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Books > Sport & Leisure > Sports & outdoor recreation > Equestrian & animal sports > Horse racing > General
"Bev Pettersen writes with flair and a down-to-earth warmth that
will make you smile and sigh with contentment." - Julianne MacLean,
USA TODAY bestselling author "Bev Pettersen is firmly on my
must-buy list. Her books sweep you away to the world of
Thoroughbred racing, and her cast of jockeys, horse trainers, and
grooms are loveable and unforgettable. Color My Horse was a page
turner. When I finished it, I wanted more." - Hope Ramsay,
best-selling author of Home at Last Chance A disillusioned heiress
swaps her credit cards for a pitchfork and shovel in a desperate
attempt to escape her grandfather's iron-fisted control. However,
at the track she must earn the respect of an uncompromising horse
trainer who has little tolerance for greenhorns...especially one
he's been forced to hire. Mark Russell never expected his rookie
groom to have the spunk or savvy to last at his demanding race
barn. Or that his reluctant respect would turn to desire. But as
the forbidden attraction between them sizzles, manipulation and
murder threaten not only his horses but also their lives. And
suddenly a Breeders' Cup win is the very least of his worries.
INCLUDES Excerpt from Bev Pettersen's "Fillies and Females" Release
Date Nov, 2011.
"An insider's stunning account of the corrupt practices that
threaten both the horses and the game . . . an engrossing read."
--"Minneapolis Star-Tribune"""
Jim Squires was in trouble. He was in the horse business, an
enterprise seemingly intent on committing suicide, led over the
cliff by visionless leaders. A clannish group called "the Dinnies"
had long refused to share power, as vast overproduction and
unbridled greed created a subprime-like bubble in the market.
Overpriced animals of dubious quality and drug-enhanced performance
on the track were undermining the integrity of competition and
ultimately the very breed itself. With its economic model broken,
its tawdry sales practices under attack, and its public image in
tatters, the sport was overdue for a reckoning.
"Headless Horsemen" is Squires's critique of what is happening
to the sport and the animals he loves, as he and a small group of
unlikely heroes agitate for a return to fair dealing. For anyone
who cares about the soul and survival of horse racing, this book is
an impassioned call to arms.
The juvenile, or two-year-old, racing careers of Colin, Man o' War,
Ruffian and Landaluce provide the foundation and focus for
discussing the question of thoroughbred greatness and its measure.
These four thoroughbreds were arguably the best juvenile runners of
the twentieth century. Close on their hooves, pun intended,
however, were the colts Sysonby and Secretariat and the fillies
First Flight, La Prevoyante and Personal Ensign. The latter five
runners are honorably mentioned and also compared in the book. As
in The Greatest Horse of All: A Controversy Examined, basic
statistics are used informally to provide readers a basis for their
own studies in thoroughbred data comparison and evaluation. The
author realizes that many people avoid mathematical ideas like the
plague. Therefore, he has minimized statistical usage to its most
common elements, and he explains these thoroughly for the
uninitiated as the book progresses. Only two of the ten chapters
use statistics to any degree. The text also includes seven figures
and two tables to aid in understanding the statistical concepts. If
one feels remotely comfortable with eight-grade mathematics
concepts, one will have no problem with this material. Relative to
the statistical comparisons, two novel concepts are discussed.
These pertain to addressing the so-called era effect. Many racing
fans continue to argue that horses from different eras cannot
justly be compared. A strong case against this argument is
presented from at least two standpoints. First, a device is
described and suggested to scientifically test and compare the true
relative speeds of two racing surfaces. Second, an inverse use of
the well-known 't test' for comparing the differences between two
or more data sets is presented. The text demonstrates how using
this inverse test can equitably adjust earlier era data so that it
may be fairly compared with later era data.
"Bev Pettersen brings complex characters and a riveting story to
life through engaging dialogue, a well crafted plot, and a budding
love story centered around a cracking good murder mystery. Not just
for fans of horse racing, (think Dick Francis with romance), there
is something in this exciting and original well-told tale for
everyone. Highly recommended " - Judith James, IPPY Gold Medal
Winning Author. "Jockeys and Jewels is a sparkling jewel of a
romance-clever, entertaining, and touching." -Julianne MacLean, USA
Today Bestselling Author "Where have you been, Bev Pettersen? Any
lover of the heart-jolting world of horse-racing will love this
debut romantic mystery by the super-talented Ms. Pettersen." -
Pamela Callow, author of the Kate Lange thriller series. Racehorse
trainer, Kurt MacKinnon, resents being yanked into undercover
police work. But when his ex-partner is murdered, Kurt is
determined to find the killer and moves his third-string
Thoroughbreds to the backwater track where his partner was last
seen alive. Julie West, a dedicated but struggling jockey, pins her
dreams of an elusive win on the new trainer in town, never
suspecting she's a person of interest-and not because of her riding
skills. Kurt didn't expect his contrary colt to flourish under
Julie's feminine touch nor for his own rusty heart to soften.
However, his deceit sucks them both into the crosshairs of a
killer, and suddenly much more than their love is in danger.
The Melbourne Cup Compendium (1861-2010), revised edition, is a
unique reference guide to this world famous race, which had its
150th run in November 2010. It focuses on historic firsts, records
and statistics, with an A-Z reference index, easy to follow charts
and tables, and an overview of each Cup since the race began in
1861.
Imagine being given the opportunity of a lifetime. A test of talent
and skill so great, the prize would guarantee historical
immortality. Sham's Dream is a personified picture book about
courageous Sham, the horse that challenged legendary Secretariat
for the 1973 Kentucky Derby. Through Sham's extreme effort a hidden
message surfaced worth much more than expected. Inspired by actual
events, this story teaches a valuable life lesson: the act of
trying without reserve is as honorable as being triumphant. Written
and illustrated by Mary Walsh. Captivating ink and watercolor
imagery create an unforgettable experience for young children and
horse lovers of all ages.
LEGENDS OF THE TURF (Volume 1) is award-winning South African
journalist Charl Pretorius' first book since 2006, a compilation of
updated personality profiles and articles from his popular column
of the same title that ran for over seven years in the Johannesburg
daily, The Citizen. Following the success of Horse Chestnut: The
Story Of A Legend (coauthored with Mike de Kock) and The Ten Habits
of Highly Effective Horseplayers, Pretorius' latest work is a
delightful journey into the annals of horseracing history. Sad and
nostalgic at times, Legends Of The Turf includes ten striking
chapters and a new bonus profile, documenting extensive research
and personal interviews with some of the industry's biggest names.
Enlightening, controversial and richly entertaining, Legends Of The
Turf is the result of one man's love for horseracing and his deep
admiration for its heroes, hailed or unsung. It's a collector's
piece for all individuals with an interest in the Sport Of Kings,
but its general theme of human trials and tribulations has
cross-over appeal for any reader who enjoys good story-telling.
A Big Key To Winning
This book is tightly focused on just one handicapping subject, the
Key Race. A Key Race is generally defined as a race from which two
or more horses have gone on to win their next races. The idea here
is that if two or more horses from this race have gone on to win
their next, then the race was unusually competitive. Doesn't it
follow then, that many other horses in the race probably ran better
that it may appear at first?
A nice idea, but can it produce winning wagers? That's the subject
addressed by this book. The book begins by illustrating a few Key
Races, but goes on to document real results using this handicapping
tool. Finally, it shows you how to identify horses coming from key
races and how to use this knowledge to improve your handicapping
results.
STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH Smarty Jones-the Kentucky Derby,
Preakness, and near Belmont Stakes Triple Crown winner finally
opens up about his life on and off the racetrack. The Thoroughbred
Thinker hurls some zingers, and throws a few ringers on the
horseracing establishment. In this fact-based fable, America's
horse touches on topics spanning leadership & motivation to
humor & humility. Smarty gives an education ranging from the
history of the horse, to the traits of a champion.Pony up with a
feel-good Philadelphia story, and learn how this blue collar horse
has touched and restored the lives of those around him. Catch the
emotion as he runs for the Roses and carries an entire nation on
his back. Go in depth with Smarty and learn his Team's tale of hard
work and big hearts.With a focus on entertaining and teaching the
reader, Smarty delivers the inside story of his family, friends,
fans, and place in history. He provides a stable's worth of wisdom,
and lessons of life in the fast lane.
This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the
original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as
marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe
this work is culturally important, we have made it available as
part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting
the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions
that are true to the original work.
How to identify long shots in thoroughbred horse racing. How to
identify "false favorites" in thoroughbred horse racing.
Hook to the BookThere are two, I repeat, two things standing in the
way of your personal success with exotic wagering. One of the two
is you. The other is a paradox involving your approach, the
standard approach, to playing the exotics. I will provide you a
quick, yet thorough explanation in this book. Realizing your vision
of winning exotic wagers consistently necessitates a brand-new
mindset, and then soon you will be on the surefire road to
unparalleled success. You are only a couple of hours away from
identifying the other hurdle, thus obliterating the hindrances and
obtaining your long-elusive dream.
THIS 36 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Thoroughbred
Racing and Breeding: The Story of the Sport and Background of the
Horse Industry, by Tom R. Underwood. To purchase the entire book,
please order ISBN 1419160702.
Horse Talk is a fun, informative, and handy guide, dedicated to
helping people understand Thoroughbred racing and training
terminology. Over 207 words or phrases defined, explained and used
in a creative sentence by the opinion of the author.With the
exception of some track conditions, betting terms, and medications.
This is the 25th edition of the highly regarded guide to two year
olds by Steve Taplin. The book profiles around 1,500 two year olds
each year, and of particular importance to the punter are the
author's perceptive pedigree assessments gathered in pre-season
interviews.Steve Taplin is very well known and trusted by trainers
in the UK and Ireland, and they are therefore happy to give him the
inside line on their best horses. The book also includes a foreword
from leading trainer John Gosden. Laid out in an easy-to-use A-Z
format by trainer, the book also features a wealth of detailed
statistics - stallion references, racing trends, indexes to sires
and dams, star two year olds, bloodstock assessments and much more.
Make sure to check out Mr. Tuttle's blog site (http:
//thetuttlemathpsm.com/); for winning picks and much more. Plus,
it's a wonderful way to read some very lengthy excerpts of all nine
of his horse handicapping books currently selling on Amazon.com.
This book is a bit more "advanced," and tackles a lot of "Now"
issues. Plus, it talks in great detail about Mr. Tuttle's
"step-by-step" way in which he handicaps, hence the title....."The
Tuttle Way."
The untold story of the worlds most famous and successful
thoroughbred stallion during his racing career told by his race
track groom.
The first Japanese American jockey, Kokomo Joe burst like a comet
on the American horse-racing scene in the summer of 1941. As war
with Japan loomed, Yoshio "Kokomo Joe" Kobuki won race after race,
stirring passions far beyond merely the envy and antagonism of
other jockeys. His is a story of the American dream catapulting
headlong into the nightmare of a nation gripped by wartime hysteria
and xenophobia. The story that unfolds in "Kokomo Joe" is at once
inspiring, deeply sad, and richly ironic--and remarkably relevant
in our own climate of nationalist fervor and racial profiling. Sent
to Japan from Washington State after his mother and three siblings
died of the Spanish flu, Kobuki continued to nurse his dream of the
American good life. Because of his small stature, his ambition
steered him to a future as a star jockey. John Christgau narrates
Kobuki's rise from lowly stable boy to reigning star at California
fairs and in the bush leagues. He describes how, at the height of
the jockey's fame, even his flight into the Sonora Desert could not
protect him from the government's espionage and sabotage dragnet.
And finally he recounts how, after three years of internment,
Kokomo Joe tried to reclaim his racing success, only to fall victim
to still-rampant racism, a career-ending injury, and cancer.
Reprint 1961 edition. p.224. Sonora Carver was an American
entertainer, most notable as one of the first female horse divers.
Carver answered an ad placed by "Doc" William Frank Carver in 1923
for a diving girl and soon earned a place in circus history.Her job
was to mount a running horse as it reached the top of a forty-foot
(sometimes sixty-foot) tower and sail down along the animal's back
as it plunged into a deep pool of water directly below. Sonora was
a sensation and soon became the lead diving girl for Doc Carver's
act as they traveled the country. In 1931, Sonora was blinded, a
retinal detachment, due to hitting the water off-balance with her
eyes open.while diving her horse, Red Lips, on New Jersey's Steel
Pier, the act's permanent home since 1929. After her accident
Sonora continued to dive horses until 1942.
Before Jackie Robinson ever donned a Dodger uniform - there was Tom
Bass. Before Rosa Parks ever demanded a seat in the front of the
bus - there was Tom Bass. Before Martin Luther King ever had a
dream - there was Tom Bass. Before Barack Obama ever ran for
President - there was the legend of Tom Bass - the black horse
whisperer. Born a slave, Tom Bass rose to the summit of what had
always been a white man's profession, the training of the America's
greatest Saddlebred horses. At nine years old this Mozart of the
equestrian world used his extraordinary natural talent to teach an
outlaw mule who couldn't even be handled to canter backwards. An
advocate of gentleness and patience, Bass turned dangerous horses
into reliable mounts - without ever raising his voice or using a
whip. His immense knowledge of equine psychology allowed the man
who had been born in a slave cabin to invent a revolutionary and
humane bit, still in use today. Yet Bass's greatest achievements
were in the saddle, not in the training ring. What he was able to
entice horses to do defies belief. His consummate skill and immense
empathy with horses allowed him to produce horses of such exquisite
proficiency that their accomplishments are still remembered today.
Buffalo Bill's famous white horse, Columbus, was one such legendary
talent. Bass was able largely to transcend the race barrier because
he was accounted the greatest horseman of the late nineteenth
century. The first black American ever to ride in Madison Square
Garden, in an age when racial segregation ruled the nation, Tom
Bass was the mounted friend of five presidents of the United
States, including Teddy Roosevelt. Upon Tom's death in 1934, his
name was a household word, synonymous with equestrian feats of
unparalleled beauty and achievement. Then his story faded into
oblivion, until this fascinating biography of America's most
remarkable black horseman was rescued from the shadows.
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