Book Review | Horse Racing Free Tips

Book Review: Felix Francis’s Hands Down

To those of who grew up on Dick Francis books, his passing in 2010 at the age of 89 felt like losing an old friend. He wrote his first racing-themed crime novel, Dead Cert, the year I was born, 1962, and reliably churned out almost one per year-42 in total-until he passed away. Most arrived just in time for Christmas each year.

If anyone was concerned that his son Felix would not be up to the task of taking over the family franchise, they needn't have worried. This year, Francis is back with a novel just in time for the holidays with Hands Down, the latest in the series of Sid Halley books.

Halley, you'll remember, is the former champion steeplechase jockey whose career was ended when his left hand destroyed in a racing fall; stepped on by a trailing horse who sliced it open with a razor-sharp racing plate. Sid, who attended the London School of Economics, was always smarter than your average jockey and went to work as an investigator. It was in this job that the hand was further damaged by a thug Halley had thwarted who beat it so badly with a fireplace poker it had to be amputated.

When we last saw Sid, he was getting by with a high-tech artificial hand that doubled as a weapon when he needed to club someone over the head. But newly married and with a child, he had decided that the detective business might not fit his lifestyle any more.

In Hands Down, we learn from the very first words on the page that Sid has been the recipient of a hand transplant which, while it doesn't quite match the rest of his skin tone, otherwise functions perfectly well, even if everyone he comes across reflexively glances down at his hand when they meet him.

Hands Down is a typical Sid Halley story, and Halley fans will find all of their old favorites here: wife Marina, daughter Saskia, and his ex-father-in-law Charles Roland. Even Chico Barnes is back, even if he has gained a pound or two.

And, as usual, there is drama underfoot in British jump racing. His trainer friend calls him to tell him that someone is pressuring him to fix races and he's not putting up with it any more. Sid has his own problems to worry about and tells him to find someone else to help him, but when the friend's stable is set on fire, he is forced to reconsider, despite turmoil in his personal life.

Hands Down is the sixth in the Sid Halley series, and the first since Refusal, also written by Felix Francis, in 2013. Halley fans won't be disappointed, even if the book sometimes feels a bit formulaic, and the foreshadowing a little heavy handed. (I mean, when I figure something out before Sid does…)

Still, it's a pleasant journey down a familiar path, following Sid on his one-man, always-successful show to save British horse racing.

Maybe we can entice him to take a trip to America.

Hands Down, Crooked Lane Books, 304 pages, November, 2022

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Book Review – Landaluce: The Story of Seattle Slew’s First Champion

Trying to capture the essence of a bygone era champion can be a daunting task. The subtleties can be as elusive as the principal cast of characters–many of whom might no longer with us–who made up the stalwart's inner circle. However, author Mary Perdue has managed to capture not only the nuance of a great champion, Landaluce, but also the framework of an era long since past.

A tremendous talent whose rising stardom was snuffed out much too early, Landaluce was surrounded by a team of individuals who would leave their own indelible stamps on racing history. In Landaluce: The Story of Seattle Slew's First Champion, Perdue offers a closer look at Triple Crown champion Seattle Slew, who was still but a young, developing sire at the time in question, in addition to D. Wayne Lukas, who would make his way into the record books, and ultimately the Hall of Fame, but who had much left to accomplish when Landaluce graced his shedrow.

Much of the behind-the-scenes information that Perdue unearths for this rendering is as eye-opening to the most seasoned industry veteran as it is riveting to the racing novice. The hours of research and legwork put in by Perdue is clearly evident in the pages of this work, and the snapshot in history passed along to the reader is enlightening.

NBC analyst Donna Brothers echoes the sentiment in her back-jacket assessment: “I always thought I knew the Landaluce story, but after reading Mary Perdue's captivating account of how Landaluce came to be–and then became a champion–I realized that I knew almost nothing about her and the people who surrounded her.”

Characters long since departed come alive courtesy of the abundance of detail, supported by a long list of credible resources. And while I, personally, have been fortunate to have known many of the principal characters in this book, there are also a good number of those whom I had not had the opportunity to meet. However, Perdue gives the reader real insight into the primary players around the filly, as well as those who proved instrumental in the success of her sire as well as some of the other shining stars of time.

The story of Landaluce is one that is all too familiar: an ascending starlet akin to Marilyn Monroe, Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse or Selena whose lives were cut short in the zenith of their careers.

As Lukas is quoted as saying, “There's nothing easy about [racing]…I know the elevator goes down, too.”

While the sun set on Landaluce long ago and far too soon, the power of her presence was enough to catapult many of those around her into the stratosphere. And Perdue's work offers the reader the opportunity to catch a glimmer of that radiance that blazed through racing in 1982.

The author will be present for a book signing at Santa Anita Park Oct. 16, marking the 40th anniversary of the Anoakia S., a race won by the filly in 1982.

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Book Review: ‘Run With A Mighty Heart’ Brings Light To A Dark Time

As the COVID-19 pandemic swept through the province of Ontario in 2020, it hit the professional sports world with a cruel reality. Spectators could not be present, putting events, millions of dollars, and jobs in jeopardy. Public health restrictions particularly impacted the horse racing industry to stop the spread of this awful virus. For horse racing grooms, trainers, jockeys, racetrack officials, and owners, the onset of COVID-19 brought in a frustrating period of uncertainty and, for many who rely on the industry, a feeling of despair.

Out of this darkness lay a story of perseverance and triumph, both human and equine. Jennifer Morrison's Run with a Mighty Heart is just that. The book explains how a one-eyed horse overcame his visual impairment to win Canada's most heralded race. Mighty Heart provided a win to ownership connections beset by tragedies, a company making a herculean effort to have the show go on, and to thousands of fans around the country who needed encouragement during a time when there wasn't much to celebrate

It also shines a light on how the Woodbine thoroughbred racing community came together to fight back against the pandemic and continue the grand tradition of hosting the historic Queen's Plate against the toughest of odds during a pandemic. But, as they would say in racing parlance, pulling it all off was a 99-1 long shot.

Likewise, Morrison's splendid book is an account of how some human beings who endure crushing personal losses might ultimately find luck and triumph if they choose to keep living. For example, Mighty Heart's owner Larry Cordes suffered through tragedy when his wife, daughter, and son-in-law succumbed to cancer and later setbacks as a Thoroughbred owner when horses were injured or died before they could reach their potential.

While it may be her first book, Morrison's deep experience as a sports reporter and her knowledge of the people and players who make Woodbine successful shines through the narrative. Decades of research, conversations, handicapping races and understanding the challenges facing horses and the people who care for them inform this captivating story. In addition, the book contains exciting accounts and insights from Mighty Heart's trainer, Hall of Famer Josie Carroll and her supporting cast on the horse's rise from an awkward beginning to the apogee of Canadian racing.

Run with a Mighty Heart also serves as a tribute to the people from all walks of life who get up while most of the population sleeps to provide care for horses. To be sure, there is a lot that goes into the preparation for race day. Horse racing might be the “Sport of Kings,” but the people behind it who make a day at the track an enjoyable one for the betters, fans, and enthusiasts come from all social classes. Still, all share a joint determination, attention to detail, and a sense of purpose. It's about the horses, but everyone matters- from hot walker to groom, trainer to the owner and the staff, officials and executives at the racetrack.

Morrison doesn't forget about the horses. Documenting Mighty Heart's rise, Morrison carefully outlines the various physical and health curveballs thrown at these majestic but fragile creatures. For example, a horse may have excellent breeding, but exposure to parasites can make them sick, or a bout of colic could end their life. Likewise, Mighty Heart's frolicking in the paddock with other horses caused the young colt to lose an eye. These athletes work hard day in and day out, and their journey is often as complicated and uncertain as the road travelled by those who care for them.

Run with a Mighty Heart should be required reading for all Thoroughbred horse racing fans. It is an uplifting tale of our capacity to endure the most complex challenges life throws at us to continue our way of life, great traditions, and recreational pursuits. Run with a Mighty Heart is also a lively story of resilience, endurance, and hope. This book tells a story a lot of people need right now.

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