Horse racing Books

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Book SynopsisHis winning percentage was well above Jordan’s shooting average or Woods’s domination of golf tournaments. And he sold products and drew spectators like no one had ever done. He was hands-down the most famous athlete in America’s most popular spectator sport, and exactly one hundred years ago you would have been hard pressed to find anybody in the country who didn’t know his name. He was Dan Patch, and he was a racehorse. At the turn of the last century, harness racing drew larger crowds and offered bigger paychecks than any other sport. Its stars were household names, and Dan Patch was both the most celebrated and the richest. As successful as he was on the track, Dan Patch was also America’s first “marketing machine”: the horse who could sell cigars, washing machines, stoves, automobiles, and animal feed, just by the presence of his name and photograph. The Best There Ever Was examines the evolution of sports marketing through the lives of Dan Patch and the three men who owned him: an Indiana breeder, Dan Messner; M. E. Sturgis, who sold the horse for $20,000 (a fortune in those days) and spent the rest of his life trying to buy him back; and Marion W. Savage of Minneapolis, whose entrepreneurial skills presaged today’s sports marketing geniuses.Any athlete who can draw a 90,000-person crowd, offer up world records, and then sell a coal stove with his name on it may well be the best by anybody’s standards. A fun and fascinating read for sports lovers.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisWith a trademark powerful stride amid a blaze of red and yellow silks, Justify emphatically crossed the finish line at the 2018 Belmont Stakes and became just the 13th winner of horse racing's elusive Triple Crown. One of the most charismatic and talented runners in the history of the sport, Justify was also one of its most unlikely champions; the late-blooming chestnut colt made his competitive debut only 111 days prior to that legendary victory. In Justify: 111 Days to Triple Crown Glory, veteran scribe Lenny Shulman (BloodHorse magazine) provides an insider account of this Thoroughbred’s rise to greatness. Through extensive interviews and first-hand accounts, readers will discover the fascinatingly disparate cast of characters who were crucial to Justify’s success, including trainer Bob Baffert, whose innate ability to identify equine talent also produced American Pharoah; Mike Smith, the 52-year-old jockey asserting himself in the miraculous third act of his career; and breeders John and Tanya Gunther, who believed in Justify’s ability despite the developmental imperfections that drove buyers away. Packed with riveting action, keen insight, and behind-the-scenes perspectives on quieter figures like silent investors, international stakeholders, and unheralded training staff, Justify is an illuminating look at the modern Thoroughbred industry and an essential story for the ages.

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Book SynopsisWhat is "horse sense?" It is basic, practical common sense. It is the ability to apply sensible, reasoned approaches to problems in daily life, and "horse sense" belongs equally with horse activities. Having a general understanding of equine law can help avoid problems that create legal disputes. Equine Law and Horse Sense is designed for people, businesses, and organizations in the horse industry and for the lawyers who serve them. This book will equip you to assess your needs, plan ahead, and take precautions to avoid conflicts. It answers such questions as: What are the laws regarding horse-related injuries, and what happens if you have been threatened with or plan to file a lawsuit? Why and when are contracts important, and what details merit consideration? How can disputes with insurance companies be avoided? What are some commonsense strategies to help protect the existence of horse operations amid increasing urbanization? This book will better inform you about the law and help you continue to use good "horse sense" for many years to come.

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Book SynopsisThis collection of poems captures the life and brilliance of one of racings biggest legends. In a lyrical style that brings the tale of Secretariat to life, Lifshin highlights the beauty and wonder of the foal’s early days from birth to the track. As always, Lifshin focuses on Secretariat’s life before the track, outlining the playfully perfect foal who found his way into the hearts of many. Full of emotion and beauty, this collection outlines the life and death of one of the tracks biggest racing legends.from “As The Days Get Longer” the horse dreams of flying in the air like a gust of wind on an abandoned Christmas tree, red exploding like a spurt of light, flaming wildly like those boughs of northern lights out of darknessTable of Contents When a Leggy Foal Comes into the World On a Night Herons Were Driving thru the Waves of Night, March 30th, 1970 On That Night Was Somethingroyal Those Who Eased Secretariat from Somethingroyal Scrambling and Scampering, Leaping and Jogging After a Week or Two Bigger than Most Foals A Bruiser,” Some As the Days Get Longer He Was Different Mother’s Buck and Yowl for Their Stolen Jewels Before He’d Gulped His Crushed Oats Now He Can’t Smell her, Feel Her Into the Night like the Other Weanlings Weaning Day, the Babies Like the Other Just Weaned Foals A Different Morning Smell Feeling Touch as a Song They Can Dance To It was Always One Move at a Time Glittering What the Horse Must Feel Colts Chasing Each Other in the Field Later in the Soft Sand The Gorgeous Red Chestnut Growing into What Was to Come When You See a Horse Glistening in the Morning Light His Nostrils, Soft as Violets Before the Trip South in the Still Black Early Morning, Only the Slight Light Bringing Secretariat to Florida After the Last Ice Slides from the Leaves Inside the Barn He’s a Nice Colt and He’s Just a Baby, You Take Care of Him” Almost Too Beautiful Some Said I Have to Get the Fat Off Him First, I Have to Teach Him to Run. He’s Big, Awkward, and Doesn’t Know What to Do with Himself” Night Blues, Secretariat Waiting A Horse that Sleeps Mostly Standing Up Too Plump and Pretty A Chubby Clown Leaves as a Prince April 1, 1972 Secretariat Was Wild His First Race Days after Aqueduct Secretariat Can Run Fast and Far. I Think He’ll Go Down in History as Another Man O’War Horse Heaven Under the Rippling Jade of Elms Opening Day, Saratoga He Just Floats The Hopeful Saratoga, Dark Day at the Track Hanging Back, as If Gathering Himself That August Leaving Saratoga, as Horses Load Into the Vans He Wasn’t like the Dark Beauty Years Later Will Secretariat Remember Saratoga Photograph Past the Gingerbread House, Guitar Moan from CafÉ Lena on Phila Like Something Out of a Fairy Tale His Personality Reached Out On the Night Before Any Races Drawing the Place for the Post Ron Turcotte The Derby Derby Day Like Flowers Put in Cool After a Clear Start After the Race Other Horses Saw a Shadow Coming from Behind and Knew it Wasn’t Their Shadow Before the Preakness He Looks like a Rolls Royce in a Field of Volkswagens” Coming from the Place You Know (He) Sorta like an Airplane Jus’ Put It on the Runway—When You Wants and Take Off Woosh” Thinking of Secretariat after the Preakness After the Preakness, thru Dripping Larch and Maples Heading Out from Stall 41 It’s Like He’s Not Real You Get Some Good Hosses You Can Figure Gonna” That’s an Awful Lot of People Standin in That Stall” On the Night Before the Belmont Gloomy and Gray Morning Just Before the Belmont On the Day of the Race Hours Before They Announced Just Before Post Time As the Gates Crashed Like a Train Tearing Up the Rails With the Wind, the Silks After the Applause Accompanying Secretariat Home After the Belmont It was a New World His Face on Time 200 Fan Mails a Day On the Day Secretariat Left Belmont After the Last of the Triple Crown Wins Does he Dream Other Barns and Stables Some Nights Secretariat Dreams Secretariat’s Dream #17 What’s Left Even Grown Men Are Crying Blues When the Great Horse Leaves the Track for the Last Time In One Photo of Big Red Photograph: Final Farewell at Aqueduct Bringing Secretariat to Clairborne, November 12, 1973 Those Who Never Cried Photograph: Ron Turcotte Saying Goodbye Photograph: Boarding the Plane Photo of Secretariat in the Fuselage Going Back In That Photograph On the Plane to Clairborne Photograph In This Photograph the Plane Seems Rounded Photograph: Secretariat with Eddie Sweat on the Plane Back to Clairborne The Blue and White Chartered Plane At Lexington On the Day He Comes to Clairborne For Company, Torn Leaves Perfumed With the Scent of Mares On This November Sunday Secretariat On One of His Last Nights Secretariat Dreams When Secretariat Dreamt Mist Slides from Blue Moonlight Photograph at Clairborne Early Before Visitors Come to Press Against the Fence, Spray from the Horse’s Bath in the Air like Snowflakes Early Quiet Morning Between Mares at the Stud Farm When Lightning Came In the Fields of Spring Hot July, With the Sky Cloudless, Cobalt In Other Fields Was Secretariat Puzzled? Past White Swans and the Century Oaks Some Say Horses Know: He Was Led to the Van, a Shank Clipped Over Him Each Year the Red Horse, a Little Less Red Tho a Horse Can Never Tell You His Dreams For Stallions, Touch is a Fleeting Pleasure The Laminae After Those Gorgeous Feet Is Secretariat Learning New Music? If You Part of the Animal You Got to Cry, That’s When the Sad Moment Come” In Those Last Days Sucker-Punched No, a Horse Can’t Tell You His Dream Some Say Horses Know When That Morning Too Perfect to Replicate The Heart of an Average Horse Weighs about 9 Lbs Not Like Any Other Horse Foaling Barn Photo It Was as if No One Could Find Anything Dark In the Dream of the Healed Hoof Photograph of Clairborne, Secretariat’s Last Home Past His Stone, the Willow

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Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries the highlight of the social calendar in many Essex towns and villages was the local horse race meeting. Of these Chelmsford Races, held on Galleywood Common, were by far the most successful. They were so popular that in 1770s the local gentry raised money for a permanent grandstand on the common where they could watch safely isolated from the lower classes. As well as the races the wealthy also enjoyed balls, dinners and concerts organised in the town to coincide with them. The races had something for everyone. Those too poor to attend the glittering social occasions could enjoy a wonderful day out on the common with the racecourse crammed with fairground attractions as well as many beer tents. The nature of racing changed towards the end of the eighteenth century as it became more professional and better organized. Despite this, Chelmsford's popularity waned and around 1880 the course was converted to steeplechasing. There was a brief resurgence after the First World War but it didn't last and racing at Galleywood ended in 1935. But that wasn't then end of the story and today the cheers of punters still ring out across the Essex countryside - this time at the new Chelmsford City Racecourse at Great Leighs.

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Book Synopsis**WINNER OF THE GENERAL OUTSTANDING SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD****SHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017**Coping with your own death, when you are not yet dead, is a strange thing...A natural on a horse since he was able to walk, and imbued with a pure love of riding, Declan Murphy became one of the most brilliant jockeys of his generation before his world came crashing down at the final hurdle of a race at Haydock Park. His skull shattered in twelve places, he was believed to be dead, the last rites were read and the Racing Post prepared his obituary. Miraculously, and the word is not used lightly, he survived and defied medical thinking in recovering to the extent that eighteen months after his fall, he was able to saddle up for one more race. As usual, he won.For 23 years, Declan has been unable to tell his story, to bring to words existence on the frontier between life and death, to describe the incredible bond between man and horse. But now, in an extraordinary collaboration with Ami Rao, she has helped him find those words, a way to piece together what happened before, during and after, what it all meant and what it means to us all. It is a story of triumph, fear, love and loss, by turns primal, heartbreaking and inspirational, and ultimately, it is the story of hope, and of life.Trade ReviewBeautifully written and genuinely revealing. It is brilliant. A work of art, Centaur has a rhythm all of its own but more than that, it has an immense depth of soul and spirit. Declan has been brave enough to show himself raw, at his most vulnerable, and Ami has been clever and empathetic in her telling of the story. Together they have made magical music. The rhythm of the prose reads like a Declan Murphy-ridden race: beautiful and steady, balanced and spiritual before unleashing its dangerous sprint to the line. -- Clare BaldingEmotional and honest, Centaur is an unflinching look at how Murphy 'came back from the dead' and the heavy price extracted for doing so. Centaur is a book haunted by ghosts: lost careers, lost memories, lost friendships and, most devastatingly of all, lost love... Not only a certain candidate for the William Hill sports book of the year but also sure to be on many non-sports fans' end-of-year lists. -- Sarah Hughes * Observer *A magnificent piece of work: never less than enthralling... a thing of dramatic beauty. * Mail on Sunday *Deeply powerful, [told with] grace and poetry... an entirely gripping drama. * Sunday Express *Brilliant, bold, at times brutal. * Sunday Telegraph *Heart-rending... a page-turner. * The Times *Riveting... At times, it's an uncomfortable read, but the journey from awakening from a coma and trying to piece together the absent parts of his life is truly heart-rending. * Robert Cooper, Racing Plus *Extraordinary... It is a miraculous tale, recounted with searing honesty. Here is a book that goes way beyond the normal ambitions of the sporting autobiography and clears those limits with room to spare. -- Scott Burton * Racing Post *‘Really, really beautifully written… the most riveting description. Extraordinary, quite brilliant… it’s an amazing read.’ * Sarah Brett and Nihal Arthanayake, BBC Radio Five Live Afternoon Edition *Wonderfully written... very moving. -- Brough ScottPrimal, heartbreaking and inspirational. The story of triumph, fear, love and loss, it's a remarkable testament to beating the odds and reclaiming a life in the most dire of circumstances. * Booktime *Extraordinary: an outstanding book. Superb. * Matt Williams, BBC Radio 2 *You can read and enjoy Centaur simply as a thrilling account of an elite sportsman who nearly died, but lived to ride again. There are beautiful insights too into the relationship between rider and horse. But it is also a book about how stories get told. -- Caroline Sanderson * The Bookseller *A stirring story. * The Sunday Times *With lovely descriptions, so very frank. Wonderful. It's a truly amazing story. -- Libby PurvesExtraordinary... Centaur defies all the usual definitions of biography/autobiography/memoir because Ami has worked in an area that sometimes sounding-board, sometimes investigator, sometimes therapist and her ability to read and authentically express emotion has made it possible to bridge gaps in Declan's life - to create a coherent version of the story that's going to blow readers away. It has almost as much potential outside of the sporting world as within it. Ami has taken a 'sportsman's memoir' with all the attendant concentration on performance and motivation and translated it into something with the broadest human relevance. -- Tim HaywardRemarkable. * Irish Independent *Extraordinary... one of the most incredible and brave memoirs. Beautifully written and worthy of the highest plaudits. * The Last Word *Compelling. * Irish Examiner *Mesmerising, haunting and beautifully written. -- Lauren St JohnAn extraordinary story [and] a wonderful read... even if you've never read a book in your life, even if you don't normally read, people will really enjoy this. * RTE Radio 1, Today with Sean O'Rourke *A remarkable man with a remarkable story. * BBC Radio Ulster, Sunday Sequence *Absolutely amazing... it offers a fascinating insight into how the brain works. * Newstalk, Off The Ball *If this book isn't prominent in the best of not just sports books but books of the year, and if it's not sweeping awards come Christmas then there's something massively flawed with the process. This isn’t a racing book, this is a remarkable personal story, a brilliant read. I’ve not read a book in a long time that has affected me as much as this book, it’s unbelievable… if you have an interest in human life, if you have an interest in human psychology, in the will the survive, if you want to hear about bravery, about overcoming challenges, that's the book to buy. It’s as motivational a book as you will get. * 2FM, Game On *Sensitively ghosted by Ami Rao, Centaur is a meditation on what constitutes self and what happens when 'time becomes an abstration'. * Telegraph Books of the Year *

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Book SynopsisPostcards from the World of Horse Racing: Days Out on the Global Racing Road is the new book by international-racing expert Nicholas Godfrey. In a series of evocative, informative pieces from around the racing world, Godfrey visits 20 different countries on six continents, from unforgettable high-profile events at major racecourses - such as the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs or the Dubai World Cup at billion-dollar Meydan - to racing venues on the road less travelled - like Morocco, Uruguay and Switzerland, where they race on a frozen lake in St Moritz. Among those he encounters are America's mighty mare Zenyatta, Triple Crown hero American Pharoah and Black Caviar, the 'Wonder from Down Under'. As well as reliving his experiences, Godfrey prefaces each postcard with a how-to guide for those wishing to follow in his footsteps. Illustrated with a range of colour photographs, the book also features a foreword by Brough Scott, one of the most respected sportswriters in the business.

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Book SynopsisCelebrating a Century of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe charts the history of Europe's - and arguably the world's - greatest horse race. Established in 1920 and staged in Paris on the Bois de Boulogne, the Arc is a truly international contest attracting runners from England, Ireland, Japan, Italy, Germany and the USA. This illustrated race-by-race account traces the exploits of many all-time racing legends. From Ribot, Sea Bird, Allez France and Mill Reef, to Dancing Brave, Sea The Stars, Treve and Enable. It's also a who's who of the turf starring the Rothschild, Aga Khan, Wildenstein, Wertheimer and Head families, as well as Marcel Boussac, Vincent O'Brien, Lester Piggott and Yves Saint-Martin. The modern era features luminaries such as Andre Fabre, Coolmore, Godolphin, John Gosden, Frankie Dettori and Khalid Abdullah. You'll discover which champion hurdler won the title, which horse came back from stud to recapture his crown and which jockey ended up in prison as a result of his win.

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Book SynopsisEnable is a modern day racing heroine, a Queen of the Turf, and she has stirred the emotions of racing fans like few before her. She has won 11 Group Ones to date including the Epsom Oaks, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes three times, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe twice and the Breeders' Cup Turf. She is partnered by Frankie Dettori, the world's most famous jockey and she is his 'big girl' and his favourite racehorse. His trademark flying dismounts seem to now be accompanied by tears and by the time of publication, she will have attempted a historic third 'Arc' which Frankie wants to win 'for her' and not himself. As well as looking at her close bond with 'Frankie' the book looks at how Enable's masterful trainer, John Gosden, managed her from the beginning and how her connections cherish her. Her full story is told through the lens of the Racing Post - its best writers, most astute analysts and unrivalled photographers.

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Book SynopsisA new, fully authorised biography of the most successful trainer in British horse racing history.In the stratified and often secretive world of racehorse training, Mark Johnston has always been different: forthright, combative, provocative, and candid – a man who delights in questioning convention. Over more than three decades, he has gone from being a vet from a thoroughly working-class Scottish background to, mathematically, the most successful trainer in the history of British horse racing.In this new, fully authorised biography, acclaimed author Nick Townsend provides a unique insight into the world of Mark Johnston and his phenomenally successful operation. With unparalleled access to Mark and those closest to him, Mark Johnston: Phenomenon will dig into his storied career, his strong and passionate views on the sport of horse racing, and how he's planning for the future in unprecedented times, offering a fascinating portrait of one of horse racing's most singular figures.

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Book SynopsisFor four decades HEALY RACING has photographed the world of Irish horse racing. Delving into an archive of thousands of images, photographer Pat Healy and sports journalist Donn McClean selected over 200 golden Irish jump-racing moments. Their book captures the last decade of thrills and spills (2011–2020) – the sheer spectacle that is the Irish horse-racing scene. The sport’s biggest personalities, and their horses, are celebrated through the lens: JP McManus, Michael O’Leary and Gigginstown House Stud, Rich and Susannah Ricci, Willie, Patrick and Danny Mullins, Gordon Elliott, Jessica Harrington, Jonjo O’Neill, Henry de Bromhead, Nina and Paul Carberry, Ted, Ruby and Katie Walsh, Barry Geraghty, Davy Russell, AP McCoy, Paul Townend, Jack Kennedy, Rachel Blackmore, Bryan Cooper, Robbie Power, Jamie Codd, Lisa O’Neill and so many more. For every leap of victory and fist pump, there is a crunching fall or a win that almost was: HEALY RACING has captured it all.Trade ReviewThrills and Spills to bring a smile to your face … a beautiful collection of jump racing memories * The Irish Field *Beautiful … from the picturesque to the poignant … succeeds wonderfully * Irish Daily Mail *Beautiful * The Irish Field *Loving the new book * UTV Life’s Pamela Ballantine *Great stocking filler from @patcashhealy * @equisoftlive *What a fabulous publication. Well done to everyone at Healy Racing. A must buy for any racing fan * @davekeena1 *Very good book from good people * @swflanagan7 *A fantastic collection of racing memories from Ireland’s finest @patcashhealy Highly recommend it for all racing fans * RTE Racing’s Hugh Cahill *A timeless collection of racing memories * The Kerryman *Magic moments with precision and emotion...it is impossible to imagine a meeting in Ireland without the presence of the Healy Racing photography team, and their book is a collection of some of the most memorable moments of the last decade. With captions provided by leading racing writer and broadcaster Donn McClean, this nicely arranged hardback takes the reader on a trip down memory lane during a period of bumper success for Irish jump racing and it does a fine job of capturing the emotions in play. As the title suggests, there is no shortage of dramatic and chaotic action shots, with horses hitting the deck and riders propelled into unorthodox positions as they part company with their mounts. High-profile Cheltenham Festival and Grand National wins feature, but the collection not only celebrates the standout top-level successes from 2011 to 2020 it also shines a light on some of Ireland’s scenic summer tracks and point-to-point venues. Many of the most eyecatching pictures capture scenes of wild celebrations, and such scenes of unbridled joy acts as a stark reminder of how badly missed racegoers have been this year. However, at a time when a return to normal circumstances seems difficult to envisage, Thrills and Spills is a welcome tonic to whet the appetite for whenever we can all finally return to racecourses * Racing Post *

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Book SynopsisA thrilling collection of 200 photographs from the high-octane, glamourous world of flat racing, from the Irish Derby and the Irish Guineas at The Curragh, to the many local race meets, and reaching internationally to the highlights in the racing calendar and as far afield as Melbourne and Saudi Arabia.The book contains an exciting mix of the horses, the big wins, the big events, alongside significant wins for smaller trainers/owners/riders from 2011-2021. Some pages cover key photographs that capture significant people, special moments or are simply just great shots.

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Book SynopsisAs the woman who trained the great Best Mate to win three consecutive Cheltenham Gold Cups, no one could be better qualified than Henrietta Knight to discover what makes today's top jumps trainers succeed. From eccentric, outspoken Yorkshireman Mick Easterby, to elegant, aristocratic Venetia Williams, from Irish wizard, Willie Mullins, to perfectionist champion trainer, Paul Nicholls and young pretender, Dan Skelton, here is a dazzling cast of extraordinary characters, all with their quirks and foibles, but with one single-minded ambition – finding first-class horses and training them to win big races. Henrietta shares their dramatic journeys, methods and secrets of working in a tough, competitive industry. For the trainers, every win reignites the thrill of the sport and a craving for success that never dies. Their stories are fascinating, each one illustrated with unique photographs from private albums.Trade ReviewThis timely book should enlighten and entertain not only the racing cognoscenti, but anyone who has ever had anything to do with a horse * Country Life *A fascinating treatise * Spectator *[Henrietta Knight] is the perfect guide... Essentially, this is a study of success... For Knight, too, it is another fine achievement' * Racing Post *Fascinating reading * Irish Independent *It's not for nothing that she has been a trainer for more than 20 years: she has plenty of experience, and her voice and opinions come over loud and clear * Spectator *A dazzling cast of extraordinary characters * Countryside *Accompanied by anecdotes from some of the best in the business, you're sure to be hooked from the get-go * Horse & Rider *It's a dazzling cast of extraordinary characters... [Knight is] a master of her craft' * Essex Rider *If you're looking for some recommended summertime reading, I'm currently enjoying The Jumping Game by Henrietta Knight... Twenty-seven handlers are featured in the book, across 27 in-depth chapters' * Echo (Cork). *

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Book SynopsisNational Hunt Champion trainer Nicky Henderson OBE shares behind-the-scenes stories of the dozen most extraordinary thoroughbreds that have defined his glittering career. After his early days as an amateur jockey and assistant to Fred Winter, Nicky started his own training yard, which would become the home of such great riders as Sir AP McCoy, Barry Geraghty, John Francome, Mick Fitzgerald, Sam Waley-Cohen, Richard Dunwoody, Nico de Boinville and many others. From his triple Champion Hurdle-winner See You Then, Remittance Man and Nobby the sheep, record-setting Altior, Sprinter Sacre and the greatest comeback in jump racing history, to his new star Constitution Hill, the Henderson yard has been a breeding ground for success. Through exclusive interviews with Nicky and his jockeys, Nicky Henderson: My Life in 12 Horses schools us on life, sport, magic, courage, loss, hope and love.Trade Review"In my lifetime two British trainers have been blessed with a touch of genius: Sir Henry Cecil and Nicky Henderson. This book - via tales about his brilliant horses - takes you on a roller-coaster ride with Nicky’s triumphs and tragedies, heady racedays and disasters, plus gives you a unique insight in to the mind of that training genius." -- Ed Chamberlin * ITV Racing *"A beautiful portrait of the love between Nicky Henderson and his greatest horses. Intimate, revealing and unforgettable, with a long reach in racing but also far beyond." -- Paul Hayward * five times Sports Writer of the Year *"Nicky Henderson’s career is a timeless masterpiece, with craft and thought put into every horse. The attention to detail in this beautiful book is similarly meticulous. A must read." -- Dominic King, Racing Correspondent * The Daily Mail *"Wow, what an interesting book. Nicky is a genius and you really see how he has treasures, and looks after his good horses. It gripped me and anybody remotely interested in jump racing will want to read it." -- Kim Bailey * National Hunt trainer *"A brilliant and original portrait of a man with an exceptional gift. Where others see horses, Nicky Henderson sees magic, sophistication and complex personalities – he’s like the Shakespeare of racing." -- Ed Needham * Strong Words magazine *"This is a book every racing fan should read. For it takes a fresh look at famous horses and jumping’s most famous trainer. In the very best of senses, it puts new wine in old bottles." -- Brough Scott MBE * racing journalist, broadcaster and author and former jockey *"A brilliant insight into the life, knowledge, passion and intuition that Nicky has, and gives his horses on a daily basis. All of which makes him one of the greatest trainers and horsemen of any generation, and above all an absolute gentleman." -- Barry Geraghty * first stable jockey to Nicky Henderson from 2008-2015 *"A full, personable and bewitching account of the genius that is the six-time champion jumps trainer – while this is a must-read for racing fans, I’d recommend it to anyone who has ever loved an animal." -- Martha Terry * Horse & Hound *"Nicky Henderson: My Life in 12 Horses is one of the best racing books I’ve read in years. Built around the stories of some his greats, including Remittance Man, Sprinter Sacre, Altior, See You Then and, of course, Constitution Hill, it’s a properly fascinating insight into what makes Henderson tick and how he does it. You never know, the racing fan in your life might even learn something from it." -- Stephen Pollard * The Critic *

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Book Synopsis Firsts, Lasts & Onlys: A Truly Wonderful Collection of Horseracing Trivia is filled with improbable facts and mind-boggling trivia that will test and tease every horseracing enthusiast.Try these questions for size: How did the word ‘thoroughbred’ come into existence, and what is a dam sire? Which Grand National-winning horse opened supermarkets after he retired and was sent requests for autographs? Which BBC sports commentator often had bad luck around the time of the National? Which classic race almost came to be known as the Bunbury?The perfect gift for every horseracing fan, this is a book you can pick up while waiting for the stewards’ inquiry for the 3.15 at Newmarket and learn something new, weird or fascinating. Often all three.Trade Review"A lovely book. Rating: 10/10." -- Mark Watkins * Dare Radio *

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Book SynopsisTHE HIGHER THE STAKES, THE DEADLIER THE RISK . . .THE BRAND NEW THRILLER FROM THE MASTER OF THE RACING THRILLER - NOW AVAILABLE IN HARDBACK & EBOOK.______________________Theo Jennings is a young auctioneer at the Thoroughbred sales ring in Newmarket. The October yearling sales are where the big money exchanges hands in frenzied auctions: millions of Guineas paid for horses that are as yet unnamed, untested, and have never taken a step on the track. It's the greatest gamble in all of horseracing, and one that can end in ruin.Theo has just made the biggest sale of his life, when he overhears a secret conversation between the two bidders - can they really have colluded to fix the price of his big sale? When that same horse is found dead the next morning, he has no choice but to investigate, even against the wishes of his boss. But the more he uncovers, the less he can trust the people around him.The higher the stakes, the greater the risk. And in the bloodstock game, the ultimate price can be murder . . .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 Trade ReviewRattles along * LITERARY REVIEW *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 *

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Book SynopsisHorses in Training is an institution in racing. It is an encyclopaedia of invaluable information on the horses each trainer has in their care, with around 18,0000 horses and 550 trainers. Fully indexed, it includes around 150 pages of key statistics, covering everything from big-race winners to trainer and jockey tables.

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Book SynopsisNow in its 58th year, this popular guide to Jumps racing summarises the prospects of 100 steeplechasers and hurdlers who Raceform's expert race-readers expect to do particularly well in the coming 2019-2020 season. The 2018-2019 edition pinpointed 18 Grade 1 winners including: Al Boum Photo - Cheltenham Gold Cup. Altior - Tingle Creek Chase, Clarence House Chase, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Celebration Chase. Apple's Jade - Hatton's Grace Hurdle, Christmas Hurdle, Irish Champion Hurdle. Buveur D'Air - Fighting Fifth Hurdle. Delta Work - Drinmore Chase, Neville Hotels Novices' Chase. Duc Des Genievres - Racing Post Arkle Chase. If The Cap Fits - Ryanair Stayers' Hurdle. Kalashnikov - Manifesto Novices' Chase. Road To Respect - JWine.com Champion Chase. Supasundae - Aintree Hurdle. Topofthegame - RSA Novices' Chase. Big Priced winners chosen included: William Henry - 28/1, Al Boum Photo 12/1, Supasundae 15/2, Sharp Response and If The Cap Fits 7/1

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Book SynopsisNow in its seventh year, the Racing Post Annual is firmly established as the perfect Christmas gift for any horseracing fan. This exciting review of 2019 from the Racing Post, the nation’s voice of horseracing, has 208 colour pages packed with the best stories of the racing year and is beautifully illustrated with stunning images by award-winning photographer Edward Whitaker and others.The Racing Post’s top writers look back on the best of the Flat and jumps seasons; the big names both equine and human; the moments to treasure and unusual stories of the year; plus a look forward at the top prospects for 2020. With a glittering line-up, this large-format, magazine-style publication is a must for any horseracing fan to enjoy at the end of the racing year.

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Book SynopsisSuccessful jump jockeys come from a variety of backgrounds. Their childhoods and upbringings show vast differences. Some originate from families already connected to horses and racing - they were always going to be riders. Yet others have parents who have no equine connections whatsoever, which presents the question: why did these kids become jockeys and how? In her latest book on racing, best-selling author Henrietta Knight - the three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer of the legendary Best Mate – charts the lives of more than 80 jump jockeys in the hope of finding out what inspired them in childhood to take up one of the most dangerous jobs in sport. Among the great and good to be profiled are household names such as Richard Dunwoody, John Francome, Sir Anthony McCoy and Ruby Walsh, and throughout Starting From Scratch we discover how many of racing's most celebrated individuals opted to take the path they did.

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Book SynopsisSteve Cauthen commenced his 14-year 'English Odyssey' in April 1979. The erstwhile 'Kentucky Kid' had taken American racing by storm. A champion jockey at 17 and a Triple Crown winner at 18, the teenage prodigy became a bona fide celebrity but a slump of 110 consecutive losers saw him cross the Atlantic seeking to resurrect his career. Within weeks of his arrival 'The Kid' won an English Classic, the 2000 Guineas. He'd go on to become the only jockey to win both the Derby and the Kentucky Derby (plus those of Ireland, France and Italy); be the most recent jockey to win an English Triple Crown courtesy of Oh So Sharp in 1985; and secure three jockeys' championships - making him the only man to win titles in both America and England. Moreover, Cauthen was a supreme stylist who transformed English race-riding: his streamlined American toe-in-the-iron seat and clock-in-the-head judgement of pace sparking widespread imitation. The list of household names benefiting from his sublime talents are legion and this most articulate of jockeys recalls every one of them in his own inimitable style along with all the attendant highs and lows in this first complete retelling of his 'English Odyssey'.

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Book SynopsisBlinkin' 'Ell is both a celebration of life and a cautionary tale. It is a raw, boisterous, untutored, un-ghosted scrapbook of memories from a man whose world seemed to have ended in August 2014 when a massive stroke left him permanently incapacitated with only his left eyelid for communication. It tells of how, once he found his niche as a champion farrier, Stevie Fisher burned the candle at both ends, in the saddle, at the races, or at many another jape on his countryman's horizon. The addictive wonder is not just that Stevie has, blink by blink, letter by letter, brought us these stories of his old great times and of his present grotesquely bad, but that he has done so with all the over-the-top verve of the cheering, galloping figure whose pictures on the wall contrast so vividly with the shrivelled Stephen Hawking body on the bed. Stevie Fisher took a lot out of life. Read Blinkin' 'Ell and be amazed and uplifted by how much he still has.

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Book SynopsisThe Racing Post Puzzle Book is the first puzzle book written for fans of horseracing. 240 puzzles will provide endless head scratching and entertainment for anyone who enjoys the sport. Its mix of six different types of puzzle will challenge even the most knowledgeable fan. In Fill In The Blanks an account of a race is given with ten key names and other words missing. Do you know enough to fill in the blanks? In Simple Sums, do you have the racing knowledge you need to complete the calculations? In Tell Me The Answer And I'll Tell You The Question, two questions and two answers are given - can you find which question and answer match? In Get It In One? Or Two, Or Three, Or Four?, how many clues do you need to identify the well-known person or horse? One, two, three or four? In Time For A Rhyme a short poem describes a famous person or horse. Can you complete the missing rhymes and identify who the poem is about? In Where's The Logic? a logic puzzle is presented in a racing setting. Can you use logic and the clues to deduce the answer?

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Book SynopsisThe History of Horse Racing in 100 Objects is an ambitious and extensive work that embraces the vast sweep of a global sport, condensing its heart and soul into a century of milestones that connect its ancient past and its vibrant present. It takes the reader on a wild ride from racing's earliest organised blossoming in the 16th century to its most modern technological advances, via the innovations that have contributed to the shape of the sport and the great horses, characters and events that have delighted and intrigued countless generations. Here are the 100 objects that make horse racing what it is, that describe its journey through the ages, that express its eternal fascination for all those who fall under its intoxicating spell. By turns inspirational, informative, revelatory and thought-provoking, this evocation of the sounds, colours and history of horse racing will appeal to both devotees of the great sport and those discovering it for the first time. It's a sure-fire winner.

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Book SynopsisAfter a 40-year career taking the bets that no one else would take for William Hill after expanding the company's offerings to its customers beyond purely sporting contests, in Strange Stuff Graham Sharpe chronicles the weirdest, oddest, strangest, craziest antics and events to happen on racecourses to horses, jockeys, trainers, owners, bookies and racegoers over the years. His previous titles include biographies of arch-eccentric racehorse owner Dorothy Paget, whose horses won the Grand National, Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and Derby; and William Hill, who founded his eponymous company in 1934, when he was betting on-course and transforming the bookmaking scene. His Magnificent Seven chronicled the story of Frankie Dettori's greatest day, when he almost single-handedly bankrupted the country's biggest bookies. In his latest book you'll find hundreds of stories and unusual racing facts to dip in and out of, making this the perfect gift for any horse racing fan, and it is sure to appeal to young and old alike.

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Book SynopsisSince the thoroughbred horse was first developed over three centuries ago, these magnificent creatures have given the global race-going public limitless joy, and filled our memories with wonder and respect, and Punch a Hole in the Wind focuses on the stories of 50 champion Flat racehorses since the dawn of film. Taking a far more global look than other attempts to capture the lives and victories of the greats from the past, it celebrates our heroes from the UK, France, US, Ireland, Australia, Hong Kong and Japan, and each story is told with a mixture of humour, passion and solid research. Every horse that has ever raced has given its connections a thrill but very few can truly by thought of as great and this is a celebration of them, rather than an artificial competition between them, and it is an essential companion to race lovers around the world. Featuring 32 pages of stunning photographs and statistics for each horse, this is sure to appeal to any horseracing fan.

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Book SynopsisIf you enjoyed The Racing Post Quiz Book by Mart Matthews, published in 2019, you are sure to appreciate this follow-up to the hugely popular first volume. The author has delved deep into the archives of the horseracing world to come up with another 1,000 questions on one of the nation s favourite sports, sure to challenge every fan. Try these questions for size: which Classic has been won this century by a capital city, a poet, a country and a cricketer? Which surname has cropped up twice among Derby-winning jockeys since the war? And which King George VI Chase winner sounds optimistic concerning a fish, but pessimistic in regard to a dog? Put your horseracing knowledge to the test again and see if you can come out on top. This is the perfect gift for all horseracing fans from anoraks to armchair fans alike it really does have something for everyone.

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Book SynopsisHorseracing happens literally every day of the year - which is why unique and unusual events are almost commonplace in the Sport of Kings, Queens and commoners, even when that day in designed to fool you - as many felt was the case when, on 1 April 1929, a jockey named Frank Wise didn't live up to his name as he was unwise enough to ride in the Irish Grand National with only one leg and minus the tops of three fingers - yet he and his mount, Alike, won the race. Then there was the race meeting at which two dates combined when Good Friday fell on Boxing Day - literally - with the horse of that name taking a tumble at Wolverhampton on 26 December 1899. Make a note in your diary to buy yourself or your racing relatives and friends Graham Sharpe's latest book, containing literally hundreds more similarly notable, memorable, racey stories for every single day of the year. All the stories in The Racing Post’s Horseracing On This Day have been expertly researched and this book is a must-have for any fans of horseracing

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Book SynopsisThis is the story of ‘Cockney’ Cliff Lines and his memories of 70 years spent in horseracing. Knowing nothing about racing or even how to ride, Cliff started as a 14-year-old apprentice to Noel Murless, and the book details his life, from riding a winner for the Queen, trying to make it as a jockey, through being a work rider/head lad to Michael Stoute, pre-training and eventually training himself. It covers the trials and tribulations he endured: apprentice accommodation, bullying, doping scandals, the stable lads’ strike and his own health issues including a brain tumour. The stories of famous horses he worked with, such as JO TOBIN, SHERGAR and SONIC LADY, and those he nurtured in their early years, including PILSUDSKI and FUJIYAMA CREST, the last runner in Frankie Dettori’s Magnificent Seven, are all covered, as are his travels with horses around the world by boat and plane from 1954 to the present day. And despite all the ups and downs, Cliff genuinely has no regrets about his lifetime in the Thoroughbred racing industry.

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Book SynopsisThe Definitive Guide to Betting on the All-Weather is a brand-new edition and the ultimate fans’ guide. Written by David Bellingham, an expert Racing Post journalist with over 25 years’ experience covering the All-Weather, it includes a wealth of his uniquely accumulated data and statistics to help find winners on these surfaces. It covers in detail the seven all-weather tracks in Britain and Ireland, with a chapter dedicated to each, a description of each track, together with statistics covering jockeys, trainers, sires and draw. It delves into the technical stuff, covering subjects such as form assessment, speed ratings, pace and track biases, sectional times and identifying whether the shape of the race will have a bearing on the likely outcome. It also includes a race diary covering a series of race meetings from the author’s point of view, as there is no better place to put all the theory into practice than at the racecourse where real money is changing hands. This is a must-have guide for bettors and fans of the sport.

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Book SynopsisOver the course of nine memorable seasons Tiger Roll entered not just the record books with his achievements on the racecourse, but the hearts of the racing public too. He burst onto the scene in 2014 with victory in the Triumph Hurdle at the end of his first season and he built on that success with four further wins at the Cheltenham Festival. As great as his heroics at Cheltenham were, however, it was his two wins in the Grand National that set him apart. Success in the world s most famous steeplechase is a singular achievement in itself, but winning back-to-back runnings of the Aintree spectacular, emulating the legendary Red Rum, elevated Tiger Roll to a different level. He became a household name and his owners Gigginstown House Stud, trainer Gordon Elliott and principal jockeys Davy Russell and Keith Donoghue played leading roles in this story. We have mined the unparalleled back catalogue of the Racing Post with its award-winning writers and photographers to recount the complete story of this unique horse.

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Book SynopsisWhich flat horses should you be backing in 2024? Discover the names and details with this invaluable guide to likely winners. Drawing on a wealth of experience and knowledge, the Racing Post''s expert race-readers have selected the horses they expect to succeed in the upcoming flat season. You''ll get the names and details of 100 potential winners, including info on their previous form, in this indispensable, easy-to-read, pocket-sized guide. Now in its 63rd year, the guide has a long history of identifying winners.Give yourself the edge with this tried-and-tested tool that no flat-racing follower should be without. The editor, Rodney Pettinger, has been the product manager for Raceform Interactive since 2001, and in recent years he has also managed the team of writers who produce analysis and close-up comments for the Racing Post.

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Book SynopsisAre you ready for the upcoming flat season? The Racing Post Guide to the Flat is the one best-selling book that every flat-racing enthusiast should have each and every season.In this comprehensive guide you''ll find insightful content written by the Racing Post''s best-known expert writers, edited by one of their long-standing editors and illustrated with colour photos throughout. It features exclusive and extended trainer interviews and specialist selections for horses to follow, plus dark horses unearthed and set to shine in the upcoming season, as well as Topspeed and Racing Post Ratings.This invaluable guide is a must-have for every horse-racing enthusiast and sports better, and should be in the back pocket of every follower ready for the start of the season.

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Book SynopsisThe Racing Post Royal Ascot Guide 2024 is packed with tips and information for the world-famous five-day extravaganza of top-class Flat racing. Royal Ascot is always extra special on and off the track and this guide from the best team in the business is the perfect companion. It features an in-depth look at all 35 races across the five days, accompanied by a host of betting pointers and analysis to help punters find those all-important winners. Along with profiles of the leading contenders from Britain and Ireland, you''ll get the lowdown on the international challenge, eyecatchers to note, the best early two-year-olds and the standouts on Racing Post Ratings. With all angles covered, this is the ideal way to get set for Royal Ascot 2024.

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Book SynopsisNow in its 63rd year, this popular guide to jumps racing summarises the prospects of 100 steeplechasers and hurdlers whom Raceform's expert race-readers expect to do well in the coming 2024-25 season. The title has a long history of identifying winners and last year's edition produced 100 winners at a strike-rate of 25 per cent including 24 Graded winners. Big-Priced winners included Chosen Witness (16-1), Supreme Gift (17/2), Strong Leader (8/1), Bertie B (7/1) and Iberico Lord (7/1). The guide includes the names and details of each of the 100 horses, plus information about their previous form. It is an invaluable pocket-sized tool for followers of racing. Rodney Pettinga has been the product manager for Raceform Interactive since 2001. He was responsible for By The Numbers and Big Race Trends for the Racing & Football Outlook for many years and has also been a regular contributor to the Racing Post.

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Book SynopsisEdited by one of the Racing Post''s long-standing subeditors, the ever-popular Racing Post Guide to the Jumps 2024-25 is one of the key tools for every racing enthusiast and punter to look ahead to the upcoming National Hunt season.It includes exclusive interviews with the top jumps trainers, both in the UK and Ireland, in which they discuss their teams and plans for their most exciting horses. It profiles 250 horses that are likely to be key players throughout the season and should be worth following. Plus it also unearths some likely unexposed ''dark horses'' to follow that may be less well known. It also contains both Topspeed and Racing Post ratings.In full colour throughout, it is the one book that every jumps racing enthusiast should have.

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Book SynopsisThe highly popular Racing Post Wall Calendar features stunning racing photos from the previous calendar year taken by the Racing Post's award-winning photographers. It features one month to view and includes the most up-to-date race meeting information in the UK and Ireland at the time of publication, and highlights the key races each month.

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Book SynopsisTHE METHOD, A whole new betting concept on horse racing. Finding winners at horse racing can be such a precarious task because we do not know where to find that starting point. THE METHOD, so aptly named, is the book that will give you the starting point, it will also steer you away from the minefield of possibilities that every punter carries in his head when placing a bet. The dilemma of selection is solved for you in every aspect of racing and gambling on the horses. And not only does this book take away the bookmaker’s edge and turn it around in your favour without getting bogged-down in mathematics, it also solves the very question of probability in the easiest and possible way.

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of Unbroken – a major motion picture releasing in 2015 – this is the bestselling true story of three men and their dreams for a racehorse, Seabiscuit. In 1938 one figure received more press coverage than Mussolini, Hitler or Roosevelt. He was a cultural icon and a world-class athlete – and an undersized, crooked-legged racehorse by the name of Seabiscuit. Misunderstood and mishandled, Seabiscuit had spent seasons floundering in the lowest ranks of racing until a chance meeting of three men. Together, they created a champion. This is a story which topped the bestseller charts for over two years; a riveting tale of grit, grace, luck and an underdog’s stubborn determination to win against all odds. Made into a major motion picture starring Toby Maguire and Jeff Daniels.Trade Review‘A rip-roaring narrative from a cobwebbed chapter of the Depression.’ Sunday Times ‘Hillenbrand tells the story of the triumphs and tribulations of her cast of misfits with flair and skill, relishing the larger than life characters who inhabited this forgotten demimonde.’ Sunday Times ‘Most readable … a wonderful tale.’ Daily Mail ‘This season’s literary sensation.’ Financial Times

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Book SynopsisOriginally written in 1936 by two young Cambridge Fellows, A Guide to the Classics is a light-hearted manual on how to pick the Derby winner. However, as the tongue-in-cheek title suggested, there is more to the book than meets the eye, especially as one of the young dons went on to become, according to his 1990 Telegraph obituary, ''the greatest political philosopher in the Anglo-Saxon tradition since Mill or even Burke''.The book takes the abstraction out of the Derby by attacking the systems which had been developed by generations of ''form'' experts. It exposes theoretical solutions as fraudulent instead it applies hard-headed empirical and historical analysis. Oakeshott went on to apply this methodology to his famous critique of ''rationalism'' in politics.This long-awaited edition of Griffith and Oakeshott's classic text includes a new preface and foreword by horse racing journalist and author Sean Magee, and political commentator Peter Oborne.

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Book SynopsisDo you know what the oldest horse race in Britain is, where the term ‘gee-gee’ comes from, or who is credited with bringing racing to Ascot? Fact-packed but light-hearted in style, this reliable reference book and quirky guide reveals little-known facts, details of classic races, famous riders, racing records, amusing anecdotes and criminal goings-on. A compendium of the fascinating, strange and entertaining, The Little Book of Horse Racing can be dipped into time and time again to reveal something new about this ancient sport.

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year AwardIn 1704 a bankrupt English merchant sent home the colt he had bought from Bedouin tribesmen near the ruins of Palmyra. Thomas Darley hoped this horse might be the ticket to a new life back in Yorkshire. But he turned out to be far more than that: and although Mr Darley's Arabian never ran a race, 95% of all thoroughbreds in the world today are descended from him. In this book, for the first time, award-winning racing writer Christopher McGrath traces this extraordinary bloodline through twenty-five generations to our greatest modern racehorse, Frankel.The story of racing is about man's relationship with horses, and Mr Darley's Arabian also celebrates the men and women who owned, trained and traded the stallions that extended the dynasty. The great Eclipse, for instance, was bred by the Duke who foiled Bonnie Prince Charlie's invasion (with militia gathered from Wakefield races) and went on to lead the Jockey Club. But he only became a success once bought and raced by a card-sharp and brothel-keeper - the racecourse has always brought high and low life together. McGrath expertly guides us through three centuries of scandals, adventures and fortunes won and lost: our sporting life offers a fascinating view into our history. With a canvas that extends from the diamond mines of South Africa to the trenches of the Great War, and a cast ranging from Smithfield meat salesmen to the inspiration for Mr Toad, and from legendary jockeys to not one, but two disreputable Princes of Wales (and a very unamused Queen Victoria), Mr Darley's Arabian shows us the many faces of the sport of kings.Trade ReviewAn excellent history . . . McGrath is one of the finest sportswriters of this generation . . . Brilliant -- David Walsh * SUNDAY TIMES *A racing book like no other - a book of remarkable scope -- Robin Oakley * THE SPECTATOR *Erudite, wry and astute . . . extraordinary horses and a rich seam of cultural history woven into a fascinating book -- Melanie Reid * THE TIMES, Book of the Week *A vivid, sweeping history of impressive scope. McGrath's eye for a story and eloquent turns of phrase will delight -- Nick Pulford * RACING POST *The introduction made my arms tingle as McGrath recalls Frankels's win at the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in 2011... Racing life, social life and equine life are all neatly pulled together and expertly rendered into a compelling story. each chapter is a satisfying vignette of a Darley descendent, the jockeys, trainers, rakes and rank who were involved. Chance and Fortune, deals and dodging -- it's like Derby Day on the page -- Alexandra Henton * THE FIELD *A racy gallop . . . a teeming, colourful survey [with] a great deal to inform and entertain -- Nicholas Clee * OBSERVER *A dark horse contender * EVENING STANDARD *Did I think I'd end up missing the whole of the Euro 2016 final in order to finish Chris McGrath's Mr Darley's Arabian? By no means, but I guess it's just that kind of book... Packed with the result of thousands of hours of painstaking research (the bibliography, in itself, is worth a read), the book never gets bogged down in any one horse or race and travels along at a pace that almost forces the turn of the next page. It also includes a quite ridiculous amount of sex, disgrace and utter debauchery. And unlike so many of the great betting coups related throughout, many of which quite spectacularly fail to deliver, it's an investment well worth making -- Will Hayler * SPORTING LIFE *Meticulous research and engaging writing... a book to be savoured, Mr Darley's Arabian is a triumph -- Richard Fahey * RACING POST *A good story . . . from an award-winning journalist . . . [McGrath is] at his best when he is conveying his love of racing -- Patrick Scrivenor * LITERARY REVIEW *Truly gripping...a finely crafted tome that insists on your uninterrupted attention from the start...A fascinating tale of horses and those who owned, trained and traded them. the story is peppered with enough scandal and adventure to fill the trashiest novel. Fortunately, Mr Darley's Arabian is very well written, its narrative racing along effortlessly - as you might expect of a thoroughbred author -- Pete Sharkey * BIRMINGHAM POST, Sports Book of the Month *A high-quality history of our sport, drawing on a cast that takes in aristocrats and nouveaux riches, playboy industrialists, Smithfield meat salemen and the rulers of Dubai * GUARDIAN *A colourful and engaging tale of scandals, adventures and fortunes lost and won * HORSE MAGAZINE *A real thoroughbred.. a three century gallop through 25 generations of champions * IRISH MAIL *Entertaining and informative... a remarkable journey through three centuries, many countries and most of all 25 horses to trace the history of horse racing... [written with] a wonderful light touch. -- Bill Spence * RYEDALE GAZETTE & HERALD *The thoroughbred among new writers * OXFORD TIMES *A sprawling, colourful read, McGrath is an excellent writer and this is an ambitious and well-researched project... [Its readers] are on to a winner * SPORT *A brilliant read... excellent...if you have any interest in horse racing at all, this book is a must read * BOOKBAG *Brilliant...Mr Darley's Arabian has rightly received rave reviews -- Lee Mottershead * RACING POST *Extraordinary * WILTSHIRE VIEW *To the sound of pounding hooves, royalty and aristocrats, obsessive jockeys and trainers jostle with rogues and rascals. The author's understanding of breeding, racing and human foibles is thorough, his prose elegant. * SUNDAY TIMES, BOOKS OF THE YEAR *An enthralling cultural history of humans as much as horses * THE TIMES, BOOKS OF THE YEAR *A picaresque chronicle of horse racing . . . ingenious storytelling... a pleasure * GUARDIAN, BOOKS OF THE YEAR *A sporty stunner... great * COACH *McGrath is an excellent writer and this is an ambitious and well-researched project * Sport *The most comprehensive and entertaining history of racing * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Brilliantly realised . . . The depth of the research McGrath has undertaken is evident on every page but the difficult balance between being definitive and keeping the reader entertained is cleverly maintained . . . There could be no better way for a newcomer to racing to absorb its rich history or a devotee to discover fresh depths * Observor, 'The Sports Books that Made Our Writers' Year' *McGrath's book is erudite, his style wry and his descriptions astute * The Times *Excellent history of thorough-bred racing . . . immense attention to detail * Sunday Times *I galloped through Mr Darley's Arabian, Christopher McGrath's brilliantly colourful romp through the extraordinary horses and scandalous characters who make up the history of British horse racing * Observer, Best Holiday Reads *

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