by Joe Drape
First published 2002
New York Times sportswriter Joe Drape takes readers inside the world of Thoroughbred racing during one pivotal year. He follows the colorful cast pursuing the sport's ultimate prize: wealthy owners who spare no expense, talented young trainers fighting to establish their reputations, and magnificent horses bred for speed and stamina. Each participant carries their own dreams and desperate hopes as they navigate toward the three most celebrated races in American sports. The path demands enormous financial investment, strategic cunning, and the ability to overcome staggering odds. Drape chronicles how these diverse personalities intersect and clash in their shared obsession. The book reveals the intricate world of horse racing through the lens of those who live and breathe the sport, showing how personal ambition and the love of competition drive everyone involved toward an almost impossible goal.
Genres: history, sports, non-fiction, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: pursuit-of-dreams, underdog
Setting: United States
Period: 21st Century
272 pages · Paperback · Grove Press