This 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 darkness

Man o' War didn't compete in the1920 Kentucky Derby because owner Sam Riddle thought the distance was too long for a young three-year-old. But nearly two decades later, Riddle had a change of heart. In 1937, he agreed to run War Admiral, a son of the great Man o' War, at Churchill Downs. War Admiral went on to sweep the Triple Crown and established himself as Man o' War's best racing son. Veteran racing historian Edward L. Bowen, biographer of Man o' War, chronicles the exploits of War Admiral, including the colt's historic battle with the great Seabiscuit and War Admiral's success at stud.

At one point in her life, Dorothy Paget was described by journalist Quintin Gilbey, as `so much in the public eye that she became, apart from royalty, the best-known woman in the land.' Synonymous with Golden Miller, perhaps the greatest racehorse ever to jump a fence, Paget ploughed fortunes into racing and breeding, buying - despite never visiting - the Ballymacoll Stud in Ireland. She also happened to be the biggest gambler ever to walk the turf. Living an eccentric lifestyle, she would spend most of the day in bed and rise at night, placing bets with bookmakers and their staff, specifically employed for these late night duties. She was even allowed to place bets on races that had already been run the previous day. This long overdue telling of the life of an extraordinary, larger-than-life character is now available in paperback.

This is the second edition of the classic on the history of British horse racing. It provides a detailed and far-ranging social and economic analysis of the major changes in British flat racing, in particular in the period between 1830 and 1939. Four major themes are explored. Firstly, the changing character and structure of the sport. Secondly, the morality of racing, which was a corrupt sport par excellence for much of the nineteenth century. Thirdly, on four categories of participants in racing jockeys, trainers, owners and breeders. Here, the author assesses whether or not these could make money out of racing. Fourthly, the book examines gambling and its important symbiotic relationship with racing. The televised, sponsored, carefully governed sport today is a vastly different affair from that of the 18th century. Then racing was a free, social event, the highlight of the entertainment calendar for the bulk of the local community. By the late 19th century most race meetings were highly commercial enterprises, requiring payment from all spectators, many of whom had travelled some distance to attend. The excitement and historical interest of these meetings is well captured here."