was exactly what drew me in, because the story never felt contrived or fomulaic. The tale of Suffolk Downs and its cast of characters, both four footed and two (and a few whose legs no longer work) are fascinating. I both wanted to hurry to the end -- and dreaded getting to the end, because that would mean I would have to exit the stage where anything can happen, including an unexpected win from an unlikely pair or a blood chilling accident from a pair that try too hard. I deliberately refused to allow myself to look at the sporting news to see whether Suffolk Downs itself still survives today -- and I won't give away that outcome here.
I found myself eager to spend a day at my own local race track after reading this book, just to compare notes. This book is in the great tradition of memoirs, giving the reader an insider's view of a special place.
Thank you, T.D. Thornton! I'll be looking for your byline elsewhere.
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RUFFIAN: A RACE TRACK ROMANCE
