Horse racing Books

234 products


  • Bonnier Books Ltd Syndicate

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisWHEN YOU'RE AT THE TOP OF YOUR GAME, ONE PHONE CALL CAN BRING IT ALL CRASHING DOWN . . . THE BRAND NEW NOVEL FROM THE MASTER OF THE RACING THRILLER. ______________________Chester Newton is a successful racehorse syndicate organiser and his company, Victrix Racing, is having its best year yet. When his prized horse, Potassium, wins the world-famous Epsom Derby, Chester is set to become the next big thing in British horse racing. But one phone call changes everything. Someone hiding behind a voice scrambler and an untraceable phone is demanding he fixes a race - and they're willing to go after Chester's family if he fails to comply. Chester's business is the only thing in his life that isn't falling apart. With his marriage on the rocks and his children growing increasingly distant, he is not willing to let someone destroy the success he's spent his life building. Then his daughter is kidnapped and, very suddenly, it's not just his livelihood that's on the line. Now Chester must discover just how far he will go to protect his family . . . PRAISE FOR FELIX FRANCIS:'Felix Francis' novels gallop along splendidly' - JILLY COOPER'From winning post to top of the bestseller lists' - SUNDAY TIMES'The master of suspense and intrigue' - COUNTRY LIFE'A story of skulduggery, conspiracy and dodgy dealings' - YORKSHIRE TIMES'A gripping tale' - DAILY EXPRESS'The pages fly by' - HORSE & HOUND

    15 in stock

    £8.99

  • The Byerley Turk: The True Story of the First

    Merlin Unwin Books The Byerley Turk: The True Story of the First

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisPresents the story of The Byerley Turk, one of the original thoroughbred horses from which racing stock descend. This book describes the story of the horse and his owner, Captain Byerley.

    15 in stock

    £19.00

  • The Man Who Listens To Horses

    Cornerstone The Man Who Listens To Horses

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisMonty Roberts, known as 'The Man Who Listens to Horses', leads an extraordinary life. An award-winning trainer of championship horses, bestselling author, Hollywood stunt man, foster dad to forty-seven children (in addition to three of his own) and creator of the world-renowned and revolutionary equine training technique Join-Up, Roberts has won countless awards and received immense worldwide press coverage. He trains horses for the Queen and has been awarded honorary doctorates from the University of Zurich and the University of Parma. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals honored Roberts with their Founders Award. He is now much in demand as a motivational speaker and executives from groups as diverse as the CIA to Volkswagen have invited him to share his experiences with their leaders. He lives at Flag is Up Farms in Solvang, California, with his wife, Pat.Trade ReviewWild horses should not drag you away from finding out more about Monty Roberts * Independent *The horse whisperer in action... more exciting than his fictional counterpart * Observer *Contains enough plotlines to keep Dick Francis busy for years * Spectator *For anyone who cares about animals and would like to get on with them better, it is required reading -- John Oaksey * Daily Telegraph *

    3 in stock

    £10.44

  • Rough Magic: Riding the world’s wildest horse

    Ebury Publishing Rough Magic: Riding the world’s wildest horse

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisA RICHARD AND JUDY BOOK CLUB PICKWINNER STANFORD TRAVEL WRITING AWARDS 2020SHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL PRIZE 2019'Such an addictive and likeable book...One of this year's best memoirs' The Telegraph'It's the resistance to the obvious narratives that makes Rough Magic so appealing: the book undermines lazy women-in-the-wilderness tropes at every turn.' Sarah Moss, Guardian'Think Educated meets Wild' Entertainment Weekly'Rough Magic is transporting, beguiling and terrifically entertaining' Daily MailThe Mongol Derby is the world's toughest horse race. A feat of endurance across the vast Mongolian plains once traversed by the people of Genghis Khan, competitors ride 25 horses across a distance of 1000km. Many riders don't make it to the finish line.In 2013 Lara Prior-Palmer - nineteen, underprepared but seeking the great unknown - decided to enter the race. Driven by her own restlessness, stubbornness, and a lifelong love of horses, she raced for seven days through extreme heat and terrifying storms, catching a few hours of sleep where she could at the homes of nomadic families. Battling bouts of illness and dehydration, exhaustion and bruising falls, she found she had nothing to lose, and tore through the field with her motley crew of horses. In one of the Derby's most unexpected results, she became the youngest-ever champion and the first woman to win the race.A tale of adventure, fortitude and poetry, Rough Magic is the extraordinary story of one young woman's encounter with oblivion, and herself.Trade ReviewThink the next Educated or Wild. Palmer’s memoir of beating the odds to become a horse champion is an inspiring saga of perseverance — and a classic underdog tale. * Entertainment Weekly *Prior-Palmer's style is a fascinating mix of pep and poignancy. A really terrific story by a spirited new voice. * Sara Baume *[Prior-Palmer's] gorgeous, sensual depiction of this race is a literary marvel; it feels like you are riding alongside her across the desolate steppes; her verbal acuity makes vivid the most elusive of landscapes; her triumph becomes ours. * NYLON *In this sensual, spiritual memoir, Prior-Palmer recounts her grueling journey through immense physical hardship, and her surprising transformation from underdog to champion * Esquire *Absolutely riveting. * Buzzfeed *

    2 in stock

    £9.49

  • I Got the Horse Right Here

    Rowman & Littlefield I Got the Horse Right Here

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisBurned out by working the baseball beat for years, in the summer of 1922 Damon Runyon was looking for a new sport to cover for The New York American as a change of pace. Having pilloried golf just a few years before, he went to Saratoga that August to sample horse racing and found that There, right in front of him, were so many of the characters he so loved from his time covering the comings and goings of the Manhattan night crowd. This was just the tonic Runyon needed to emerge from his malaise. Runyon didn't just cover the great races and which horse won: he would get to the track days before and roam along the backstretch, speaking with the trainers, the gamblers, the rich owners, and the wise guys, many of which became model characters in his fiction and in the musical Guys and Dolls. This book collects the best of Runyon's horse racing columns to 1936, when he moved on to other beats. In addition to an introduction, Reisler will include a cast of characters that will provide short

    3 in stock

    £16.99

  • Simon & Schuster Death of a Racehorse

    5 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    5 in stock

    £22.49

  • Kick the Latch

    Daunt Books Kick the Latch

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    1 in stock

    £9.49

  • Racing Post Annual 2025

    Pitch Publishing Ltd Racing Post Annual 2025

    Out of stock

    Book Synopsis

    Out of stock

    £18.99

  • Racing Post Guide to the Flat 2025

    Pitch Publishing Ltd Racing Post Guide to the Flat 2025

    4 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe Racing Post Guide to the Flat is the best-selling book every Flat racing enthusiast should have. It features exclusive trainer interviews and specialist selections for horses to follow, plus dark horses set to shine in the months ahead, as well as Topspeed and Racing Post Ratings.

    4 in stock

    £14.24

  • Racing Post Pocket Diary 2025

    Pitch Publishing Ltd Racing Post Pocket Diary 2025

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisBound in simulated leather, the Racing Post Desk Diary 2025 is the perfect office accessory for every horseracing fan. This stylish diary includes all the UK and Irish racing fixtures at the time of publication jumps, Flat and the all-weather plus the principal races and bloodstock sales dates in a week-to-view format. It also includes major sporting fixtures, a racecourse guide plus a marker-ribbon and gilt edging. It's a great Christmas gift for any fan of the sport.

    Out of stock

    £11.39

  • Immortals

    Pitch Publishing Ltd Immortals

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisImmortals explores the remarkable stories of 50 great racehorse champions, focusing on horses in and beyond Europe.Since National Hunt racing was first standardised in the 19th century, countless winter warriors have given the jump-racing public limitless joy, and filled our memories with wonder and respect. Every steeplechaser and hurdler that has ever raced has given its connections a thrill but very few can truly be thought of as great'.Starting with a Grand National hero from the turn of the 20th century, and continuing through to the present day, this evocative book uncovers tales about legends of the jump-racing world who were trained in the UK, Ireland, France and even in the USA and Australia.Written with humour, passion and solid research, this book is an essential read for race lovers around the world, both young and old.

    15 in stock

    £21.25

  • Frankel

    HarperCollins Publishers Frankel

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisIn horse racing greatness is defined by speed. Being the second fastest counts for little. You have to win. And win. And keep winning until every challenger of your generation is put to the sword. Of the twelve horses lined up on Newmarket Heath that 2011 day, one would do just that. And more. To become the greatest racehorse that has ever lived.Frankel was born on 11 February 2008, with four white socks and a blaze, from impressive equine lines on both his parents' sides. Simon Cooper revisits the whole of the horse's life, giving readers an inside tour of the calm oasis that is life a stud farm, where a foal will live with his mother for the first year of his life. Next, the atmosphere of heady possibility that marks the early days of training. Roadwork. Gallops. Trials. Turning raw potential into something more. Frankel begins to set himself apart.A detailed and fast-paced narrative breathlessly recounts the racing career of the horse who, by his retirement to stud at the age of 4, would be rated the greatest of all time. Cooper weaves the horse's tale with those of his trainer, battling cancer, the stablehands who coped with his explosive nature, the work rider who tamed him, the the jockey who rode in all fourteen of his races, and the owner who saw his potential from the very beginning. The result is a rich and multifaceted tale of modern horse racing, the lives of everyone involved, human and equine, and the unadulterated glory of winning. And winning everything.Trade ReviewPraise for Frankel ‘An imaginative retelling of the legendary story … Cooper paints a complete picture of Frankel, charting his meteoric rise from the first years of his life through to his glorious send-off when winning the Champion Stakes at Ascot … transporting the reader with his vivid descriptions … While he is undoubtedly the star of the show, this book is about so much more than just Frankel … Thanks to Cooper, and his dedication to colouring the blanks in this famous story, we can now know Frankel a little better too’ Racing Post ‘Well-researched and written with an enthusiast’s brio. Moreover, it is utterly engrossing … Frankel’s story is an extraordinary one and Cooper tells it in an easy, compelling style … [He] takes the reader on an equine pilgrimage, all the more thrilling as the object of veneration is still just 12 years old and standing at stud near Newmarket’ The Field ‘Simon Cooper does a sterling job … a wry, amiable guide, Cooper takes intriguing tangents aplenty … his real skill, though, lies in detailing Frankel's day-to-day life’ i newspaper

    Out of stock

    £10.44

  • Forfeit

    Penguin Books Ltd Forfeit

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisDiscover the classic mystery from Dick Francis, one of the greatest thriller writers of all time''A masterpiece from the master of equine fiction. Truly sensational from start to finish'' 5***** Reader Review''Tense, tautly-written, with memorable characters - an absolute cracker'' 5***** Reader Review______Bert Checkov, a racing correspondent, drunkenly confesses to fellow Fleet Street hack James Tyrone that he''s been giving his readers tips for years.Five minutes later, Checkov falls out of a seventh-floor window. Tyrone is convinced there''s more to Checkov''s death than meets the eye. When he starts digging, he discovers that many of Checkov''s tips never even made it to the start. But the deeper Tyrone gets, the dirtier and more dangerous this business appears to be.If he''s not careful, he''ll be following Checkov to his death . . .Packed with intrigue and hair-raising suspense, Flying FTrade ReviewA regular winner . . . as smooth, swift and lean as ever * Sunday Express *As a jockey, Dick Francis was unbeatable when he got into his stride. The same is true of his crime writing * Daily Mirror *

    3 in stock

    £10.44

  • The Racing Post Horseracing Miscellany:

    Pitch Publishing Ltd The Racing Post Horseracing Miscellany:

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisMiscellaneous matters are what keep us fascinated by what’s going on around us while we indulge our own favourite interests. If one of those interests happens to be horseracing, then The Racing Post Horseracing Miscellany, full of marvellously magnificent moments - many magically memorable - from racing’s several centuries of excellent equine existence, and an amazing, amusing, absorbing collection of little-known jockey japes, trainer and turf trivia, owner observations, punter punditry and bookie banter, is a book you will love. Every race meeting produces winners and also-rans, but every off-beat, intriguing story chronicled in this cornucopia of course and distance action will be an odds-on favourite with racegoers young and old. As the title suggests, you'll find literally thousands of little-known, unexpected yarns, tales and stories from the off to the finish line; the starting stalls to the winning post, the first to the last page. And you can bet it’s an odds-on shot you'll know you have really backed a winner.

    1 in stock

    £11.69

  • Dream Horse: The Incredible True Story of Dream

    Pan Macmillan Dream Horse: The Incredible True Story of Dream

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe moving true story of an ordinary Welsh woman who dreamed of breeding a race horse, and Dream Alliance, who defied the odds to become a champion and brought a community together.Janet Vokes was working behind the bar in her local working men’s club in the small Welsh mining community of Cefn Fforest when she fixed upon the idea of breeding a racehorse. She'd always loved animals, having dabbled in showing whippets and racing pigeons, and her husband Brian used to be a rag and bone man with a horse of his own. Why shouldn't a working-class horse take on the high flyers in the rarified world of racing? She bought a mare for £350, paired her up with a pedigree stallion and helped to create a syndicate of twenty-three friends from the village – each paying £10 a week – to raise the resulting foal, Dream Alliance. He may have grown up on an allotment but Dream Alliance had star quality, beating all the odds to become a winner at a number of world-class racetracks. Then a terrible injury to his leg threatened not just his career but his life. Refusing to have him put down, the syndicate paid for experimental surgery and Dream Alliance went on to not only make a full recovery but win the Welsh Grand National.Funny and charming, Dream Horse by Janet Vokes is the extraordinary story of a woman who defied the snobbery of the racing world to breed a champion, and a remarkable horse who brought a community together.

    1 in stock

    £8.54

  • Lexington

    Random House Publishing Group Lexington

    10 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    10 in stock

    £17.09

  • Chasing Dreams: The True Story of the Youngest

    Santa Monica Press Chasing Dreams: The True Story of the Youngest

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe Thrilling and Emotional Memoir from Endurance Horse Racing Legend Sanoma Blakeley Chasing Dreams: The True Story of the Youngest Female Tevis Cup Champion is the incredible, action-packed memoir of Sanoma Blakeley’s 2019 Tevis Cup championship, won while riding her beloved horse Goober, and the tale of how she became the youngest woman to ever become a Tevis Cup champion. Beginning her endurance riding career at the age of seven, Blakeley writes about the years of training and teamwork required to win the most challenging and famous 100-mile horse race in the world aboard a horse she had originally acquired for free off of Craigslist. Blakeley places readers on the ride with her so that they can experience the thrill of the most exciting horse endurance race in existence. Blakeley and Goober survive narrow mountain trails winding through the Sierra-Nevadas, containing over 19,000 feet of elevation gain; three steep, grueling canyons; crossing the shoulder-high American River; riding at night with only the light of the moon to guide them; temperatures that soared over 115 degrees; and, most excitingly, the final neck-and-neck sprint to the finish against a four-time Tevis Cup champion and world class competitor after 100 miles of some of the most rugged mountain trails in the world.When Blakeley and Goober cross the finish line just a few feet ahead of their competition and Blakeley becomes the youngest woman in history to win the Tevis Cup, a lifetime of hard work that began when the author started training as a small child and who had long dreamed of winning the Tevis Cup was finally rewarded. Chasing Dreams contains action, heartwarming twists, and an epic ending that will leave readers in tears.Trade Review“Chasing Dreams is a very fun ride. Sanoma Blakeley is a vivid writer and you feel like you are right there on the trail with her—covered in dust, in the forest, racing along the course with her and her family. I stayed up way too late reading this book as I just couldn’t put it down!”—Heather Reynolds, legendary endurance rider“Chasing Dreams is a remarkably personal journey of a girl and her horse as they chase their dream. Sanoma Blakeley’s engaging tale—from little tyke’s first ride on a big horse to Tevis Cup champion—recounts what it takes along the way to make that dream come true: hard work, perseverance, and wonderful family support. She tells of the joys, heartbreaks, fears, and, ultimately, the bravery it takes to put it all on the line in the world’s toughest 100-mile endurance ride, the Tevis Cup.”—Merri Melde, The Equestrian Vagabond “An improbable underdog story that belongs alongside Rocky and Rudy.”—Central Oregon Daily News “Chasing Dreams is a remarkable book. Having known Sanoma Blakeley personally from a very young age, I always felt that she had it in herself to make history in the future. Sanoma’s writing style displays humbleness and a deep respect for her family and her horses. What a pleasure and eye opener it is to follow her through one of the greatest accomplishments in her life: Winning the famous 100-mile Tevis Cup! Chasing Dreams is worth reading from the very beginning to the last word at the end; it’s a book that reveals all the experienced drama and emotions of a young woman who is sharing her adventures with us all, and, at the same time, teaching us a thing or two about life.”—Christoph Schork, endurance rider and owner of Global Endurance Training Center “In Chasing Dreams, Sanoma Blakeley opens up a whole new world of excitement and insider details about the sport of endurance riding. Sanoma takes you with her on her long-distance training rides as well as competitions, highlighting the 100-Mile Tevis Cup. You experience the thrills and the disappointments, the beauty of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and her partnerships with her horses. Sanoma shares so many interesting facts about the sport that you will find it hard to put this book down!”—Genie Stewart-Spears, equine photographer and journalist “Chasing Dreams is a brilliant book about the outdoors, sports, and achievement. Sanoma Blakeley tells, and demonstrates, how success is about preparation, determination, and team effort, but most of all about showing up to do the work.”—Fresh Fiction “Who doesn’t love a great story where hard work and determination pays off!”—Cowgirl magazine

    15 in stock

    £17.99

  • The Greatest Racehorse

    Globe Pequot The Greatest Racehorse

    Out of stock

    Book Synopsis

    Out of stock

    £18.99

  • Racing Post Betting Guide

    Pitch Publishing Ltd Racing Post Betting Guide

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisPunters have never had it so good. In a world of rapidly progressive technology and ever-changing ways to bet, the days of punting solely in the betting shop and on the racecourse are long gone. Since the invention of Betfair in 2000 and the mass move online, bookmakers have never been closer to their customers. Punters are able to place bets at the click of a button - on the move, from the pub and even in the office - and the gambling industry has boomed because of it. Football has taken over as the market leader but horseracing is still hugely popular, while odds on other popular sports have opened them up to a fresh audience - the punters. But in a world of flickering screens and rifling numbers can come confusion. Whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned bettor, the Racing Post Betting Guide provides a lighter look at betting in the current climate, covering horseracing, football and other major sports such as golf, cricket and tennis. The views of our unparelled team of experts can help shape your thinking. Call on the Racing Post's unrivalled expertise, soak up all the knowledge you can and become a better bettor. Among the chapters to consider are: Ten top tips by Pricewise supremo Tom Segal-Studying the form by tipping judge Paul Kealy-Football accas and in-play by Mark Langdon-Punting at the big festivals by David Jennings-Golf betting and the Majors by Steve Palmer-Betting on the favourites by Richard Birch-Tackling the handicaps by Keith Melrose. Other forms of betting covered are: Betting exchanges, pool betting, multiple bets, ante-post betting, pedigree punting plus betting on NFL, darts, rugby, UFC and cycling plus more!

    5 in stock

    £13.49

  • The Racing Post Quiz Book

    Pitch Publishing Ltd The Racing Post Quiz Book

    7 in stock

    Book SynopsisHow well do you know your racing? You follow the form, share in the agony of defeat and the elation of success, but how much of that information do you remember? The Racing Post Quiz Book will provide hours of entertainment and challenge horse racing know-it-alls to prove themselves. Categories range from where this uniquely historic sport started right up to the modern day, taking in the best horses, most successful trainers, the heroic jockeys and many more besides. With 1,000 questions, many fiendish, some infuriating, this is the ultimate test for any racing fan.

    7 in stock

    £11.69

  • William the 4th Frankel

    Out of stock

    Book Synopsis

    Out of stock

    £44.99

  • William the 4th Frankel

    Out of stock

    Book Synopsis

    Out of stock

    £29.99

  • William the 4th Frankel

    Out of stock

    Book Synopsis

    Out of stock

    £29.99

  • Leap of Faith The new autobiography from one of

    HarperCollins Publishers Leap of Faith The new autobiography from one of

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisAfter all this time Frankie Dettori still ranks amongst the all-time greats of the sport' LESTER PIGGOTTAn autobiography as gripping as any Dick Francis thriller' YORKSHIRE POSTEndearingly honest a fastpaced, funny autobiography' COUNTRY LIFE MAGAZINELegendary jockey, Frankie Dettori, shares his remarkable life story in this astonishingly intimate autobiography.When Lanfranco Frankie' Dettori arrived on British shores in 1985, aged just 14, he couldn't speak a word of English. Having left school just a year earlier and following in the footsteps of his father, he was eager to become a stable boy and apprentice jockey, willing to do everything it took to make it. This was his first, but certainly not his last, leap of faith.Despite his slight size, Frankie's impact upon the British racing scene was immediate and significant. Brimming with confidence, charisma and personality, and with what was clearly a precocious talent, in 1990 he became the first teenager since Lester Piggot to win o

    Out of stock

    £19.00

  • Leap of Faith The new autobiography from one of

    HarperCollins Publishers Leap of Faith The new autobiography from one of

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisAfter all this time Frankie Dettori still ranks amongst the all-time greats of the sport' LESTER PIGGOTTAn autobiography as gripping as any Dick Francis thriller' YORKSHIRE POSTEndearingly honest a fastpaced, funny autobiography' COUNTRY LIFE MAGAZINELegendary jockey, Frankie Dettori, shares his remarkable life story in this astonishingly intimate autobiography.When Lanfranco Frankie' Dettori arrived on British shores in 1985, aged just 14, he couldn't speak a word of English. Having left school just a year earlier and following in the footsteps of his father, he was eager to become a stable boy and apprentice jockey, willing to do everything it took to make it. This was his first, but certainly not his last, leap of faith.Despite his slight size, Frankie's impact upon the British racing scene was immediate and significant. Brimming with confidence, charisma and personality, and with what was clearly a precocious talent, in 1990 he became the first teenager since Lester Piggot to win o

    3 in stock

    £9.99

  • Horsetrader

    HarperCollins Publishers Horsetrader

    Out of stock

    Out of stock

    £10.44

  • The Sure Thing

    Cornerstone The Sure Thing

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisNick Townsend was, for many years, a sports feature writer on the Daily Mail before joining the Independent on Sunday, initially as football correspondent and later chief sports writer. He is currently a freelance writer, predominantly for the Sunday Times. He collaborated with Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Ben Ainslie on their autobiographies. He is a long-time confidant of Barney Curley and assisted him with his acclaimed life story Giving A Little Back. He lives with his wife Louise in Oxfordshire.Trade ReviewNick Townsend tells the story with panache, helped by a close acquaintance with the Irish mastermind of the scheme, Barney Curley, a name which bookmakers have had reason to curse on several occasions… It gets properly into its stride when it focuses on the coup, which in its innovative daring calls to mind The Italian Job. * Independent on Sunday *The full story of how the legendary gambler does it is unveiled. It helps if you know your way around racing, but if you don’t this book will make you want to get clued-up fast. * Daily Sport *This is an enthralling read, extremely entertaining, and a revealing insight into one of horse racing’s most colourful, and controversial, characters * The Press *Fascinating… written with commendable skill and verve. It is a very readable book. Curley and his coups combine to make a unique story, well told. * Racing Post *This is a brilliant read. Love horse racing or not, you won’t be able to put it down once the action gets going. I just can't wait for the BBC to snap up the rights. * Wexford People *

    1 in stock

    £10.44

  • Northern Dancer

    Penguin Books Canada Ltd Northern Dancer

    Book Synopsis In every sport there are a select few competitors who come to define the excellence that all others aspire to. In “the sport of kings,” there is one that stands alone. Northern Dancer is not only a Canadian legend, but the cornerstone of his breed. It has been estimated that 70 percent of the thoroughbreds alive today are his descendants, which includes the majority of the horses running in the biggest races around the world. His offspring received record-breaking prices on the auction floor. More than his prepotence as a sire, Northern Dancer is known for his legendary 1964 campaign, which saw him win two of the Triple Crown races in the U.S. and Canada’s Queen’s Plate. In that time, he captured the attention of the world and the hearts of all Canadians. In Northern Dancer, the world-famous horse comes alive through the people whose lives he touched: E.P. Taylor, the visionary industrialist whose web of business placed him at the end

    £17.00

  • Turcottes

    Firefly Books Ltd Turcottes

    Book SynopsisThe biographical history of a Canadian horse racing dynasty and their rise from underdogs to the top of the thoroughbred racing world.

    £21.25

  • Seabiscuit

    Random House USA Inc Seabiscuit

    10 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    10 in stock

    £21.60

  • Seabiscuit

    Random House USA Inc Seabiscuit

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    1 in stock

    £16.00

  • Lexington

    Random House USA Inc Lexington

    Out of stock

    Book Synopsis

    Out of stock

    £20.40

  • Race Horse Men

    Harvard University Press Race Horse Men

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisKatherine C. Mooney recaptures the sights, sensations, and illusions of America’s first mass spectator sport. Her central characters are not the elite white owners of slaves and thoroughbreds but the black jockeys, grooms, and horse trainers who called themselves race horse men and made the racetrack run—until Jim Crow drove them from their jobs.Trade ReviewKatherine Mooney’s enthralling account of an all-but-forgotten population of elite slaves in the American South reads like a novel. Race Horse Men is both the story of 19th century thoroughbred racing—‘America’s first mass-audience sport’—and a detailed portrait of the expert equestrian slaves and free black horsemen upon whose competence in the stables wealthy white ‘turfmen’ depended… Mooney makes a strong case for why these forgotten histories continue to illuminate systems of inequality to this day. -- Thomas Chatterton Williams * San Francisco Chronicle *It is that history—of rich white men, enslaved black men, and the birth of American horse racing—that Katherine C. Mooney tells in Race Horse Men. Scholarly yet accessible, the book argues that far from subverting the racist notions of the slave-holding South, black horsemen were seen as ‘the perfect slaves, precisely calibrated extensions of a master’s will’ and ‘central figures in turfmen’s vision of the harmony of a slave society.’ -- Kate Tuttle * Boston Globe *Mooney’s book draws on the stories and memoirs of a range of figures across racing, as the sport became simultaneously a Southern specialty and an object of popular fascination. Race Horse Men is stitched out of these portraits, many of which are wonderfully effective in revealing just how ambiguous, for example, the situation of enslaved grooms, trainers, jockeys, and breeding-shed managers could be… Mooney’s book is at its strongest when it peers not into the clubhouse but out into the stables… She positions her history to thread together a large chunk of time, when racing carried the burden of chattel slavery and civil war. -- Eric Banks * Chronicle of Higher Education *Black men were active in 19th-century racing, most prominent in the South, as jockeys, grooms, and trainers for this first large spectator sport in the United States… But Mooney shows how white resentment of black presence and success at the race track increased. Whites feared that the example of success that these race-horse men set would incite other blacks to demand more rights and become violent. With the rise of Jim Crow in the South, blacks were driven out of the sport. -- Patsy Gray * Library Journal *Writing with exceptional polish and élan, Katherine Mooney succeeds brilliantly at restoring humanity to black jockeys and trainers. This superb book says as much about the cruelties and distortions wrought by racism in nineteenth-century America as any single book can. -- W. Fitzhugh Brundage, author of The Southern Past: A Clash of Race and MemoryKatherine Mooney leads us inside the paddock and beyond the finish line to reveal how horse racing shaped American society and molded race relations. In doing so, she brings to life the struggles of numerous individuals long lost to history. The result is an eye-opening and important book. -- Louis P. Masur, author of Lincoln’s Hundred Days: The Emancipation Proclamation and the War for the UnionKatherine Mooney gives us a vivid, pioneering study of the horse-racing world, a mainstay of nineteenth-century American and Southern culture. Her portrayal of the lives of black jockeys is a revelation. She uses sporting drama to illuminate the interplay between callousness and selective personal affection that pervaded white attitudes toward blacks. -- Melvin Patrick Ely, author of Israel on the Appomattox: A Southern Experiment in Black Freedom from the 1790s Through the Civil War

    15 in stock

    £30.56

  • Happy Horsemanship

    Prentice Hall (a Pearson Education company) Happy Horsemanship

    10 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    10 in stock

    £14.39

  • Champion

    Gill Champion

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisPat Smullen was one of the greatest Irish jockeys ever. In a career laden with success, his position as one of the country's best ever flat jockeys was long established. And yet, despite being a nine-time champion jockey, his humility defined him.It was this strength of character that sustained him when, in March 2018, Pat was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. There was never any self-pity. He just dealt with it. And more than that, he brought it centre stage: raising funds and awareness, and channelling his energies into helping others. Pat was a champion in all aspects of life, no matter what setbacks were thrown at him. Tragically, his life was cut short far too early in September 2020.Written in the months before his death, with the assistance of Donn McClean and completed by Pat's wife, Frances Crowley, Champion is the inspirational story of the jockey whose legacy lives on. From incredible highs to devastating

    Out of stock

    £14.39

  • Arcadia Publishing Suffolk Downs Images of Sports

    15 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    15 in stock

    £19.99

  • Arcadia Publishing Maryland Thoroughbred Racing Images of America

    15 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    15 in stock

    £19.99

  • Making the Running A Racing Life

    Headline Publishing Group Making the Running A Racing Life

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe image of the Derby winner with his leg in plaster was broadcast around the world. Alongside Mill Reef stood a baby-faced man who had won the Arc, the King George, the Eclipse, and now the Derby. He trained for the Queen and Queen Mother; and Lester Piggott, Willie Carson and Frankie Dettori all rode for him, but where had he come from and how had he got there?Ian Balding''s story is one of heartbreaking loss and outrageous good luck. He left Cambridge without a degree but with a rugby blue, and became one of the outstanding amateur sportsmen of his generation. Balding''s burgeoning talent was quickly noticed and he was soon running Peter Hastings-Bass'' stables at Kingsclere. Ian had no money and no experience of running a business, but he learnt fast. In Making the Running, Ian Balding reveals the pressure of maintaining the pace and shares the highs and lows of the sport of kings.Trade Reviewgripping reading... a real must for all racing fans * Sun *

    1 in stock

    £10.44

  • My Colourful Life From Red to Amber

    Headline Publishing Group My Colourful Life From Red to Amber

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisRed Rum''s classic win in the 1977 Grand National is the stuff of sporting legend. Red himself became a national treasure, and his charismatic trainer - the redoubtable Ginger McCain - became a sporting hero. While the public adored Ginger, there were those who sniped that he was a one-horse trainer. All that changed 27 years later when, in a thrilling race, Ginger won his fourth National with Amberleigh House, equalling the record of Fred Rimmer. Once again Ginger had taken the sporting world by storm. In the 70s, the popularity of Red Rum and Ginger almost single-handedly saved the great race when there were plans afoot to turn the track into a housing estate. Ginger himself is a remarkable individual - charming, forthright, not afraid to speak his mind and a hugely entertaining raconteur. This is his story, at times funny, sad, exciting and always captivating, told in his own inimitable style.

    5 in stock

    £10.44

  • Jockey

    McFarland & Company Jockey

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisBeing a jockey is more than a career, it's a way of life. Often viewed as second-rate athletes, partly because of their small size, these riders are in actuality some of the toughest men in the athletic world. This book looks at the self-employed, independent contractor known as the jockey and the all-encompassing culture of the race track.

    Out of stock

    £23.96

  • The Blue Collar Thoroughbred An Inside Account of

    McFarland & Company The Blue Collar Thoroughbred An Inside Account of

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisPresents a nonfiction insider's look at the sport of thoroughbred racing from a day-to-day, behind-the-scenes vantage point. Divided into three sections, this book discusses racing, breeding and jockeying - the realities of thoroughbred racing. It provides insight and experience regarding the actualities of thoroughbred racing.

    Out of stock

    £20.89

  • Chariot Racing in the Roman Empire

    Johns Hopkins University Press Chariot Racing in the Roman Empire

    4 in stock

    Book SynopsisFrom the length of the track and the need to ride small horses, to the risks, techniques, and training methods involved in racing, Meijer recreates ancient Rome's favorite pastime in impressive detail.Trade ReviewFans of Ben Hur will find this very readable book entertaining and informative... It is an in-your-seat, in-your-face ancient history worthy of any bookshelf. -- David Lee Poremba Past In Review 2010 Readers will find an excellent overview of knowledge... The material is presented in a way which both interested lay people and undergraduate students will readily digest. -- John D. Muccigrosso Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2010 This is definitely a 'must have' book for your library. The Lone Star 2010Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsChronologyIntroduction1. The Nika Riot: Thirty Thousand Dead in the Hippodrome2. Chariot Races of the First Century BC and Earlier3. The Circus Maximus4. Preparation and Organization5. A Day at the Circus Maximus6. The Heroes of the Arena7. The Spectators8. Changes around the Racetrack9. The Heroes of the Hippodrome10. The Disappearance of Chariot Racing11. Ben-Hur: Chariot Racing in the MoviesList of RacetracksNotesGlossarySelected BibliographyIndex

    4 in stock

    £25.20

  • The Race for the Triple Crown Horses High Stakes

    Grove Press / Atlantic Monthly Press The Race for the Triple Crown Horses High Stakes

    Out of stock

    Book Synopsis

    Out of stock

    £11.54

  • Kokomo Joe  The Story of the First Japanese

    MQ - University of Nebraska Press Kokomo Joe The Story of the First Japanese

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe first Japanese American jockey, Kokomo Joe burst like a comet on the American horse-racing scene in the summer of 1941. As war with Japan loomed, Yoshio ""Kokomo Joe"" Kobuki won race after race. His is a story of the American dream catapulting headlong into the nightmare of a nation gripped by wartime hysteria and xenophobia. His story is at once inspiring, deeply sad, and richly ironic.Trade Review“Christgau masterfully unearths a story about a small man with a giant spirit struggling to realize a dream in the midst of racial hatred and war.”—Satsuki Ina, producer of From a Silk Cocoon“John Christgau has given us the bittersweet story of ‘Kokomo Joe’ Kobuki, who carried the American dream on his tiny shoulders, and of those whose fear of others tried to wrest the dream from him.”—Stephen Fox, author of Fear Itself: Inside the FBI Roundup of German Americans during World War II"Through his detailed writing Christgau makes Kokomo Joe's rise representative of the rise of Japanese America."—Kerwin Berk, Nichi Bei TimesTable of ContentsList of IllustrationsAcknowledgments1. The Pocket Baby2. Kokomo Joe3. Mister Charley4. Brilliant Queen5. The Yankee Doodle Boys6. Joltin' Joe7. The Railbird Witch8. The Oriental Invaders9. Lumberjacks and Truckers10. Joe Btfsplk11. Miserable Saboteurs12. Nipponese Dynamite13. Hoover's Lists14. Fibber McGee15. The Whiz Kid with the Jive Drive16. The Canadian Mounties17. Chester from Gunsmoke18. StargazersSources

    1 in stock

    £16.14

  • Wild Ride

    Holt McDougal Wild Ride

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisA Gritty Chronicle of the Horse Racing EmpireWith an exploration of the tumultuous world of thoroughbred horse racing, Wild Ride presents an unforgettable narrative that's as thrilling as the sport itself. This award-winning masterpiece tells the heartbreaking story of the rise and subsequent ruin of one of the legends of horse racingCalumet Farm.Once synonymous with unmatched excellence, Calumet Farm was the monument of the American thoroughbred industry, spawning myriad superstar racers over the years. Its decline, however, symbolized the end of a glamorous epoch and the birth of a high-stakes industry fraught with financial intrigues and undesired scandals.Written with an investigative enthusiasm, Wild Ride takes you on a roller-coaster journey across four generations, juxtaposing the glittery past of the racing industry with its modern era, underpinned by contentious deal-making and industry maneuvers.As the horse racing spect

    Out of stock

    £22.94

  • Headless Horsemen A Tale of Chemical Colts Subprime Sales Agents and the Last Kentucky Derby on Steroids

    15 in stock

    £15.29

  • How Kentucky Became Southern A Tale of Outlaws

    University Press of Kentucky How Kentucky Became Southern A Tale of Outlaws

    Out of stock

    Book Synopsis

    Out of stock

    £21.85

  • The Prince of Jockeys The Life of Isaac Burns

    The University Press of Kentucky The Prince of Jockeys The Life of Isaac Burns

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisIsaac Burns Murphy (1861--1896) was one of the most dynamic jockeys of his era. Still considered one of the finest riders of all time, Murphy was the first jockey to win the Kentucky Derby three times, and his 44 percent win record remains unmatched. Despite his success, Murphy was pushed out of Thoroughbred racing when African American jockeys were forced off the track, and he died in obscurity. In The Prince of Jockeys: The Life of Isaac Burns Murphy, author Pellom McDaniels III offers the first definitive biography of this celebrated athlete, whose life spanned the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the adoption of Jim Crow legislation. Despite the obstacles he faced, Murphy became an important figure -- not just in sports, but in the social, political, and cultural consciousness of African Americans. Drawing from legal documents, census data, and newspapers, this comprehensive profile explores how Murphy epitomized the rise of the black middle class and contributed to the constructi

    Out of stock

    £25.00

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