Horse Racing's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Derby Delights, Frenetic Finishes, and Backstretch Banter
Known as "the sport of kings," horse racing has been around the track, so to speak. Out of the gates as early as ancient Greece’s Olympic Games, racing would truly find its footing centuries later when Arabian horses were brought to England during the Crusades. Soon nobles with deep pockets were striking friendly wagers, and by Queen Anne’s reign, races with big purses were off and running—and making their way across the pond. In the United States, horse racing has given the world of professional sports—even baseball—a run for its money. In Horse Racing’s Most Wanted™, readers will have the inside track on the sport that draws more than a million viewers every spring with the Triple Crown. Only eleven horses have swept this illustrious series in its 130-year history. Race alongside these near-mythical champions, the jockeys and trainers who spurred them on, and the many competitors who came, raced, but did not conquer. Whether or not it’s the Derby, this sport is exciting. Learn about the fastest fillies, oddest names, greatest tracks, studliest sires—and more. Author David L. Hudson Jr. returns to the Most Wanted™ series with more than fifty lists that cover the sport’s surprising upsets, tragic falls, and photo-finish races. No matter if you win, place, or show, this book is a sure bet.
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Horse Racing's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Derby Delights, Frenetic Finishes, and Backstretch Banter
Known as "the sport of kings," horse racing has been around the track, so to speak. Out of the gates as early as ancient Greece’s Olympic Games, racing would truly find its footing centuries later when Arabian horses were brought to England during the Crusades. Soon nobles with deep pockets were striking friendly wagers, and by Queen Anne’s reign, races with big purses were off and running—and making their way across the pond. In the United States, horse racing has given the world of professional sports—even baseball—a run for its money. In Horse Racing’s Most Wanted™, readers will have the inside track on the sport that draws more than a million viewers every spring with the Triple Crown. Only eleven horses have swept this illustrious series in its 130-year history. Race alongside these near-mythical champions, the jockeys and trainers who spurred them on, and the many competitors who came, raced, but did not conquer. Whether or not it’s the Derby, this sport is exciting. Learn about the fastest fillies, oddest names, greatest tracks, studliest sires—and more. Author David L. Hudson Jr. returns to the Most Wanted™ series with more than fifty lists that cover the sport’s surprising upsets, tragic falls, and photo-finish races. No matter if you win, place, or show, this book is a sure bet.
14.95 In Stock
Horse Racing's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Derby Delights, Frenetic Finishes, and Backstretch Banter

Horse Racing's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Derby Delights, Frenetic Finishes, and Backstretch Banter

by David L. Hudson Jr.
Horse Racing's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Derby Delights, Frenetic Finishes, and Backstretch Banter

Horse Racing's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Derby Delights, Frenetic Finishes, and Backstretch Banter

by David L. Hudson Jr.

Paperback

$14.95 
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Overview

Known as "the sport of kings," horse racing has been around the track, so to speak. Out of the gates as early as ancient Greece’s Olympic Games, racing would truly find its footing centuries later when Arabian horses were brought to England during the Crusades. Soon nobles with deep pockets were striking friendly wagers, and by Queen Anne’s reign, races with big purses were off and running—and making their way across the pond. In the United States, horse racing has given the world of professional sports—even baseball—a run for its money. In Horse Racing’s Most Wanted™, readers will have the inside track on the sport that draws more than a million viewers every spring with the Triple Crown. Only eleven horses have swept this illustrious series in its 130-year history. Race alongside these near-mythical champions, the jockeys and trainers who spurred them on, and the many competitors who came, raced, but did not conquer. Whether or not it’s the Derby, this sport is exciting. Learn about the fastest fillies, oddest names, greatest tracks, studliest sires—and more. Author David L. Hudson Jr. returns to the Most Wanted™ series with more than fifty lists that cover the sport’s surprising upsets, tragic falls, and photo-finish races. No matter if you win, place, or show, this book is a sure bet.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781597977357
Publisher: Potomac Books
Publication date: 05/01/2011
Series: Most WantedT
Pages: 256
Product dimensions: 4.90(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author


David L. Hudson, Jr. has written and cowritten more than thirty books, including Horse Racing’s Most Wanted™, Boxing’s Most Wanted™, Mixed Martial Arts’ Most Wanted™, Basketball’s Most Wanted II™ and Basketball Championships’ Most Wanted™. He resides in the middle Tennessee area with his wife, Carla.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations xi

Introduction xiii

1 Triple Crown Winners

They Won All Three 1

2 Forgotten Legends

Remember These Greats 6

3 Derby Upsets

Long Shots Who Won the Run for the Roses 10

4 No Peaking at the Preakness

They Lost the Second Leg 16

5 Belmont Blues

Losing the Triple Crown 20

6 My Son and I Won the Derby

It's a Family Affair 26

7 Derby Favorites Who Flopped

They Should Have Won but Didn't 30

8 Derby Long Shots

Back of the Pack 34

9 Derby Winner Showdowns

Ultimate Face-Offs 39

10 I Was Close But…

Couldn't Win a Triple Crown Race 44

11 Great Match Races

Just You versus Me 49

12 Consecutive Horse of the Year Honors

I Was the Best 55

13 Multiple Jockey Club Gold Cups

Winning the Gold 59

14 Riveting Rivalries

They Battled Each Other 63

15 Captivating Closers

They Came from Behind 68

16 Scintillating Sprinters

They Were Fast 73

17 Great Geldings

No Offspring, Fast on the Track 77

18 Finest Fillies

She Could Run Too 82

19 Undefeated

They Never Lost a Race 87

20 A Lone Defeat

I Only Lost Once 92

21 Upset Winners

They Pulled a Shocker 96

22 Disqualified

Fouls at the Track 100

23 Biggest Blowouts

It Wasn't Even Close 105

24 Terrific Two-Year-Olds

Early Greats 109

25 Weak at Two, Peak at Three

They Had to Develop 114

26 Secretariat's Greatest Races

The Best of Big Red 118

27 Alydar's Offspring

They Made Papa Proud 123

28 Seattle Slew the Sire

He Sired Stakes Winners 127

29 Named for a Person

My Namesake 132

30 Great Nicknames

Magnificent Monikers 136

31 Stakes Races Named for Me

The Race Bears My Name 141

32 African American Jockeys

Before the Color Bar 145

33 Triple Crown Winning Jockeys

Riding to Victory 149

34 Triple Crown Winning Trainers

They Won the Big Ones 154

35 I Loved This Race

Favorites of the Jockeys 159

36 I Couldn't Win the Preakness

Great Jockeys Who Never Won the Preakness 163

37 Jockey Tragedies

Riders' Deaths and Injuries 167

38 Terrible Tragedies

These Horses Died Too Young 172

39 Female Firsts

They Made History 177

40 Female Owners

She Had Her Horses 181

41 Celebrity Owners

The Famous Who Loved Horses 186

42 Nonagenarians

Living a Full Life 190

43 Thirtysomething

Racehorses Growing Old Gracefully 194

44 Betting Lingo

Jargon of the Handicapper 198

45 Too Close to Call

Photo Finishes 202

46 Best British Racehorses

England's Finest 206

47 Fast French Racehorses

C'est Très Bien! 211

48 Irish Racehorse Greats

Celtic Stars 215

49 Premier International Races

Best Around the Globe 220

50 Best Horse Racing Films

Cinematic Excellence 224

Selected Bibliography 227

Index 229

About the Author 241

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