Review of "Death of a Racehorse"

I used to follow horse racing more closely but the recent scandals, deaths of horses and general overall lack of enthusiasm about the sport compared to others has made me follow it less and less.  Nevertheless, I was intrigued by this book by its title - the book was not quite what I expected but still a good read.  

Title/Author:

“Death of a Racehorse: An American Story” by Katie Bo Lillis

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

Horse racing has been rocked by scandals involving drugging and doping the race horses and the deaths of some of these thoroughbreds. The death of Medina Spirit, the horse trained by well-known trainer Bob Baffert and whose Kentucky Derby win was taken away when testing revealed a banned substance in the horse’s system.  That was the start of this in-depth look at the world of horse racing by Katie Bo Lillis.

The title of the book and the first chapter made me think that this was going to be a compilation of sad stories of horses who had to be euthanized for one reason or another due to their participation in races. That turned out not to be the case at all as Lillis, a journalist who used to work in the racing industry, exposed both the therapeutic and performance-enhancing use of various drugs in horses that run in the sport.

The book also took a critical look at training methods, the horse racing industry as a whole and the various degrees of interest by the federal government in their investigations of criminal activity in the sport.  An example of this would be the consideration of wire fraud charges if illegal substances were sold across state lines using electronic technology (phone, email, texting, etc.) and money exchanged hands.  There are many people involved in these stories, not just the big names like Baffert. 

It was also interesting to learn new knowledge about the industry.  One example that was a recurrent topic in the various chapters was the need for a full complement of horses to run in each race for an event to turn a profit. This is so that there are more betting options for gamblers, resulting in a higher purse for the track.  It makes sense after reading this, but it is something that I was never aware of.

At times, the book does get very detailed, especially about the drugs used in the sport.  It felt at times I needed a pharmacology degree to understand these nuances, but despite this, it is a book that is very informative and one that would be enjoyed by readers of all levels of interest in horse racing.  

I wish to thank Simon & Schuster for providing a copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link: Death of a Racehorse: An American Story: Lillis, Katie Bo: 9781668017012: Amazon.com: Books

Review of "Duel for the Crown"

It isn't often that a sports rivalry will not be between two teams or two people.  But this one, that thrilled fans in 1978, is one that goes down as one of the best sports rivalries as two fine horses battled each other in the Triple Crown races that year.  Here is my review of "Duel for the Crown."

 Title/Author:

“Duel For the Crown: Affirmed, Alydar, and Racing’s Greatest Rivalry” by Linda Carroll and David Rosner 

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:  After a 25-year drought in which no horse won the Triple Crown, the decade of the 1970’s saw this happen three times.  After fans watched in awe the feats of Secretariat (1973) and Seattle Slew (1977), they were absolutely enthralled by the races for the Triple Crown in 1978.  During that year, all three races – the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes – were decided by less than one length.  The same horse won – Affirmed – and the same horse finished second – Alydar – in all three races.  This book by Linda Carroll and David Rosner is a through account of this great rivalry.

 There is much more to the book than just the races.  Although the writing about all three Triple Crown races (and many others in which one or both horses participated), what makes this book stand out is the background information. To start, it was noted that both horses were conceived in the same breeding shed, with ties to another famous horse (Native Dancer) within a month of each other.  The breeding and training grounds of the famous Calumet Farms was described in rich detail.  Background information that was so detailed that they almost read like biographies of the owners was included. 

 It also helped these two great horses that they had two famous jockeys in the saddle.  For Alydar, that duty went to Jorge Velasquez, who did everything he was supposed to do with the horse but came up short seven times out of nine in duels with Affirmed.  Affirmed, in the meantime, was ridden by Steve Cauthen who at the time was the most recognizable person in the sport of horse racing. Riding Affirmed at the young age of 18, he had already smashed records for wins and earnings and was even named Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated – the first person in horse racing to be so honored.  This helped hype up the media for these races – and again, the rich writing by Carroll and Rosner will bring the reader knowledge that they will enjoy, even if they are not fans of the sport.

 No matter your interest or knowledge of horse racing, this book is one that any sports fan will treasure.  Fans of any sport love a good rivalry.  Whether your favorite rivalry was Ali vs. Frazier, Yankees vs. Red Sox or Celtics vs. Lakers, Affirmed vs. Alydar is one that ranks right up there with the great rivalries and this is the best source for information on these two outstanding horses.

 Link: Duel for the Crown: Affirmed, Alydar, and Racing's Greatest Rivalry: Carroll, Linda, Rosner, David: 9781493080199: Amazon.com: Books

Review of "The Turcottes"

When I received a review request for this book, I was quite happy to accept.  After all, Secretariat is still considered to be not only the best race horse in history but also one of the best athletes ever.  I did remember that his jockey was Ron Turcotte but I had no idea that Ron was only one of many successful jockeys in the family.  Here is my review of Curtis Stock's excellent book on this racing family. 

Title/Author:

“The Turcottes: The Remarkable Story of a Horse Racing Dynasty” by Curtis Stock

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:

Secretariat is still considered to be one of the greatest race horses in history, even now, 50 years after his Triple Crown.  His jockey was Ron Turcotte, who became as much of a celebrity as his horse during those special weeks.  However, Ron was certainly not the only successful jockey in his family and this excellent book by Curtis Stock pays homage to all the Turcotte riders.

Ron was one of 14 children of Alfred and Rose Turcotte in New Brunswick.  The large family had many struggles and often lived in poverty – this was starkly illustrated at the start of this book with a description of a fire that destroyed the residence of the Turcottes.  Alfred made a living as a logger and it seemed to be the destiny of his sons as well.  But when Ron was 17 and after caring for the horses who hauled the loads, Ron and his brother Reggie left home to find different paths.  Reggie eventually was able to use his culinary skills into decent jobs, but it was Ron’s path of finding a job in a stable by sheer determination that the road for the most famous family in horse racing began.

It might surprise some readers, including myself, to read about just how successful all five Turcottes became on the track.  In addition to Ron, his brothers Noel, Rudy, Roger and Yves (who was the youngest of the 14 children) all rode to at least 1000 victories except Noel who rode on “only” 945 winners as he was struggling in his last few years to finish his career.  Each brother had rides for at least 15 years in Canada and the United States. Each one had similar starts to their riding careers but all took different paths to success and each one’s story makes for excellent reading.

That is because Stock’s writing is in a style that is easy for a novice fan (or even non-fan) of horse racing can understand but is detailed enough that avid fans will enjoy it.  This is the case whether talking about a minor race in Alberta to the three Triple Crown races Ron ran on Secretariat.  If there is a brother who gets the most ink in the book it would of course be Ron, but all of the other brothers get their fair share of pages as well.  This included personal matters as well as those on the track or in the stables. Two of the more heartbreaking stories on this was Roger’s battle with alcoholism that strained both his family and his racing career and Ron being left paralyzed after being thrown from a horse.   

During this 50^th anniversary of one of the greatest accomplishments in any sport, this is a book that should be read by anyone who has an interest in horse racing, Secretariat or sports history.

I wish to thank Firefly Books for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.  The opinions expressed are strictly mine.

Link: The Turcottes: The Remarkable Story of a Horse Racing Dynasty: Stock, Curtis: 9780228104247: Amazon.com: Books

Review of "The Fast Ride"

Even with the two recent Triple Crown winners, I admit that I have not been much of a horse racing fan since the 1970's - but what a decade that was for the sport.  One of the great horses from that time, Spectacular Bid, is featured in this book that takes a hard look at his trainer and jockey.  Fantastic read that even non-fans would enjoy.  Here is my review of "The Fast Ride"

Title/Author: “The Fast Ride: Spectacular Bid and the Undoing of a Sure Thing” by Jack Gilden

Rating: 5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review: The decade of the 1970’s was considered to be one of the best in horse racing history.  After not having a Triple Crown winner in 25 years, the decade saw three horses accomplish that feat – Secretariat in 1973, Seattle Slew in 1977 and Affirmed in 1978.  In 1979, a horse named Spectacular Bid had many qualities to be the fourth in the decade and third in a row to join that exclusive club. This excellent book by Jack Gilden tells a tale of what could have been and the many factors that kept the “Bid” (what he calls the horse throughout the book) from winning that coveted title.

While his jockey was a young newcomer to the sport, teenager Ronnie Franklin had already ridden the Bid to the winner’s circle before the first leg of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby. From his humble beginnings in Dundalk, a factory town near Baltimore, Franklin found himself becoming immersed in the business of horse racing under the tutelage of legendary trainer Buddy Delp. While he was becoming an overnight sensation to the fans and public, underneath the surface was an ugly picture of substance abuse, horrific working conditions and treatment at Delp’s stables and unkind treatment by fellow jockeys and the press. 

When the Bid won the Derby and the Preakness Stakes, that put even more pressure on the young jockey when the toughest of the three races arrived, the Belmont Stakes.  Delp instructed Franklin to run Spectacular Bid hard right from the gate, in complete contrast to the manner in which horse and rider won the previous two races.  Following his boss’s order, the Bid failed to win the Crown and even worse, Delp, the press and the public blamed Franklin for the horse’s downfall when there were many reasons behind the poor showing by the Bid.

That is what makes this book so good – Gilden’s writing about those other factors in not only why the Bid lost that race, but the entire picture behind the fall of Franklin.  There was a lot of drug abuse in the Delp stables, led by Buddy himself and his son Gerald, who became Franklin’s best friend and led him down a destructive path.  The owner of the horse, Harry Meyerhoff, also plays a role in the downfall of the Triple Crown path and even a horse doctor who was not supposed be on Belmont property but on the day of the race performed a procedure on Spectacular Bid to remove a pin from his hoof that would have otherwise been certain to keep him from running that day.

Gilden gleaned his information from interviews as much of the story that he writes was not published.  He cited three main contributors for which he gave enormous praise in the acknowledgments – Gerald Delp, Franklin’s nephew Tony Cullum and Cathy Rosenberger, who was a long-time employee of Buddy Delp and helped develop Franklin as a jockey.  From these interviews, Gilden gathered enough information that behind the beauty and speed in which Spectacular Bid ran his races - he would go on to win some more races after the Triple Crown – the ugly story of what happened on that Saturday in June 1979 is now being brought to light.  Gilden takes the reader inside the stables and development of a jockey and a race horse in a manner that shows both the beauty and the ugliness of this sport.  This is a book anyone interested in horse racing, especially during that era, must add to their bookshelf.

I wish to thank University of Nebraska Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Link: The Fast Ride: Nebraska Press (unl.edu)

 

Review of "Upon Further Review"

While I am day late, I hope all Americans reading this enjoyed Independence Day.  Sports have been a part of American culture for nearly its entire life and like with other aspects of life, "what-if's" are a part of the sports landscape.  This book takes a look at a few of these possible "what-if's"  Here is my review of "Upon Further Review"

Title/Author:

“Upon Further Review: The Greatest What-Ifs of Sports History” by various authors, edited by Mike Pesca

Tags:

Baseball, Football (American) basketball, ice hockey, boxing, horse racing, Olympics, fiction, humor

Publish date:

May 15, 2018

Length:

308 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

Not just in sports, but in many aspects of life, “what if” is a question often asked when wondering if something could have happened differently.  For 31 sports occurrences, this question is answered by many authors in an entertaining book edited by Mike Pesca, who also wrote one of the stories.

Many different sports are addressed in the book, from baseball to horse racing to an obscure Olympic event, the tug of war.  Most the stories make for great reading. The reader will see that there is really no specific theme to the collection of stories – some are meant to be factual and the conclusions are based on research of the key people in the occurrence.  Some read like pure fiction and really should be treated as such.  Some can be downright funny, such as the last story about game 7 of the 2016 World Series and comparing it to many sports movies.

One quibble I have with the book is the cover. On the cover there are four classic sports moments. They are Bill Buckner’s error in the 1986 World Series, “The Catch” by the late Dwight Clark, a photo from Super Bowl XXXIV when Kevin Dyson fell just short of the end zone on the last play (although the photo is not from that play) and Charles Barkley holding the NBA championship trophy with the Phoenix Suns.  The last one is fictional – and the only one in which there is a story to go with the photo. Why would the other three photos be used if stories were not in the book to go with them?

As with any collection, there are some great stories (the aforementioned 2016 World Series, Sweetwater Clifton and the early days of the NBA and Muhammad Ali receiving his draft deferment) and a few clunkers (Bucky Dent not hitting the famous homer in 1978) but there are many more of the former than the latter. Between the variety of sports, the variety of styles to tell the story, and even the variety from fact to pure fiction, this book should have something for everyone who enjoys reading about sports.

I wish to thank Twelve Books for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Upon-Further-Review-Greatest-What-Ifs/dp/1455540366/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/upon-further-review-mike-pesca/1127061684;

Review of "American Pharoah"

It was only appropriate that I listen to this audiobook this past week during the buildup to the Belmont Stakes when Justify became the 13th horse to win the Triple Crown. This book on the 12th one, American Pharoah, was a wonderful book on a wonderful horse. Here is my review. 

Title/Author:

“American Pharoah: The Untold Story of the Triple Crown Winner’s Legendary Rise” by Joe Drape, narrated by Aaron Abano

Tags:

Horse Racing, championship, audio book

Publish date:

April 26, 2016

Length:

Listening time: 8 hours 36 minutes

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

When American Pharoah became the 12^th winner of horse racing’s Triple Crown – winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in the same year – he became a favorite of seasoned and casual racing fans alike. By becoming the first Triple Crown horse in 37 years, he was also a media darling.  His story, along with that of his owner, trainer and jockey, is the story of this excellent book by sportswriter Joe Drape, who covers horse racing for the New York Times.

Like most books on a horse, the story centers not only around the animal, but also on important humans in the horse’s life.  In the case of American Pharoah, this included owner Ahmed Zayat, trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Victor Espinoza.  All three, as well as many others, sing the praises of the horse for not only his racing ability but for his strength and beauty as well. There are even some stories about others who had an important role in the upkeep and training of American Pharoah. One such person is Frances Relihan, who was the farm manager where the horse spent the first year of his life. It was a touching moment when Zayat invited Frances and her husband to attend the 2015 Kentucky Derby.

The reader will even learn about American Pharoah’s personality.  He loves it when the cameras are rolling on him, he has pride in his gallop and he will even mingle with fans. Often in the book, Drape will talk about him eating carrots out of the hands of fans, especially children. This was a nice touch for the book as it made the reader feel like he or she is part of the horse’s story.

The book talks at length about the horse racing industry. No matter how much the reader knows about the sport, it is a good bet that reader will learn something new. Starting with the breeding ritual that created American Pharoah and continuing through his career, the reader learns much about the breeding and training aspects of the industry. This isn’t all rosy, however, as Drape also talks about the doping that occurs as well and some of the more tragic consequences.  Instead of criticizing the sport for this, Drape presents it in a manner that states it is simply a part of the industry and that not all horses, including American Pharoah, are part of this culture.

The narration by Arron Abono was very good as well, even sounding as excited as the race track announcers when reciting their stretch calls during each of the Triple Crown races. The book is recommended for anyone with an interest in the sport or learning more about this legendary horse.

Book Format Read:

Audiobook

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/American-Pharoah-Untold-Winners-Legendary/dp/B01E6AB206/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1528641205&sr=1-1  

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/american-pharoah-joe-drape/1122789468?ean=9780316268844#/  

Review of "Before Jackie Robinson"

This is a book that was a treat to read because it contained so much information about athletes that were unknown to me. Any book about any sport or issue connected to sports in which I learn a lot more than what I knew before reading the book is certainly a winner to me.  Here is my review of "Before Jackie Robinson."

Title/Author:

“Before Jackie Robinson: The Transcendent Role of Black Sporting Pioneers” by Gerald R. Gems

 

Tags:

Horse Racing, Football (American), track and field, golf, baseball, race, history, tennis, basketball

Publish date:

February 1, 2017

 

Length:

324 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

Jackie Robinson is the most celebrated athlete in American sports when one discusses the integration of African-American athletes into the mainstream of sports.  However, there were many individuals who helped change the course and thinking of the black athlete in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, decades before Robinson. 

Their stories and the hardships they endured are captured in this engrossing book by Gerald R. Gems. The stories are as varied as the sports that these people played as there were black pioneers in sports such as horse racing (Isaac Murphy), golf (John Shippen Jr.) and airplane flying (Bessie Coleman) as well as the more “traditional” sports such as baseball (Moses “Fleetwood” Walker) and football (Sam Ransom).  The people are not limited to the playing field as others such as Rube Foster and Bob Douglas.

What sets this book apart from the pack is the meticulous research that Gems does to not only obtain information but to give proper credit to an athlete who might otherwise be never recognized for his or her accomplishment.  The story of Isadore Channels and her success in tennis and basketball is one such example of this detail to attention.  Gems notes that at the beginning of the chapter about Channels that the information was difficult to obtain and that there may gaps in the information. While it was proper for him to note that tidbit, just the idea that this woman whose accomplishments have been long neglected finally gets some recognition is commendable.

 

That is what makes this book an outstanding account of these people – interesting stories, information that is not well-known and proper credit for what these athletes contributed to both sports and society.  This book should be read by any reader interested in the integration of sports, no matter which sport he or she follows.

I wish to thank University of Nebraska Press for providing an advance review copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying Link:

http://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/product/Before-Jackie-Robinson,677305.aspx

Review of "The Field Guide of Sports Metaphors"

For my second post-cruise review of books read during the vacation, I chose this one that made for a good choice while relaxing on the balcony of our stateroom.  It was a quick read that took me less than two hours - not bad for a 224 page selection.  Entertaining and informative, here is my review of "The Field Guide of Sports Metaphors"

Title/Author:

“The Field Guide to Sports Metaphors” by Josh Chetwynd

Tags:

Baseball, football (American), basketball, ice hockey, golf, horse racing

Publish date:

May 10, 2016

Length:

224 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

Sports metaphors have become an integral part of everyday language. Everything from “making the big leagues” to “lucky break” (from billiards) is covered in this short, entertaining book by Josh Chetwynd.  Just about everything you wanted to know – or didn’t realize you wanted to know – is covered in just about every sport imaginable. 

From American football to baseball to horse racing, nearly every phrase or metaphor that is used in communications by many people is covered. The origins of the phrase, whether it truly came from that sport or was merely a legend that has been passed down through generations, are also explained by Chetwynd.

These are all written in a manner that is easy to read and comprehend and will entertain the reader at the same time.  Sports fans will enjoy reading about how phrases from their favorite games worked their way into the mainstream lexicon, but even those who do not follow sports would also enjoy reading about these common phrases and their unusual paths into our everyday language.

I wish to thank Ten Speed Press for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying links:

http://www.amazon.com/Field-Guide-Sports-Metaphors-Competitive/dp/1607748118/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1462726948&sr=1-1&keywords=sports+metaphors

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-field-guide-to-sports-metaphors-josh-chetwynd/1122491579?ean=9781607748113

TBR Tuesday - Review of "My $50,000 Year at the Races"

This book was offered as a freebie for my Nook a LONG time ago - sometime in 2012 I think - and I never got around to reading it.  But that means it is the perfect book for TBR Tuesday - and it wasn't too long either.  Here is my review of "My $50,000 year at the Races."

Title/Author:

“My $50,000 Year at the Races” by Andrew Beyer

Tags:

Horse Racing, memoir, handicapping, gambling

Published:

April 1, 1980

Length:

163 pages

Stars: 

3 1/2 of 5 stars (good)

Review:

Andrew Beyer was already established as a respected writer on horse racing and on handicapping the sport in order to have regular success on betting.  During the 1977 racing season, he had a very good year and chronicles this season in this book that was originally published in 1980.

Beyer highlights his successes and failures at four tracks – Gulfstream Park in Florida, Pimlico in Maryland, Saratoga in upstate New York and Berkshire Fair in Massachusetts.  During his tales at each venue, Beyer talks about the methods he used to bet, what was working at the time and what wasn’t, and also how inside information is crucial to being able to win consistently.  This is not just from reading the daily racing programs, but also obtaining whatever information can be received from trainers, jockeys and owner.  He also talks about different methods of studying and analyzing statistics such as the times for each horse at different distances. 

However, this book is not simply a manual, a how-to book or one that promises to make someone rich by betting on the horses.  This is a memoir and recounting of that magical year of 1977 for Beyer when he was able to earn a nice wage for an entire year (keep in mind this is in 1977 and he earned over $50,000).  He spins tales of his interactions with various people, including a “kid” who was learning how to hone his handicapping skills.  The book is entertaining as a whole, and those readers who are horse racing fans or bettors will especially appreciate these stories. For readers like me who are not as invested in this type of gambling, it is still worth the time to read as it is fairly short, entertaining and some of the tricks Beyer uses are explained in layman’s terms.  If a reader is looking for a change of pace that will be a fairly quick read, this will do the trick.

Pace of the book:

As someone who does not bet on horse racing regularly, I found parts of the book a little slower to read, but the overall story of Beyer’s season is a good read.

Do I recommend?

I would recommend this book to anyone who is seriously considering trying to improve his or her success on betting at the track. The author mentions regularly throughout the book that this is not a how-to manual but instead a compilation of recording and sharing his success in 1977.  That advice should be taken and the book read as a story, not a manual.

Book Format Read:

Ebook (Nook)

Buying Links:

http://www.amazon.com/000-Year-Races-Harvest-Book-ebook/dp/B005IQ2OQ4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1428942295&sr=1-1&keywords=50000+year+races

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-50000-year-at-the-races-andrew-beyer/1000738704?ean=9780547839783