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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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Second Chances: Pricey Curlin 2yo “Acts Like a Filly to be Excited About”

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar.

Subsequently flattered by Liguria (War Front)'s impressive performance in last weekend's GIII Jimmy Durante S. at Del Mar, Erna (f, 2, Curlin–Jumby Bay, by City Zip) will look to go one better at second asking in the nightcap at Gulfstream Park Sunday.

Off at 11-1 going 1 1/16 miles over the grass on debut at the Belmont at Aqueduct meeting Oct. 22, Erna jumped well from post five and cleared the field of 10 heading into the clubhouse turn. Under a snug hold and in control through fractions of :23.33 and :48.01, the $600,000 OBS April breezer hit the quarter pole as the one to catch and led by a commanding 1 1/2 lengths in the stretch.

The aforementioned Liguria, making her second career start, however, was just getting going down the center. Erna dug down deep and braced for the challenge inside the final sixteenth, but, after swapping to her left lead close to home, just couldn't hold that one off and came up a neck short. Erna received a 70 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

After failing to draw into a pair of spots during Keeneland's fall meeting, Erna made a last-minute trip from trainer Cherie DeVaux's Lexington base to the Big A for her debut.

“I was really impressed with how she ran given the circumstances,” DeVaux said.

“She did not get into either of the races that had overfilled at Keeneland and she had been training there the entire time since she came in after the sale. She had to ship after entries came out on Wednesday to Belmont Park. She arrived Thursday, trained at Belmont on Friday and had to ship over to Aqueduct [to run] on Saturday. So, it was less than ideal circumstances and she ran huge considering all that was thrown at her.”

Erna, the first foal out of the multiple stakes-placed Jumby Bay, brought $600,000 from owner James D. Spry after cruising through a :20 4/5 bullet in Ocala this spring. The daughter of two-time Horse of the Year and perennial leading sire Curlin was previously a $135,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Lehigh Bloodstock.

Jumby Bay, from the family of grassy GI Garden City Breeders' Cup S. heroine Magnificent Song (Unbridled's Song), brought $510,000 from breeder Don Alberto carrying Erna at the 2019 Keeneland November sale.

“At the sale, we were really impressed with her breeze and how she moved,” DeVaux said of Erna. “She looked like she was more turf inclined.”

Erna drew post nine going a two-turn mile for her second career try over the Gulfstream lawn Sunday. Luis Saez has the mount aboard the 5-2 morning-line favorite.

“I think if she either runs the race that she ran last time or improves, she's gonna be hard to beat,” DeVaux said. “She acts like she's a filly to be excited about.”

The 'Second Chances' honor roll is headed by two-time Breeders' Cup winner and new Ashford Stud stallion Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner and Lane's End stallion Honor A. P. (Honor Code), recent GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Cody's Wish (Curlin) and MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Paradise Woods (Union Rags).

This year's GI Carter H. winner and new Darley stallion Speaker's Corner (Street Sense), GI Preakness S. third-place finisher Creative Minister (Creative Cause), Curlin S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Artorius (Arrogate) and Cinema S. winner and GII Del Mar Derby third War At Sea (War Front) have also been featured in the series.

Other standouts include: GSW Moonlight d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), GSW & MGISP Spielberg (Union Rags), GSW Backyard Heaven (Tizway), MSW and 'TDN Rising Star' Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}); and GISP A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo).

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Dec 10: Olazabal Drives Green as Sire Bolt d’Oro Makes Cut

First-crop leading earner Bolt d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) continues to stride forward. Atop TDN's board, the sire had a half-dozen chances on Friday to extend his lead over chasers Good Magic (Curlin) and Justify (Scat Daddy). Named for a Spanish golfing legend, 2-year-old colt Olazabal ratcheted up the pressure with a tee-to-green victory in the fifth race at Turfway Park.

Looking to move up in the standings, Justify found the rough when his filly Prove My Love did not make the cut in the race prior as an also-eligible. Across the Pacific though, $400,000 KEESEP sale acquisition Lap Star secured third in race 6 at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan.

That Florence, Kentucky birdie gave the Spendthrift sire an almost $100,000 lead into the weekend over Hill 'n' Dale's own. Both had draws on Saturday with Bolt d'Oro being represented at Los Alamitos in the seventh race with $475,000 KEESEP purchase, Navy Man; and Good Magic with first-timer and morning-line 5-2 favorite, Delusively in the eighth race at Golden Gate.

Sunday's final round of the weekend gives Coolmore America's Justify a pair of opportunities. The first could come on the dirt at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan when $425,000 KEESEP graduate Dona Sweat debuts in the fourth race. Trying to get up and down from the newly-aerated turf fringe at Gulfstream Park will be homebred Alpha Bella. The filly is still looking to break her maiden after three races on the dirt, as she starts for the Don Alberto Stable in the seventh.

Before heading to the clubhouse, the one-seed and three-seed will square off at Laurel Park in a 5 1/2 furlong allowance optional claiming sprint. That eighth race matches Bolt's $260,000 OBSMAR Chiringo against the Triple Crown winner's well-traveled son Prove Right, who is making his 10th start of his young career. Both ran in Aqueduct stakes last out, with the latter quadruple-bogeying the Grade II Remsen S. Dec. 3 to Good Magic's ace, Dubyuhnell.

Current Earnings Standings through racing of Dec. 9:

1st—Bolt d'Oro, $2,543,416

2nd—Good Magic, $2,448,337

3rd—Justify, $2,281,355

TDN sire lists contain full-dollar earnings of Northern Hemisphere foals winning anywhere in the world. To view the current standings updated overnight, click here. Take note, Japanese earnings are added every Sunday night, and there may be delayed reporting from other countries, which could postpone the final results in a very tight race into early January.

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Twelve Questions: Boyd Browning

Editor's note: Boyd Browning is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Fasig-Tipton Corporation. We don't know much more about him because steadfastly refuses to let Chris McGrath do a profile on him, but we suspect he's a Lexington native.

Best Fasig graduate this year who wasn't Flightline?

It's a three-way tie between Cyberknife, Jack Christopher and Taiba.

What are you proudest of in your career?

To be part of an amazing team at Fasig-Tipton.

Horse you were proudest to sell?

I'll Get Along, the dam of Smarty Jones.

If I weren't in racing, I would be…?

Involved in corporate finance.

Favorite racehorse in history, and why?

Flightline! You wouldn't let me answer him before!

Best race you've ever seen?

The Breeders' Cup Distaff between Beholder and Songbird.

Who's the hardest-working person you've ever been around?

My dad.

If you could bring back one historical racetrack, what would it be?

Hialeah.

If you could have a conversation with one historical figure, who would it be and what would you ask?

Thomas Jefferson. “How can we get our government working for our country, and not our political parties??”

Morning wake-me-up drink?

Mountain Dew!

If you could have one meal the rest of your life, what would it be?

Pepperoni sausage pizza from Vito's Cafe in Timonium, Maryland.

All I Want for Christmas Is…?

More respect and tolerance for opposing views. Cooperation as opposed to conflict!

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