Description
Book SynopsisIn 1877 the members of the United States Senate postponed all business for the day so that they might attend a horse racethe iconic, polarizing post-Civil War event at the center of this story. The nation, still recovering from the depredations of the Civil War and the Reconstruction that followed, recognized it as a North vs. South encounter, pitting New York's powerful thoroughbred Tom Ochiltree and New Jersey's Paroleowned by the ostentatious Northern tycoons Pierre and George Lorrilardagainst the already legendary Kentucky crack, Ten Broeckowned by the teetotaling, plain-living Frank Harper and ridden by black jockey and former slave William Walkerrepresenting a former slave state and its Southern values. The race and the colorful cast of characters involved reflected the still seething America during one of the nation's most difficult and divisive periods. Shrager presents a fascinating and heart-pounding piece of history exposing the racial and economic tensions following the Civ
Trade ReviewIn a time when the Sport of Kings had become a pastime for the masses, the Great Sweepstakes of 1877 stood out for its drama, its spectacle, and its impact on the public consciousness. Mark Shrager has done a masterful job of bringing to life this extraordinary era and one of its most remarkable events. -- Sharon B. Smith, author of Best There Ever Was: Dan Patch and the Dawn of the American Century
One of the greatest horse races of all time was held at Pimlico Race Track in Baltimore at a time when the nation officially ended the Era of Reconstruction. The story of that race—billed as East against West but clearly pitting North against South—and its historical context is beautifully told in Mark Shrager’s The Great Sweepstakes of 1877. -- Robert K. Sutton, Chief Historian of the National Park Service
Not exactly a match race, but maybe even better with three top thoroughbreds instead of two, Pimlico’s Great Sweepstakes ushered in the ‘directional’ showdown—East vs. West, North vs. South—that would be a mainstay of horse racing for the next 150 years. Mark Shrager’s recounting of this epic sporting event, along with the fortunes and misfortunes of the owners, trainers, and jockeys, is told with rich detail and style. There is enough of the former to satisfy the most demanding students of turf history and enough of the latter to make a great read for anyone. -- Milton C. Toby, author of Dancer’s Image: The Forgotten Story of the 1968 Kentucky Derby, winner of the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award
The Great Sweepstakes of 1877 is a rollicking tale that will entertain history and horse lovers alike. The book includes a well-researched look at the early days of Kentucky horse racing and the North versus South rivalries fueled by the end of the Civil War. Mark Shrager weaves together history and sports while delivering breakneck suspense. -- Nicholas J. C. Pistor, author of The Ax Murders of Saxtown: The Unsolved Crime That Terrorized a Town and Shocked the Nation
