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Man o' War.
A fictionalized biography of the American race horse who won twenty of twenty-one races, told by a stable boy who grew up with the great horse.
Book
A tainted reputation it deserves? Crime in the trotting sector of Dutch horse racing
The Netherlands are a small country with an urban underworld history before a serious problem of organized crime has developed since the 1980. The interest of the mob in Horse Race Betting flourished before that time. After a long period of Prohibition since 1911 horse racing (especially trotting) and betting on the results has become a very popular pastime since it was permitted in 1948. Especially during the nineteen seventies and eighties horse races drew a large audience and to a lesser degree they still do. However, bookmaking has always been forbidden since 1911 and that by itself presented in invitation to (organized) crime. Other well-known criminal byproducts of horse racing such as drugging horses, laundering money and matchfixing have been observed but as we measured only to a very moderate degree. The social variety of aficionados for the races is amazing. While doing historical and ethnographic field research at the race tracks we registered a mixture of people of humble origins as well as big entrepreneurs. There were members of the royal family but also well-known criminals. It is amazing to find out to what degree the latter have been accepted by the entire horse racing community.
Journal Article
Six Weeks in Saratoga
Semifinalist for the 2011 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award
presented by Castleton Lyons and Thoroughbred Times When
Rachel Alexandra thundered to a stylish win against the boys in the
2009 Preakness Stakes, her connections came to the 141st Saratoga
Race Course meeting wanting more than just another victory. They
wanted Horse of the Year. Her jockey, Calvin Borel, pointed
triumphantly to the three-year-old filly beneath him. Rachel
Alexandra was the best horse he had ever ridden and it was his job
to ensure that she and her connections didn't leave Saratoga
Springs without a victory. Hall of Fame trainer and gruff New
Yorker Nick Zito felt he could slay the queen. He'd take his shots
with two rival horses, Da' Tara and Cool Coal Man, because, as he
well knew, you can't win if you don't play. New York Racing
Association president and CEO Charlie Hayward knew that Rachel
Alexandra could run elsewhere and didn't have to come to Saratoga.
The pressure was on him to keep this talented and magnetic filly on
his property, but how far could he go without compromising his
values? Then there were the other horses at the meet: the
Zito-trained Commentator, eight years old and looking for one last
try in the Whitney Handicap; Kentucky Derby-winner Mine That Bird,
aiming to reclaim his glory if he could only stay healthy; and
Summer Bird, the Belmont Stakes winner, who demanded respect.
Everyone was in the twilight of their careers. What would be their
legacies? How would they be remembered? Never before has the famous
racing season at Saratoga been illustrated through these threads,
in real time. As we follow the jockey, the trainer, and the
executive, we come to understand how they, and so many other racing
fans and professionals, were drawn to the magnetism of one special
horse, Rachel Alexandra. All of this happens in six weeks, all at
Saratoga.
eBook
Horse welfare, use not abuse
\"Horse Welfare, Use not Abuse is about all equines from The Pony Club to the highest levels of performance-racing, show jumping, eventing and endurance riding. The book challenges all horse and pony owners to care better for their animals. In his travels, Christopher has met the leaders of most of the equestrian sports both nationally and internationally. Stories about some of these are featured, as well as anecdotes about the work of World Horse Welfare, calling on his role as a leading regulator, chairman of World Horse Welfare and lifelong horseman. From a position of authority-he held one of the highest profile jobs in the Jockey Club, steward in charge of enforcing the rules of horse racing-he provides an insight into the high stakes world of racing where winning is everything. In a sport where controversy is never far away, he calls for tougher measures to fight drug abuse. He believes the real victims are the horses. There is a warning to the professionals in the sport that they have a duty of care not just for the horses, which are the real stars, but for the sport they enjoy.\"--provided by publisher.
Book
Never Say Die
A quarter of a million people braved miserable conditions at Epsom Downs on June 2, 1954, to see the 175th running of the prestigious Derby Stakes. Queen Elizabeth II and Sir Winston Churchill were in attendance, along with thousands of Britons who were all convinced of the unfailing superiority of English bloodstock and eager to see a British colt take the victory. They were shocked when a Kentucky-born chestnut named Never Say Die galloped to a two-length triumph at odds of 33--1, winning Britain's greatest race and beginning an important shift in the world of Thoroughbred racing. Never Say Die traces the history of this extraordinary colt, beginning with his foaling in Lexington, Kentucky, when a shot of bourbon whiskey revived him and earned him his name. Author James C. Nicholson also tells the stories of the influential individuals brought together by the horse and his victory -- from the heir to the Singer sewing machine fortune to the Aga Khan. Most fascinating is the tale of Mona Best of Liverpool, England, whose well-placed bet on the long-shot Derby contender allowed her to open the Casbah Coffee Club. There, her son met musicians John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison and later joined their band. Featuring a foreword by the original drummer for the Beatles, Pete Best, this remarkable book reveals how an underdog's surprise victory played a part in the formation of the most successful and influential rock band in history and made the Bluegrass region of Kentucky the center of the international Thoroughbred industry.
eBook
Average stride length and stride rate of Thoroughbreds and uarter Horses during racing
The main factors influencing speed in athletes are stride length (SL) and stride rate (SR). However, conflict remains whether SL or SR is the key determinant of higher speeds. Quarter Horses (QH) generally reach higher speeds in their races than do Thoroughbreds (TB). However, the influence of SL and SR on this greater speed is unclear. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to compare SL and SR in QH and TB raced in short (sprint) and long (classic) distances. We hypothesized that QH have a higher SR in comparison to TB, and SR decreases as distance increases. Two race distances were analyzed for each breed: QH races of 100.6 and 402.3 m, and TB races of 1,2070 and 2,011.7 m. Data from 20 horses were obtained, consisting of five horses from each race distance (10 QH and 10 TB). Five individuals watched recordings of each race three times counting the number of strides taken by each winning horse. The SR was calculated using the average number of strides over a given race duration, and SL was determined by calculating the total number of strides over the distance covered. Speed was calculated by dividing the distance by the time of the winning horse. The PROC Mixed Procedure was used to identify statistical differences between breeds, and between distances within the same breed. Results showed that although the SL of the TB was longer in comparison with the QH (P < 0.001), the average SR in QH was higher than in TB (2.88 vs. 2.34 + 0.03 strides/s; P < 0.001). Furthermore, QH classic distance demonstrated a faster speed than TB at either distance (P < 0.001). In conclusion, QH achieve a higher SR in comparison to TB (between 14% and 20% more than TB), confirming the importance of SR in achieving high racing speeds. Key words: gait frequency, Quarter Horse, racehorses, speed, Thoroughbred
Journal Article
Warriors on horseback : the inside story of the professional jockey
A remarkable and riveting insight into the lives of jockeys. Jockeys who earn a living race riding on racehorses are a remarkable group. They are fiercely competitive on the racecourse but enjoy a tribal kinship in the weighing room. The minimum requirements for long-term success are courage, skill, athleticism and an intuitive understanding of how to \"get a tune\" out of a horse. This book celebrates these warriors on horseback, both the old and the new, highlighting the headline performers for jump racing and flat racing in the last five centuries--male and female and from around the globe--as well as taking the reader on a behind-the-scenes look at the lifestyle of professional jockeys in the 21st century. The book takes a tour of Aintree's weighing room, tracks a day in the life of a Derby-winning jockey and investigates the twin challenges faced by jockeys: inevitable injuries and 24/7 weight management. The book also looks back at historical events where jockeys have made the headlines, including the scandal of jockey Sam Chifney, Lord Bunbury and the Prince of Wales; Captain Becher and his attempt to negotiate Aintree's formidable fences during the Grand National's inaugural running; Fred Archer, who committed suicide in the mists of mental and physical misery; Red Pollard's partnership with the great American horse, Seabiscuit; Bob Champion, who recovered from cancer to win the Grand National, and Frankie Dettori's magnificent seven wins in one day at Ascot. Dettori is just one of the more recent jockeys featured; others include Lester Piggott, Bill Shoemaker, Scobie Breasley, Julie Krone, John Francome and Tony McCoy. The book features quotes and insights from eminent jockeys and racing insiders, people who know the profession and the sport; and is illustrated with captivating images from the world of horseracing. Includes foreword by Bob Champion MBE, former jump jockey and Grand National winner.
Book
Metabolomics analysis and mRNA/miRNA profiling reveal potential cardiac regulatory mechanisms in Yili racehorses under different training regimens
Yili horses, a versatile breed from Xinjiang, China, are renowned for their racing abilities. However, studies on the links between cardiac morphology, function, and metabolic profiles with performance are limited. This study combined echocardiographic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses to explore these relationships in high-level, average, and untrained Yili horses. Echocardiographic assessments revealed increased left ventricular mass in trained horses, with significant differences in intraventricular septal thickness and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter. RNA sequencing identified 534 differentially expressed genes, 366 differentially expressed miRNAs, highlighting pathways in glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism, oxygen transport (e.g., ALAS2), and ATP generation. Metabolomic analysis revealed variations in acylcarnitine and triglycerides, suggesting training-induced cardiac remodeling regulated by miRNAs. This integrated approach provides new insights into the molecular and metabolic factors influencing performance, offering a foundation for optimized training strategies for Yili horses.
Journal Article