5 comments about Graveyard of Champions: Saratoga's Fallen Favorites.

1. This book is a must have. It takes a look back at some of the greatest moments of Saratoga's top class racing. It is written so well, that you can not put the book down even if the president of the United States called. I strongly advise you buy this book because, if you don't, you will miss a once in a lifetime reading opportunity.



2. I found this book a very exciting read for anybody in horse racing. This book is suitable for fans, horseman, and executives. Saratoga has a long history as the place where many great horses have been sent to the "Graveyard". This book is well detailed, filled with facts, and contains quotes from people who have played a strong role at Saratoga. This book is as great as the track itself.



3. We continue to be completely satisfied with the excellent service we receive through Amazon.com and its affiliates. Everything is sent quickly (usually ahead of the estimated delivery date), cleanly, in excellent condition, and exactly as advertised. Thank all those involved with this process.



4. Bill Heller, Graveyard of Champions: Saratoga's Fallen Favorites (Eclipse Press, 2002)
   There are few things in racing that one can count on. Churchill Downs (and certain other tracks) are notorious horse-for-course tracks, and you can count on a parade of longshots the crowd ignores who have previously raced well over the track. Artificial surfaces and speed biases do not mix. Horse owned by the Sheikhs will be retired at the end of their three-year-old seasons. These things just happen, as regular as clockwork.
   
   There's another one, the oldest of them all: odds-on favorites in graded stakes races will fall at Saratoga. And you know what they say about the bigger and the harder. Hardly a year has gone by (if one ever has) where at least one odds-on favorite hasn't delivered the goods at the Spa. Sometimes they lose by a nose, sometimes they finish dead last, but they all have one thing in common: they don't win. The roster of horses who have dropped the bit, sucked dirt, bid and hung, flattened, fell victim to a cuppy track, whatever your euphemism is, and the roster of America's greatest horses sure does have a lot of overlap in it. The two best horses in the history of American racing both got stomped at Saratoga, both by horses who never did a damned thing otherwise. That's the stuff legends are made of.
   
   Bill Heller attempts to make sense of the legend, applying some research and codification to the track tales. And you know what he found out? There really is some kind of a jinx on top-class horses at Saratoga. He runs a list (how comprehensive it is, I don't know) at the back of this book of odds-on favorites who have failed in stakes races at Saratoga over the years. It's a long, long list, and it looks a lot longer when you remember that Saratoga's meet runs three to five weeks every year. A list this long at someplace like Calder or Thistledown, tracks that run nine months of every year, wouldn't be a big thing. But Saratoga?
   
   The book is more a collection of articles than a book, really; the stories of some of those favorites and the races in which they failed. If you like really good descriptions of races past, there are few better at writing those descriptions than Bill Heller. It's hard to make a description of a harness race pulse-pounding, but Heller's recounting of "the weirdest race in Saratoga Harness history" works, and it works well. (The accompanying photo is terrifying. It's hard to believe anyone, or anything, survived, much less that both horse and driver walked away almost uninjured. Even more so when you realize that harness horses do this sort of thing far more rarely than thoroughbreds.) And, of course, it would be hard to not recount Secretariat's losses to Prove Out and Onion, or Man o' War's to Upset, and not captivate readers.
   
   What seemed to be missing, to me, was a greater sense of unity than just "look at how these horses fared." A couple of summary chapters that took a more statistically-minded approach would have been an excellent addition here, a closer look at the bigger picture before (or after) the individual stories. But this is not to take away from those individual stories, which are classics. *** ½



5. this book had me looking foward to reading page to page-didn't want the book to end...

1 comments about Frankie: The Autobiography of Frankie Dettori.

1. This is as honest an autobiography penned by a major sports figure in quite a long time. As a matter of fact, a reader does not have to be well-versed in the nuances of the "Sport of Kings" to appreciate the oftentimes wild ride chronicled by Dettori.
   
   A fascinating aspect is how Dettori approaches his race against a variety of demons - which lurks in the shadows for any athlete - and how he pulled himself from the brink of destroying a promising career. There are no pity parties of finger-pointing and the lessons learned by Dettori are valuable to anyone who faces adversity in any walk of life.
   
   Ultimately, though, it's his triumphs on tracks throughout the world which brings his life into a grand perspective. Dettori writes like he rides, as a special champion, from gate-to-wire.

5 comments about Smarty Jones: Forever A Champion.

1. I have read virtually everything written on the subject of Smarty Jones from newspaper articles to each and every one of the available Smarty books. It is not hard to see why Billy Valentine was selected to write Smarty's OFFICIAL Biography.
   
   This book was amazing, in that it took me back on a moment by moment basis to EXACTLY where I was when each event depicted was actually happening and gave me an opportunity to re-live the entire experience as if I was right in the middle of this incredble experience all over again. Billy Valentine may be one of the most emotional and in-touch storytellers that the world will ever be privileged enough to share. He made me laugh when I didn't expect it, and cry pages before I knew that I was supposed to, all while telling the story of one of the most incredible athletes in the history of ANY sport.
   
   Thank you, Mr. Valentine. I can't WAIT to read what you come up with next.
   
   Stephen Wilkins



2. I read this book and Smarty Jones: America's Horse in the bookstore.
   
   Smarty Jones: America's Horse is just many color photos with accompaning newpaper articles. If you followed Smarty Jones career through the news on the internet or by newspaper, you will not learn anything new or personal about his life.
   
   Smarty Jones: Forever a Champion, by Billy Valentine is a much better, although with less photos. It details the intimate decisions and reactions in Smarty Jones's life and anyone who is associated with him. You really get a feel for Smarty's personality, people's inital reaction when they first saw him ("a runt") and when they first saw him run, how Servis changed his training tactics, etc. Definitely the book to get if you're a fan.



3. The story of Smarty Jones is a remarkable one. Sadly, this is not the book that tells it. It barely scratches the surface and technically it needed an editor. The text is full of grammatical and punctuation errors. Words are randomly capitalized. Mr. Valentine also has an ANNOYING HABIT of OVERUSING ALL CAPS, as if the reader can't get his point without his help. I was there when Smarty won the Preakness and was at the rail for the Belmont. I was hoping to relive some of those feelings through the book.
   Smarty Jones was one of those rare horses that transended the sport. He deserves better than this.



4. Living in horse country I can tell you that Smarty Jones was and still is near and dear to the hearts of racing fans all over Oregon. The book is well written and captures many of the great moments in Smarty Jones run for the triple crown. There are many stories that some of us may be familiar with but there are also many behind the scenes stories that are truly enlightning. I bought several for gifts and have recieved many a thanks from the readers for brightening there day. Were all looking forward to next year when Smartys Foals begin racing too. A great sports hero read!!



5. I rarely leave reviews but this book was so bad I have to warn people not to buy it. I see 2 people selling it used, one for $42 and another for $50. I wouldn't pay $2 for it. Nevermind all the grammatical and spelling errors (doesn't know the difference between to and too and their and there), it also wreaks of sentimentalism and exaggerations for extra effect. I had to read the "About the author" section because it was so mushy I thought a teenage girl had written it. You are better off digging up old newspaper and magazine articles on the Internet or in the library to learn about Smarty Jones.

3 comments about Horse Sense: An Inside Look at the Sport of Kings.

1. 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!



2. 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.



3. 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 this for 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 he introduces the novice to the charm, glory , dangers and the 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 joy and intensity of watching the horses run and the appreciation for what goes into making winning horses, great jockeys, and successful trainers.

3 comments about War Admiral: Thoroughbred Legends (Thoroughbred Legends, No. 17).

1. The seventeenth installment of the outstanding "Thoroughbred Legends" series from Eclipse Press, War Admiral by horse racing expert Edward L. Bowen is the story of a singularly remarkable racehorse. The only son of the great horse racing legend Man O' War to become as great racer as his illustrious his father, War Admiral claimed the title at the Triple Crown races, and even ran with a badly cut foot at the Belmont Stakes. The life, training, exploits, great races, and more of this noble animal are painstakingly chronicled in this fine animal biography which is especially recommended reading for racehorse aficionados. Also highly recommended is Edward Bowen's Man O' War: Thoroughbred Legends...



2. While everyone who reads about Seabiscut will hear about how he defeated the great War Admiral, few who see that story will get the amazing true life story of War Admiral.

   Ed Bowen did a wonderful job in capturing the trials and tribulations of one of the greatest Triple Crown winners.

   In War Admiral's time they did not have the advanced medicine and treatments and training technique's they have today.

   Also the Triple Crown was not spaced apart with 2 week intervals to rest.

   Reading this book made me see that even though Seabiscut defeated War Admiral in their match race, nothing can ever take away from his triumphs and accomplishments.

   War Admiral was one of the greatest horses of all time, and you should have this book in your collection.

   Best Regards to all, MC - TheStickRules.Com




3. This is a really great book. It tells the story of Man O Wars greatest son. It is a must read for anyone who likes War Admiral or the Sport Of Kings. On the subject about Seabiscuit Vs. War Admiral both of them were great noble horses who need to be "applauded to the echo" and maybe Seabiscuit just got the better of him on that day in 1938.

No comments about The Mathematics of Horse Racing: A Guide to Better Handicapping.

5 comments about Thoroughbred Racing's Greatest Day: The Breeders' Cup 20th Anniversary Celebration.

1. Thoroughbred racing is a story more complex than simply which horse finished first. In this engaging "behind the scenes" look, the author lifts the veil to reveal an array of characters and events that have shaped the Breeders' Cup. Obviously well-researched, this book provides in-depth portraits of the Breeders' "players". Written in an amiable voice that takes the reader deep into the world of professional horse racing, one gets a clear sense of the monies, time and emotions invested by jockeys and owners alike. Avoiding pondering, pedantic rhetoric, this book is written by and for horse racing aficionados. Each chapter profiles winners, losers and horse whisperers and makes for entertaining reading. If you or someone you know is interested in horse racing, I recommend this book be included on your holiday gift list.



2. This an excellent book for anyone interested in horseracing and especially the Breeders' Cup.

   I was lucky enough to spend some time with Lefko in the Press Box at Woodbine in the early 1990s and also while he was writing the first edition of this book in New York in 1995.

   He is without a doubt the hardest working reporter I have ever met and it certainly shows in these tales of the great (and not so great) steeds and the people that love them, train them, ride them, live with them and and bet on them - legally and otherwise (Chapter 21 - The Fix Six).

   Lefko probably did over 1000 interviews while researching this labor of love and he has woven these interviews together with previously uncovered gems of information to create a superb read.

   Angel Cordeo, Franki Dettori, Pat Day, Cigar, Lukas, Arazi, the Paulson's, little known tidbits of horsey history, comments from real racing fans and more make this book one of a kind and a must for any racing fan.




3. Artfully written, factually accurate accounting of racing's most colorful sporting pageant. The in-depth research moves the reader willingly along through a series of mini-stories (chapters) that cumulatively provide a compelling overview of "Thoroughbred Racing's Greatest Day."



4. Perry Lefko, Thoroughbred Racing's Greatest Day (Taylor, 2003)
   
   First, be advised: this is not a new book. If you've read Lefko's The Greatest Show on Turf, this is a revised and updated edition to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the first running of the Breeders' Cup. I hadn't read the book the first time around, so I can't compare the two, but take note if you have.
   
   They changed the title, but didn't really make it any clearer: Thoroughbred Racing's Greatest Day is about the Breeders' Cup. Non-fans are more likely to think it has something o do with the Kentucky Derby. Hardcore fans will think any of a hundred days (the Dubai World Cup? Grand National? Melbourne Cup, a national holiday in Australia?), the Breeders' Cup being one of them. The last group are right. Various and sundry stories about specific Breeders' Cup days, specific Breeders' Cup horses or families of horses, owners, trainers, Lefko pretty much covers the gamut of stories here.
   
   It will do the reader well to remember that Perry Lefko is a journalist. He is also unaware that a book-length piece requires a different writing style than a newspaper article. It is best to treat this book as a series of very long newspaper articles; it'll help you get through it quite well. If that were the book's only problem, I'd probably give it an above-average rating and move on. However, the book has a number of errors that it's hard to believe any horse fan would make (most notably, the sporadic misspelling of the names of champion horses, like 1998 Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Escena). While I tried not to let it affect my judgment, Lefko, like most of the rest of the media, is obsessed with the Most Overhyped Event in American History(TM), and in any passage of the book dealing with the 2001 or 2002 Breeders' Cup, there will be far more mention of 9/11 than could possibly be warranted.
   
   Recommended only for already-established racing fans. The rest of you would do far better to start off with something better-written (unfortunately, I'm not familiar with anything focusing specifically on the Breeders' Cup in book form that's better-written); William Murray's The Wrong Horse is a lovely introduction to the world of Thoroughbred racing, as is Bill Barich's classic combination of novel and memoir Laughing in the Hills. ** ½



5. We continue to be completely satisfied with the excellent service we receive through Amazon.com and its affiliates. Everything is sent quickly (usually ahead of the estimated delivery date), cleanly, in excellent condition, and exactly as advertised. Thank all those involved with this process.

1 comments about Montana: Hometown Rodeo.

1. This is a fine collection of 86 black-and-white photographs taken by photographer Joanne Berghold at small town rodeos around Montana in the 1990s and early 2000s. Unlike the commercialized rodeo to be seen in today's PRCA circuit, these local rodeos capture the spirit of the sport as it emerged in the early 20th century -- a family-oriented affair that brought the whole rural community together for a once-a-year celebration. Look at these pictures, and what you often see instead of covered bleachers and flashy corporate sponsor billboards is a wire arena fence with trucks and cars pulled up to it and open prairie or hills beyond. The parking lot is grass-covered, and horse trailers are parked under the trees.

   The opening images set the tone of the book -- gravel roads with grass and weeds right to the edges, leading to a low horizon, where clouds drift in a big sky, a veil of rain falling into a distant mountain ridge. Then in the photographs that follow there's the contrasting activity of small town life, strung out along a treeless main street, and the gathering of people at the rodeo grounds.

   A cowboy in black hat, wranglers and spurs checks out the draw for the events posted on the side of a trailer, a young girl practices roping a hay bale, hats are placed over hearts in the grandstands and in the crow's nest for the Pledge of Allegiance, horses in the dusty light move into a holding pen, a cowboy bows his head in prayer on the top rail of a chute over a saddled bronc, riders one after another take spills off bucking rough stock. The arena itself may be dusty dirt or waterlogged mud. A roper waits, eyes set in concentration, a piggin string clamped in his mouth under a full mustache; a young bulldogger skids boots first in the dirt, his arms locked around the horns of a calf. There are team ropers, barrel racers, young bull riders taping up, and bullfighters in clown makeup. In the end, buckles are awarded to the winners, cowboys head out with war bags over their shoulders, and horses move up loading chutes into a trailer.

   The book is a tribute to a western tradition and way of life, still close to its roots in the workaday world of ranchers and cowboys. It includes an essay by Kim Zupan, a gifted writer and former rough-stock rider. All photos were taken in Montana in rural small towns like Boulder, Belt, Wilsall, and Roundup.

1 comments about Show Ring Success: A Rider's Guide to Winning Strategies.

1. For any show competitor (especially those exhibiting Arabian Horses) this book offers great advice on fine tuning their performance. From evaluating your horse, to selecting the right trainer/instructor, to putting on those special final touches that put the spot light on you and your horse - whatever the discipline. A book I make a point of reviewing at the beginning of every show season!

5 comments about At the Wire: Horse Racing's Greatest Moments.

1. Racing fans should own this book by the outstanding turf writer Edward Bowen. He provides a comprehensive look at some of the most famous racing moments in the twentieth century, not only the great but the infamous (the 1933 "fighting finish" Kentucky Derby) as well. Great racing moments such as Man O'War's duel with John P. Grier in the 1920 Dwyer Stakes, Phar Lap's famous win at the 1932 Agua Caliente Handicap (his last before dying somewhat mysteriously), Secretariat's 1973 Belmont, Affirmed and Alydar's 1978 Belmont, the triple dead heat 1944 Carter Handicap, and the celebrated Jaipur/Ridan Travers of 1962 are among the profiled.

   Bowen has a real feel for the subject matter, and he gives the reader the background of each race and even provides the charts for each race. There are also numerous photographs in this book, which is printed on high quality paper.

   Bowen leaves out very few of racing's greatest moments. Two that are omitted are the 1976 Marlboro Cup (Forego barely winning over Honest Pleasure) which Bowen does mention briefly, and the great 1978 Jockey Gold Cup, where Seattle Slew gallantly and unsuccessfully tried to defeat Exceller. There's also a tiny bit of bias in this book, as is expected. Bowen seems a bit defensive in a couple of places with regard to Man O' War and Secretariat. According to him, "polls" supposedly crown Man O'War the greatest horse of this century, even above Secretariat. He doesn't really tells us which polls, of which there is only one that this reviewer is aware of, which the publisher Blood Horse conducted among 7 alleged experts and was published in a book about the top 100 North American racehorses of the 20th century. These "history savvy" experts, it seems to Bowen, know the truth that Big Red I was the best, and never mind the record or recollections of racetrackers and writers who saw both Man O' War and Secretariat and said the latter was greater. Frankly, I put my trust in the recollection of the dean of turf writers, Charles Hatton, who unhesitatingly called Secretariat not only the greatest he had seen but "the greatest horse anybody has ever seen." He saw both horses run, and the panelists didn't. (Furthermore, one of the panelists didn't even rank Secretariat in the top 10, and this was the real reason Man O' War finished ahead. As a result, no racing fan takes the Blood Horse poll seriously.)

   But this is a minor quibble in a book full of information and great photographs. This is an ideal coffee table book.




2. I wish I could say that I loved this book. I wanted to love this book, since thoroughbreds and racing history are two of my favorite subjects. The quality of the paper and the photographs are outstanding. The subject matter is of course inspirational, but the truth of the matter is the writing did not live up to its promise. Bowden is obviously familiar with his subject, and undoubtedly has many stories to tell, but it all seems to have become jumbled up in his mind. He frequnetly starts talking about one topic (say a famous horse race), then goes off on a tangent (say the horse's owner), leaving the reader to try to figure out what has happened. He also fails to focus on one main theme or point in each of his essays, trying to cram ractrack gossip, the human drama and information about the horses (breeding, training history, previous races, etc.) all into the short space available. The result is that the really interesting, in-depth stuff, the details about the horse and what made him or her truly unique, never get written. I found this book very irritating to read and wish that Bowden had had a good editor around to help him pare down and focus his work. If you are wanting disjointed tidbits and facts, buy the book. If you are wanting to really experience the personalities of the horses and the excitement of the races they participated in try another source.



3. If the mark of a good book is that it leaves you wanting more, then that's what we have here. Bowen's tales about the great races are very well-done. I especially liked the older races (before my time), and the best of these was John P. Grier pushing Man O'War as no one ever had.
   But I wanted more - where is Forego, for example, and all those horses he caught at the wire, like Honest Pleasure and Wajima? I guess I'll have to wait for Vol. 2!



4. This book is a must have for any real horse racing fan. It chronciles all of HR's best moments and the writing is above average.



5. If you can still remember where you were and what you were doing when Personal Ensign stuck a desperate nostril in front of Derby-winner, Winning Colors during the 1988 Breeders' Cup Distaff, then you should enjoy "At the Wire" which is packed with similar racing stories.
   
   Not all of the finishes are close ones, as Secretariat's 31-length Belmont blow-out is included, just because it was the most awesome mile-and-a-half most of us have ever seen (or ever will see). Announcer Chick Anderson's pronouncement that Secretariat was "moving like a tremendous machine" will surely find its way into Bartlett's.
   
   Many of the races that Ed Bowen recounts feature pairs of Thoroughbreds whose names are forever linked by their ferocious competitive spirit: John Henry and The Bart; Affirmed and Alydar; Kelso and Gun Bow; Swaps and Nashua; Alsab and Whirlaway; Noor and Citation.
   
   And speaking of ferocious, the 1933 "Fighting Finish" Kentucky Derby certainly featured one of the most unruly battles by jockeys. What with all of the stirrup-grabbing, saddle-cloth-pulling, bumping, and slashing that was going on down the stretch, it's surprising that either Brokers Tip or Head Play finished, much less ran first and second. Riders Fisher and Meade finished their fight in the jockeys' room, then didn't speak to each other again for some fifteen years after their 'Rodeo' Derby.
   
   Bowen doesn't say who won the fight in the jockeys' room.
   
   The author is a noted Turf historian who spent nearly three decades with "The Blood Horse" magazine, which he references quite extensively in these pages. "At the Wire" is not a book that will keep you awake all night, in spite of its exciting subject matter. It is more of a gentle, knowledgeable ramble through 20th century American racing, as exemplified by some of its most courageous and brilliant Thoroughbreds.