First published 2004
A group of childhood friends from the small town of Sackets Harbor pools their resources to buy a racehorse nobody expects much from. Their gelding gets paired with a jockey whose career has been marked by near misses and disappointments, while a trainer without flashy credentials takes charge of preparing the horse for competition. As racing season unfolds, this unlikely combination begins defeating horses owned by wealthy racing dynasties and trained by the sport's most celebrated figures. The small-town ownership group watches their horse charge toward the Triple Crown, racing's most prestigious prize. Their success challenges everything the sport believes about money, pedigree, and power. The story captures how ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things when they refuse to accept that champions must come from privilege.
Genres: fiction, historical-fiction, contemporary, sports
Vibes: emotional, feel-good, inspirational
Tropes: against-all-odds, found-family
Setting: Sackets Harbor
288 pages · Hardcover · Putnam Adult