Better Lucky Than Good | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘Better Lucky Than Good’ Wins Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award

For the first time in its 14 -year history, the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award has gone to a multi-collaborative effort, as opposed to one written by a single author, or two working in tandem. The 2019 winner is “Better Lucky Than Good: Tall Tales and Straight Talk from the Backside of the Track,” published through the Louisville Story Program and edited by Joe Manning. In this work, a diverse cross section of Churchill Downs denizens—including exercise riders, grooms, assistant trainers, hotwalkers, outriders, security guards, silks makers, outriders, and touts—penned their personal and very different takes on racing as they have experienced it. Altogether, this is the ultimate insider's view of a sport that has captured the imaginations of multitudes down through the centuries.

Other finalists were: “Justify: 111 Days to Triple Crown Glory,” by Lenny Shulman (Triumph Books) and “The Triumph of Henry Cecil: The Authorised Biography,” by Tony Rushmer (Little Brown Book Group).

“'Better Lucky Than Good' is a true insider's look at a historic racetrack that goes well beyond the barns to encompass stories of little-heralded employees, neighbors outside the gates and the ancillary business owners who also are so important to the sport of racing,” said Book Award judge Kay Coyte. “All the stories are recorded, guided and edited with great respect and affection by the Louisville Story Program team.”

The top three were selected from an eclectic and exceptionally strong group of 15 entries, all published during the 2019 calendar year. As always, a $10,000 first prize was awarded along with $1,000 to each of the two finalists, with all three receiving Tipperary crystal trophies in the form of Castleton Lyons' iconic stone tower.

A panel of three literary and racing industry judges, headed by Coyte, a former editor at the Washington Post, worked together in determining this year's results. Coyte was joined by award-winning TVG broadcaster Caton Bredar, and noted Kentucky poet Jayne Moore Waldrop, who this month published “Drowned Town,” a short stories collection about the people who lived in the Land Between the Lakes.

Also, for the first time, the Book Award was not bestowed in person due to coronavirus precautions. The award timeline would normally have concluded last spring with a ceremony in the historic stallion barn at the Ryan family's Castleton Lyons, near Lexington, Kentucky. But there was nothing normal about 2020, which will go in the books as the Year of the Great Pandemic. From necessity, the process was altered, the schedule pushed back, and ultimately, the traditional winner's reception was scrapped in favor of an online video conference call announcement on November 20.

The “Better Lucky Than Good” cover photo of groom Paul Goffner leading the 1981 Derby Trial winner with the colt's name What It Is printed on his red T-shirt turned out to be the perfect image for this disrupted year, Coyte said. “We've all had to adjust to What Is.”

The award was founded in 2006 by philanthropist and noted global businessman Dr. Tony Ryan, to recognize the best book-length writing with a horse racing backdrop. Since his 2007 passing the competition has been continued by Dr. Ryan's son and current president of Castleton Lyons, Shane Ryan. Past honorees have included a recipient of the prestigious National Book Award and several Eclipse Award-winning authors.

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Better Lucky Than Good Compilation Wins Ryan Book Award

For the first time in its 14-year history, the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award has gone to a multi-collaborative effort. The winner for works published in 2019 is “Better Lucky Than Good: Tall Tales and Straight Talk from the Backside of the Track,” published through the Louisville Story Program and edited by Joe Manning. The book features perspectives and pieces from a diverse cast of racetrackers based at Churchill Downs including exercise riders, grooms, assistant trainers, hotwalkers, outriders, security guards, silks makers and touts.

“‘Better Lucky Than Good’ is a true insider’s look at a historic racetrack that goes well beyond the barns to encompass stories of little-heralded employees, neighbors outside the gates and the ancillary business owners who also are so important to the sport of racing,” said Book Award judge Kay Coyte. “All the stories are recorded, guided and edited with great respect and affection by the Louisville Story Program team.”

Coyte was part of a three-judge panel along with broadcaster Caton Bredar and Kentucky-based poet Jayne Moore Waldrop.

Other finalists selected from 15 entries were: “Justify: 111 Days to Triple Crown Glory,” by Lenny Shulman (Triumph Books) and “The Triumph of Henry Cecil: The Authorised Biography,” by Tony Rushmer (Little Brown Book Group).

A $10,000 first prize was awarded along with $1,000 to each of the two finalists, with all three receiving Tipperary crystal trophies in the form of Castleton Lyons’ iconic stone tower.

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Trio Of Finalists Announced For 14th Annual Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award

Three wonderful but very different books have been selected by a panel of industry judges as finalists for the 14th annual Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, honoring titles published in 2019. These include a unique collaboration of stories told by members of the racing community; an insider's look at the career of America's most recent Triple Crown winner; and the roller-coaster life story of a legendary European trainer.

The finalists are: “Better Lucky Than Good: Tall Tales and Straight Talk from the Backside of the Track,” by various authors, from Louisville Story Program, edited by Joe Manning; “Justify: 111 Days to Triple Crown Glory,” by Lenny Shulman, and “The Triumph of Henry Cecil: The Authorised Biography,” by Tony Rushmer.

These three exceptional books were selected from 15 high quality submissions and were evaluated based on “clarity and elegance” of writing, ability to entertain, and as always, with regard to what the late Dr. Ryan himself might have liked.

In a normal year, the Book Award process would have culminated this past April with a ceremony in the historic stallion barn at the Ryan family's Castleton Lyons, near Lexington, Ky. But this is not a normal year. From necessity, the Award timeline was altered and ultimately delayed in hopes that the global Covid-19 pandemic would ease, thus making an in-person winner's reception possible later in the year. That scenario looks increasingly doubtful. As of mid-August, plans for how to reveal and celebrate the winner remain in limbo. But whether done in person, in a Zoom-type setting, or by other means, announcement of the winner will likely be made sometime in November.

The Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award was established by the noted businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist in 2006 to honor the best books published in a given year on the subject of horse racing. Dr. Ryan attached to it a $10,000 winner's prize, making it one of the world's most lucrative literary awards. Winners have since included beautifully penned fictional novels and short story collections; well-researched biographies, both human and equine; in-depth sporting histories; and even a National Book Award recipient.
Stay tuned for further announcements. For additional information, contact Betsy Hager at bhager@castletonlyons.com.

Below are brief synopses of the three 2020 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award finalists, presented in alphabetical order by title.

Better Lucky Than Good: Tall Tales and Straight Talk from the Backside of the Track, by Louisville Story Program

A collaboration between the Louisville Story Program and members of the racing community, Better Lucky Than Good focuses on the citizens of Churchill Downs. LSP, founded in 2013 to tell previously unheard stories and oral histories, pulled together 32 self-told tales from often unseen and/or overlooked backstretch personnel—the all-important supporting cast that brings any racetrack to life. This unique soft-cover collection includes stories from a clocker, a security guard, a silks maker, a gap attendant, and a hotwalker, among many others, providing a seldom seen inside perspective of our sport.

Justify: 111 Days to Triple Crown Glory, by Lenny Shulman

Penned by a respected turf writer with a behind-the-scenes view, Justify chronicles in detail the meteoric rise of American racing's 13th and most recent Triple Crown hero, while also telling the stories of those who made him who he was—breeders John and Tanya Gunther, trainer Bob Baffert, and jockey Mike Smith. The Blood-Horse's Lenny Schulman had extensive inside access as he followed the story of the big red colt from early days to glory, and the result is masterful.

The Triumph of Henry Cecil, The Authorised Biography by Tony Rushmer

Sports journalist Tony Rushmer has penned a splendid biography of his friend, legendary British trainer Henry Cecil. Rushmer, who had years of personal access, focuses largely on the latter part of Cecil's storied life including good times and bad. The ten-time champion English trainer saddled 25 British classic winners and won important races all over the globe, but when diagnosed with cancer in 2006 he was written off by many as finished. Instead, in 2010-2011 Cecil unveiled the crowning achievement of his career in brilliant, unbeatable Frankel. This is the story of a life … of tragedy and scandals, honors and triumphs, and of a remarkable comeback by one of racing's rare talents.

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