Through extensive interviews with every member of Team Smarty, and those most involved in the process, author Billy Valentine, in his own unmistakable fashion and writing style, tells the tragic, exciting, occasionally humorous, heart-filled, and gut-wrenching story of the horse that changed the face of thoroughbred racing forever. From the murder of Smarty Jones' trainer, to the horse's near death encounter with a starting gate, Billy Valentine weaves an incredible and very passionate account of how what one noted racing writer referred to as the "wrong horse, wrong jockey, wrong trainer and wrong owners" were able to take a $10,000 colt to within 70 yards of being labeled the greatest champion in the history of the sport. Saddle up with John Service and Roy and Pat Chapman as, through the words of Billy Valentine, they take us all on the ride of our collective lifetime aboard The Great Smarty Jones. When this race is over, you too will realize that Smarty Jones is and will be Forever a Champion.

    There's the rough-and-tumble style of the Western horse (both past and present) and the elegant refinement of the Eastern show ring.