Horse racing remains one of the most famous pastimes, and there are a number of exciting books out there for lovers of the sport.
Everybody likes to unwind in different ways, but one of the most popular is by settling down and reading a good book.
There are books on just about everything, as they have a unique way of telling memorable stories, something that other forms of entertainment struggle with.
Horse racing remains one of the most famous pastimes, and there are a number of exciting books out there for lovers of the sport. But, which books should all horse racing fans read at least once in their life?
Seabiscuit: An American Legend
One of the most enjoyable books available to horse racing fans is ‘Seabiscuit: An American Legend’ by Laura Hillenbrand. The book was published in 2001, and immediately went o to win a number of illustrious awards, including the William Hill Book of the Year. The success of the book led to it being adapted into a film just two years later, as the film ‘Seabiscuit’ was released.
Seabiscuit remains one of the most famous racehorses in American history to this day, and his story is as important today as it ever was. He won just ten of his first 40 races on track, before going on to win numerous featured races later in his career. One of his most major achievements came in 1938, as he beat Triple Crown-winner War Admiral by over four lengths.
Winner: My Racing Life
Some readers prefer to get into the mind of a specific person, and there are few more engaging books than ‘Winner: My Racing Life’ by former champion jockey A P McCoy. McCoy rode 4,358 winners during his career, and was crowned the Champion Jockey on 20 occasions, which remains a record to this day. His dominance in the sport was revered, as he won the Champion Jockey title every season once he turned professional.
McCoy would win every huge race that was on offer throughout his career, including the Grand National, Cheltenham Gold Cup, and the King George. His autobiography tells his unique story of how he managed to stay dominant at the top of the sport for over 20 years, and the struggles that he needed to go through when he was an amateur and throughout his career.
The Horse God Built
The US Triple Crown races create legends, but people of a certain age constantly remind younger fans that there will never be another horse like Secretariat. This Lawrence Scanlan book titled ‘The Horse God Built: The Untold Story of Secretariat, the World’s Greatest Racehorse’ delves deep into the iconic story of the Triple Crown winner, and unveils what made this freak of nature the horse that he was.
Secretariat made history in 1973 when he became the first horse in 25 years to win all three races during the Triple Crown season.
His dominance over the field that season could be illustrated by the 31-length victory that he achieved in the Belmont Stakes. He was twice named as the Horse of the Year, with his second victory coming as a three-year-old.
Frankel: The Greatest Racehorse of All Time and the Sport That Made Him
Like Secretariat in the United States, Frankel enjoyed a dominant career on the track. Fans looking to learn more about what made this horse so special shouldn’t look past Simon Cooper’s ‘Frankel: The Greatest Racehorse of All Time and the Sport That Made Him.
He was one of the most dominant racehorses in the history of the sport, and he was the highest-rated horse from May 2011.
His record on the track was staggering, as he won all 14 races throughout his career, which includes Group 1s such as the Royal Lodge Stakes, 2,000 Guineas, and the St James’s Palace Stakes.
The distance was never an issue for Frankel, as he stepped up in trip to maintain his perfect record by winning the Champion Stakes in his final ever race at Ascot.
Here you have it, the best books about horse racing. If you like racing, check out TwinSpires.com where you can bet online on all the events.
