I want to get some books that talk about the great thoroughbred racehorses and bloodlines. I have “Champion Horses” by Maurizio Bongianni. It is very good but I would like more and maybe some more current horses included. Thanks in advance.
This is a fun & easy read. It gives good insight into tb racing back then.
(How or why does Amazon sell books starting at 1 cent? Love it but don’t get it. Are they doing it hoping it will get you in the door then you will buy more?)
The Bloodhorse has a publishing company that has produced hundreds of books on what you are interested in. http://shop.bloodhorse.com/ However, it looks as if they have completely changed their book business model recently and no longer sell their Thoroughbred Legends series or their books on the history of American racing and breeding and the people involved . I’m shocked, completely shocked at what they have stopped selling. Now most of their books are for the general horse public and not for the TB enthusiast.
They have had wonderful sales in the past. You can buy these books and watch their prices leap in the used book market. Do an Amazon search for Thoroughbred and maybe you can find them at decent prices.
The one book that is essential in my view is Sire Lines by Abram Hewitt.
The Cooper & Treat Man O’ War is fantastic. The Kelso by Linda Kennedy is excellent. I enjoyed Muriel Lennox’s books on Northern Dancer and Nearctic. Skip Dorothy Ours’ book on Man O’ War. Both of William Nack’s books- Ruffian and Big Red of Meadow Stable are good. Jane Schwartz’s book on Ruffian is also very good. the Phar Lap book by Armstrong and Thompson is wonderful.
That’s all off the top of my head. If you can get This Was Racing by Joe Palmer you’ll love it.
I collect horse biographies too 
Mine are still in storage right now, but these are the ones I can think of on the fly. Oh, maybe Old Bones by Mildred Mastin Pace. A kid’s book but an old favorite. Walter Farley’s Man O’ War was great, too.
Many of these will be out of print, but search alibris plus B&N and Amazon for used copies. Enjoy the reading!
Current horses-not much out there that I’ve really enjoyed. Jay Hovdey’s Cigar, maybe. For bloodlines, you can’t beat Edward Bowen’s Matriarchs and Dynasties.
I also have have a book, The History of Thoroughbred Racing in America. It’s from 1964 but it’s a treasure.
Hopefully this will get you started! I got into a long link of those, quotes in one book led me to others.
I really enjoyed two books by Avalyn Hunter:
The Kingmaker (about Northern Dancer)
Gold Rush (about Mr. Prospector)
Theses are great…thanks so much…next stop, Amazon.
[QUOTE=LaurieB;7567577]
I really enjoyed two books by Avalyn Hunter:
The Kingmaker (about Northern Dancer)
Gold Rush (about Mr. Prospector)[/QUOTE]
Oh, I have those also! Good recommendation!
I just ordered 4 of them!
Which ones?
One I absolutely enjoyed and continue to re-read from time to time is Stud by Kevin Conley. Very entertaining.
Well, since you asked…
Released a couple of weeks ago as we all tune in for this year’s Triple Crown drama,
“Duel for the Crown: Affirmed, Alydar, and Racing’s Greatest Rivalry”
The book covers the careers of Affirmed and Alydar, from the breeding shed where they were both conceived through their eventual retirements to stud.
I am getting both “Matriarchs ll” and “Dynasties”, “This was Racing” by Joe Palmer, “Sire Lines”, and the 1964 book …I think it is called Thoroughbred Racing in America" or “The Historyof…” and “The Kingmaker”. I have read Seabiscuit and ADORED it…I have a copy of"Native Dancer" by a Sunpapers Sports columnist, his name escapes me, but I have not read it yet. I may get the rest of the suggested titles. I am so excited…I went to Kentucky last week…visited a few of the great farms…oh, I did read the sad book about Calumet a few years ago…so depressing.
and I read Walter Farley’s Man O’ War many moons ago but still remember how sad I was when I read that last page…almost better than The Black Stallion.
Ooooo . . . so many.
American Classic Pedigrees – http://www.amazon.com/American-Classic-Pedigrees-Avalyn-Hunter/dp/1581500955
Champions: The Lives, Times, and Past Performances of America’s Greatest Thoroughbreds – http://www.amazon.com/Champions-Performances-Americas-Greatest-Thoroughbreds/dp/1932910379/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1399571368&sr=8-1&keywords=DRF+champions
The Jockey Club’s Illustrated History of Thoroughbred Racing in America – http://www.amazon.com/Jockey-Illustrated-History-Thoroughbred-America/dp/0821220594/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1399571452&sr=8-1&keywords=jockey+club+history
Great Horses of Our Time (nothing more recent than the '60s or maybe '70s in this one) – http://www.ebay.com/itm/Great-Horses-of-Our-Time-by-M-A-Stoneridge-1972-Hardcover-/310578380372?pt=US_Nonfiction_Book&hash=item484fe9fe54#ht_511wt_684
Raymond Wolfe’s Secretariat – a must-have for the Big Red fan
Ruffian, Queen of the Fillies – http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR1.TRC0.A0.H0.Xclaflin+ruffian&_nkw=claflin+ruffian&_sacat=0&_from=R40
Any of Richard Stone Reeves’ gorgeous coffee-table books is a treasure.
And finally, another enthusiastic vote for This Was Racing, which, like Joe Palmer, is just in a class all by itself.
Sentimental favorites:
Old Friends and More Old Friends, both by Barbara Livingston
[QUOTE=trafalgar;7568420]
and I read Walter Farley’s Man O’ War many moons ago but still remember how sad I was when I read that last page…almost better than The Black Stallion.[/QUOTE]
Or the adult bio of Man O’War by Dorothy Ours.
Hey, I’m still inspired by the children’s book by Marguerite Henry, “King of the Wind,” a charming tale about the Godolphin Arabian.
[QUOTE=vineyridge;7567483]
The Bloodhorse has a publishing company that has produced hundreds of books on what you are interested in. http://shop.bloodhorse.com/ However, it looks as if they have completely changed their book business model recently and no longer sell their Thoroughbred Legends series or their books on the history of American racing and breeding and the people involved . I’m shocked, completely shocked at what they have stopped selling. Now most of their books are for the general horse public and not for the TB enthusiast.
They have had wonderful sales in the past. You can buy these books and watch their prices leap in the used book market. Do an Amazon search for Thoroughbred and maybe you can find them at decent prices.
The one book that is essential in my view is Sire Lines by Abram Hewitt.[/QUOTE]
BH is getting out of the book business.
I’m with you on the Abe Hewitt book.
I love love love Avalyn Hunter’s American Classic Pedigrees, I can bury my nose in that one for hours.
I wish she would write an updated version, perhaps on Breeders Cup horses!
