The perfect read for fans of Felix Francis' Pulse and Triple Crown. 'There are some genuinely exhilarating descriptions of races that capture the tension and excitement, and could be written only with a jockey's insight' - Daily Mail Pippa Hutchinson is an aspiring young trainer, certain that given the right horses she is as good as anyone in the business. Until, that is, an owner removes two horses to another yard, and one shows dramatic improvement. She enlists the help of her brother, Jamie, once a star flat jockey, now trying to revive his racing career over fences after a harrowing term in prison. But former wild boy Jamie has his own demons to deal with, like the new challenge of jumps riding, the hostility of those who can never forgive him for a young lad's death - and the black wall within him that separates him from his past. What readers are saying about Inside Track: 'The best book he [John Francome] has written so far''An outstanding, compelling book from start to finish''Well written, well-paced and the way he portrays the differing characters is astounding'

    Introduced by Grantland Rice and written by seasoned track writer B. K. Beckwith, its pages are full of unique stories about the beloved horse and the people who were closest to him. Presented in its original oversized format and featuring period photographs, a full-color painting of Seabisicuit, and specially commissioned artwork by Howard Brodie, Seabiscuit: The Saga of a Great Champion follows the thoroughbred�s illustrious career, from his humble birth in Kentucky to his remarkable string of races across the country from 1936 to 1940, and culminating in his stunning victory at Santa Anita. In researching her best-selling Seabiscuit: An American Legend, Laura Hillenbrand drew on Seabiscuit: The Saga of a Great Champion, a rare contemporary account originally published in 1940 that preserves insights, anecdotes, and quotes found no where else. Beckwith�s book will delight anyone interested in seeing more and learning more about this great horse and will allow readers to experience the excitement of Seabiscuit as the story unfolded and in the words of those who were there�Charles S. Howard, Tom Smith, Red Pollard, and George Woolf.

    Nicknamed "The Grey Ghost, " Native Dancer was a blue-blood thoroughbred with a taste for drama, courtesy of his come-from-behind running style, and impressive credits: He finished first in 21 of his 22 career starts, his only loss by a nose in the 1953 Kentucky Derby; was named Horse of the Year--twice; and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame. His popularity was so great, Time(R) magazine put him on its cover, and TV Guide named him one of America's top three TV stars, along with Ed Sullivan and arthur godfrey. Legend says his ghost haunts Churchill Downs. Set against the nostalgic events of an America long past, Native Dancer is the definitive account of one of the greatest champions of horse racing's golden age.- 2003 marks the 50th anniversary of Native Dancer's heroic bid for the Triple Crown, and NATIVE DANCER's 5/03 publication date is perfectly timed to tie in to the running of this national event.- Books about racehorses have become tremendously popular, as evidenced by Seabiscuit (Random House, 3/01), the #1 New York Times bestseller about the legendary thoroughbred and his fabled rivalry with War Admiral.Spanning a half-century of American life, NATIVE DANCER incorporates such touchstones as the end of the railroad era, the dawn of the TV age, the fading old money grandeur of the Vanderbilts, and the darkest days of the Depression.

    So much depended on body language with animals- Without it, it felt uncomfortably like a game of Russian roulette.'Gideon Blake, artist and animal behaviourist, is used to dealing with distressed and unpredictable animals. But on one cold February night he is faced with the challenge of his life. Abducted from his home, handcuffed and blindfolded, Gideon is inexplicably forced by his violent captors to catch a dangerous and highly-strung stallion. Though severely handicapped by the blindfold and fearing certain death, he has no choice but to comply. Bruised and bewildered by the events of that fateful night, Gideon ignores his abductors' threats to stay silent and resolves to find out who was behind this sadistic and seemingly irrational act. But a chance encounter leads to a shocking discovery, one that makes Gideon question the motives of those closest to him and brings the devastating realisation that danger lies very close to home.

    The great Secretariat was attempting to become the first Triple Crown winner since Citation in 1948. For 25 years the racing world had waited for a champion worthy of the coveted Triple Crown, and on this day, they were not disappointed. After a record setting time of 1:59 2/5 in the Kentucky Derby and an unofficial record time of 1:53 2/5 in the Preakness, Secretariat was far and away the favorite to win the Belmont stakes. While 67,605 people watched from the stands and millions more watched on television, announcer Chic Anderson made one of the most famous calls in sports history: "Secretariat is blazing along! The first three-quarters of a mile in 1:09 4/5. Secretariat is widening now. He is moving like a tremendous machine!" Secretariat shattered the track and stakes record in the one and half-mile race and drew tremendous praise and fame for his Triple Crown performance. Kent Hollingsworth of The Blood-Horse wrote, "Two twenty-four flat. I don't believe it. Impossible. But I saw it. I can't breathe. He won by a sixteenth of a mile. I saw it. I have to believe it." Secretariat became such a celebrity, he was featured on the covers of such magazines as Time, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated. He is considered by many, the greatest racehorse of all time, and most certainly, a Thoroughbred Legend.

    This book traces the careers of the men and women who bred the most outstanding Thoroughbreds of the 20th century.

    That's the deal."" John W. Gardner's life was dedicated to revitalizing the American Dream, a dream that must be recreated by each generation of caring citizens as they reshape it to meet the unrolling future. Now more than ever, citizens must step up and take action to create the world in which we want to live. "Living, Leading, and the American Dream "is an inspiration-- and a call to action. Beginning with an exploration of Gardner's life and values in his own words, this stirring and engaging collection shares Gardner's vision on personal renewal, community, leadership, and civic engagement.The essays and speeches collected in this transformational volume are founded on Gardner's belief that we as a people want freedom-- freedom at home as well as a world where freedom is possible. They are founded on his deep belief in the dignity and worth of the individual and his unshakable resolve to protect and preserve that dignity. They are founded on his belief that men and women should be empowered to achieve the best that is in them, and that we are the declared enemies of all conditions, such as disease, ignorance, or poverty, that stunt the individual and prevent such fulfillment.And they are founded on the fact that achieving these goals is difficult and requires the commitment of all citizens. The essays in "Living, Leading, and the American Dream" move from individual to community to society, offering Gardner's vision on the role of the individual in attaining the greater good. Leaders of innovative organizations, civic leaders, and concerned citizens will find guidance and inspiration in Gardner's unique vision of every citizen's responsibility and capacity to make a difference.

    In a monumental and important work for the Thoroughbred industry, author and pedigree researcher Avalyn Hunter provides extensive pedigree analysis of every American classic race winner from 1914 through 2002.