Secretariat by William Nack [Paperback: Very Good]

Paperback in Very Good condition (455 pages)

The remarkable true story of Big Red, one of Americas finest racehorses.

When her beloved Meadow Stables is faced with closure following her fathers illness, housewife and mother Penny Chenery agrees to take over.  Despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge she calls in assistance from trainer Lucien Laurin and a host of successful jockeys.  Pitted against the Phipps racing dynasty, Penny takes the decision to breed her mare Somethingroyal to the Phipps Bold Ruler, the nations favourite stallion.  With the toss of a coin it is agreed that one family will take Somethingroyals first foal with the losing stable taking the colt out of Hasty Matelda and Somethingroyals second foal.  Penny loses the toss, but the wait for the unborn foal proves fortuitous when a bright red chestnut colt is born, Secretariat.  Nicknamed Big Red, with Laurins guidance, Penny manages to navigate the male-dominated business of horse racing, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years and what may be the greatest racehorse of all time.

Now, more than 30 years after its initial publication, the story of "Big Red" continues to be a classic.  Secretariat is the tale of a great racehorse but also a testimony to the dedication of Penny Chenery.  Following her triumph with Secretariat she was elected as the first female member of The Jockey Club, changing the face of American horse racing forever.