Has anyone read Belmont Park: The Championship Track?


http://www.amazon.com/Belmont-Park-C.../dp/1609497538

Since this thread's been revived, I'll take a second to ask if anybody's read the new book by Dorothy Ours called "Battleship"? She'd really appreciate reviews on Amazon. He's a US and English Grand National-winning (the only horse to do both) son of Man O' War owned by Mrs. Marion duPont Scott. The book's thorough about the connections as well as the horse, which is really how Seabiscuit was handled by Laura Hillenbrand.

Total shameless self plug here, but I just signed a publishing deal for a novel based on my own gambling degeneracy. It'll be December when it's published, but will be available through all avenues.

here's the website I had to set up that has some info about it.

http://jasonbeem.com/

cool!! congrats

"...gripping to the one familiar thing in their life."

:tro:

Whether it be gambling or a host of other things -- excellent and very real theme. Please let us know when it is released.

Downloaded it a week ago.. At first leaf through, I think I wasted my $$. Just a bit too much for my taste, but will give it a little more time and see if it works for me.

I did just get "Figure Handicapping" by James Quinn in the mail today, and leafing through it it looks more like what I am used to.

I really enjoyed Ted McClelland's Horseplayers

It is his story of a year at following the races in the Chicago area with few forays out to the bushes. Not so much a "How To Book" but one that I believe nearly all will find interesting.

I too enjoyed this one. I read it a couple of times a year.

Has anyone read "Southbound" by Jason Beem?

Looks pretty good.


"Jason Beem’s Southbound begins with the drama of a close horse race — and it never lets up from there. Beem has written a smart, perceptive novel — one that is about the difficulties of addiction and recovery — but also about the yearning for love, and the ways people fill the vacancies in their lives. It’s saturated with the sensory joys of the race track, and a pleasure to read.” –Pauls Toutonghi, Pushcart Prize winning author of Evel Knievel Days and Red Weather"



http://www.amazon.com/Southbound-Jas...jason+beem**My

Stevie (S5P) was ever so kind in sending me a really great book called "Beyond The Homestretch" written by the founder of L.O.P.E, Lynn Reardon.

I could hardly put it down! She's as almost as good of a writer as Laura Hillenbrand.. I highly recommend it!


http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Homestr...he+homestretch

I might be biased but I loved it :)

Enjoyed it easy read I mean easy read. Ryan (jason) is a hot mess. Beem does an outstanding job in character development, he is talented writer.

Oh! It's you! Hahahaha.. sorry, I didn't connect the dots.

I shall read your fine work as soon as I can. Congrats :)

The Track: A Day in the Life of Belmont Park by Bill Surface is a great read. The chapter on Sigmund Sommer in his box is priceless as is Johnny Nerud leaving the track after two of Dr. Fager's sons run up the track.

I enjoyed The Kid (Cauthen) by Pete Axthelm.

Also loved the Secretariat(Nack) Ruffian(Schwartz) and Wild Ride. All are terrific.

On another note, Three Strides Before the Wire which chronicles Charismatic's run and Chris Antley's downward spiral was very disappointing because facts and details were just plain wrong.

Thanks, I will check then out as well.

My favorite horse book has been Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand.
Very well written and researched. She also has one called Unbroken
that has been made into a movie coming out Dec 25..really good story,
but it is a human story.

The Blood horse had a sale a couple months ago and I got a bunch of
their legends series for a $1-$2 each shipping and handling was another
story:zz: Easy reads Nashua, Kelso, Native Dancer, Damascus,
Dr Fager etc., I liked Bill Nacks Secretariat and Ruffian, Burning from the Start

Handicapping I've read Byers books and Tom Ansile's, but reading my
bank statement, I had better get many more:eek:

I just finished this book and it was awesome. Funny, scary, and relatable. Just a great read.

Paul

Could you give some examples on Three Strides?

The biggest thing I found were details such as inverting silks colors too many times to mention, race recall and terminology were fragmented and more novice in style and description. Jorge Valasquez riding Teletable in the 99 Belmont. Who? Was it Jorge Velasquez or John Velazquez?

In fairness, she has a robust bibliography where her quotes and events were accurate. She even has quotes by Lukas on Antley's ride in the Belmont that differed with Wayne's assistants assertions in the ESPN documentary in that Lukas right after the Belmont did not condemn the ride.

In addition to the ones posted here, any thoughtful horseplayer should read Laughing In The Hills, by Bill Barich.