Sports & Recreation : Equestrian

In Saratoga Stories: Gangsters, Gamblers & Racing Legends Jon Bartels explores the personalities and events that shaped the early history of Saratoga Race Course. The story of the nascent racetrack is largely the story of John Morrissey, a young tough whose fists earned him his earliest notoriety. The social-climbing upstart befriended the likes of multimillionaire Cornelius Vanderbilt and the well-heeled William Travers. The friendships grew into business dealings that led to Morrissey starting a Thoroughbred meet at Saratoga. In addition to its fascinating characters, Saratoga is famous for legendary racehorses. Saratoga Stories also chronicles the feats of stars such as James R. Keene’s Sysonby and Man o’ War, later crowned the Horse of the Century. more...

Price: $9.99

Seattle Slew was one of the most popular tourist attractions for racing fans who visit the Kentucky Bluegrass. It is easy to understand why. The dark bay horse carries the special distinction of being the only horse to win the Triple Crown while undefeated. In Seattle Slew, author Dan Mearns, a longtime racing journalist and editor, explores the life of the great horse, who is one of only 11 Triple Crown winners (horses who have won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes at the age of three) in the history of horse racing. In an indication of how difficult it is to win the coveted Triple Crown, from 1997-99, top horses Silver Charm, Real Quiet, and Charismatic won the first two races only to fail in the Belmont, which is run at a testing 1 1/2 miles. While Seattle Slew's career was filled with many highs like the Triple Crown, there were plenty of lows as well, including his first defeat, the replacement of his trainer, squabbling among his owners, the illness that nearly took his life. However, Seattle Slew was able to overcome all these things to recapture his earlier glory on the racetrack. In retirement he shone even brighter, with many of his offspring becoming champions on the racetrack. more...

Price: $9.99

On June 9, 1973, the entire world was witness to one of the greatest performances not only in racing, but in all of sports. 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. more...

Price: $9.99

The first book to explain the science behind "natural" horsemanship, SMART HORSE is an introduction to the world of animal learning and cognition. All animals respond to fundamental principles of learning and training. These principles include conditioning, positive and negative rewards, and behavior shaping. SMART HORSE helps the horse owner and rider apply these principles to their daily lessons and interactions with their equine partners. The book also offers valuable insight into the way horses think. more...

Price: $9.99

A 'behind the scenes' description of British flat racing based on the experiences of an academic living and working in Newmarket, regarded as the international headquarters of flat racing. Rebecca Cassidy offers explanations of the rituals involved in horseracing, and shows how racing, betting and the bloodstock industry fit together. more...

Price: $20.00