Secretariat

Thirty six years ago I was a girl who loved horses. I fell for Secretariat because he was beautiful. Over the years I have gone to the races to see horses run, because they are beautiful. Nack's book is not about beautiful horses. It is not about flowing manes and streaming tails and the loving relationship between a horse and his humans. It is about horse racing and in particular describing what made Secretariat the phenomenon he was. In clear, magazine like prose--only occasionally lyrical -- Nack covers his breeding, the unromantic coupling that produced the red horse, his gentling and training. More centrally, it covers the background of the farms and families that owned and managed the horse. The two families key to Secretariat are the Chenerys of Meadow Farm, particularly Penny Chenery Tweedy, and the Hancocks of legendary Claiborn Farm. Penny Tweedy and Seth Hancock are nearly as bred for their businesses as the horses they raised. In taking over the management of Meadow Farm, Mrs. Tweedy has to learn the economics of horse racing and take the chances that this expensive and complex industry demands -- and that Nack ably describes. It is a successful farm, but with her father's death, she must do something to raise the cash to pay the stiff inheritance taxes. The syndication of Secretariat raised a then-record breaking $6MM in four days by the nearly as inexperienced, but farmed raised, Seth Hancock. The investors bought into the 1972 Horse of the Year with a fine albeit brief one year record. They were betting that the virgin horse would race well in 1973 and earn enough in stud fees to earn a nice return on their investment. With this understanding well in place, Nack describes in detail the races of 1973. His race descriptions combine technical detail (racing to the 12s), summaries of the competition, the jockey's strategies. The race narratives get your heart pounding and add suspense when the outcome is already known. These are the best race descriptions I have read--but I could be prejudiced, because he is describing the best running horse of -- perhaps ever. Broken down by starts and furlongs and stretches, the reader is shifted between the being in the saddle from jockey Ron Turcotte's point of view to the view from the rail, watching the entire field. These are thrilling, exciting, moving passages that educate the reader at the same time--strategies around the curve, horses bumping one another, assessing the competition in split second observations. Nack also describes the players. Mrs. Tweedy does not show as well as her public persona suggests, much to my surprise. (Does Nack not like Mrs. Tweedy?) The Martins who trained Sham also appear badly, supporting that impression with some whining quotes. Most other figures that peopled those two years show well: the Phipps family, the Hancocks, the trainer Lucien Lurien, Ronny Turcotte, groom Eddie Sweat (who seems under served by this book), Charles Hatton, the Racing Form writer who loved Secretariat from the start and score of others who directly or peripherally were part of Secretariat's life. These are all described as a reporter would describe them, without attempts at psychological insight but through observations and extensive quotations. This is not writing for the little girl who loves horses, this is writing for the adults who people horse racing or would like to. While Nack does not emphasize it unduly, one thing does come through for the girl who loves horses. More often than not, Secretariat ran his own races. The specific strategy was up to his jockey, but when Secretariat felt like running --and he often did -- Turcotte simply let him run, without a whip, without much encouragement at all. The Triple Crown races are deeply detailed but two of them particularly stand out. At the Preakness, early in the race, horse and jockey move from their usual last place out of the gate and circles the field in a quarter mile in a burst of speed that is amazing, stunning all by itself...and all the more stunning when the horse maintains the sprinter's pace. And the 1972 Belmont is beyond superlatives--Secretariat races the small field entirely on his own, Tucotte "sitting chilly", winning by 31 lengths, moving 'like a tremendous machine', running because he loves to run. I wanted to read the races with the book in one hand and the race clips on You Tube in front of me. Nack explains the races in a way my own observation never could, but, boy, to see that big red horse run is enough to make you cry. That is, if you are, or were, a girl who loves horses.

Got here fast and in good condition. Wonderful book!!

I chose to read this book after this year's (2013) Kentucky Derby when I was telling my son about Secretariat. Although I like horses, I was never particularly intrigued by them. But I remember as an 11-year-old visiting my cousins' house watching Secretariat win the Belmont on my uncle's brand new color tv! I'll never forget it! I couldn't get this book from the library so i went on Amazon and bought it and I am so glad I did. It is so beautifully written. There was so much emotion conveyed on the pages that I wasn't surprised when at the end of the book it was revealed that the author spent many hours with Secretariat and his entourage in the months leading up to his Triple Crown achievement. The descriptions of the races were so sensational, I actually felt my heart racing while reading them. I cried so many times while reading this book, that I ended up keeping a box of tissues by my side every time I picked the book up! Paradoxically, it is also very instructive of horse breeding and racing. The sport involves so much work, so much faith and so much heart. I developed such a deep respect for all those involved that I'll never look upon horse racing the same way again.When I realized this book was originally published in 1975 I was concerned that it would end abruptly. But I was much appreciative that this updated version includes Secretariat's stud life and, also, his heartbreaking and untimely death.A wonderful book that I am glad I own, this one has vaulted over several in my collection as one of the best I've ever read.

I first read Big Red of Meadow Stables in my teens, because while I'd been a horse lover my entire life and still am, it wasn't until my teens that I fell in love with Thoroughbred racing. The last few years, I've been collecting books I read then to enjoy again, and Secretariat, the updated version of Big Red, doesn't fail to still bring the awe of Secretariat's career and background, and the thrill of Thoroughbred racing that drew me to the Sport of Kings originally. The book arrived in advertised condition, however, the packaging could have been a bit better, as the envelope was not tear-resistant Tyvek and had a large tear across the bottom of the envelope, such that the book could have been damaged or lost in transit out of the packaging. I would suggest to the seller to switch to Tyvek envelopes for future shipments to avoid this issue. Otherwise, it was packaged quite well and arrived in decent time considering it was shipped DHL, which is notoriously slow.

Only half way through and I’m loving the history of this amazing horse. A legend for sure! My only complaint is the print is very faint.

Everything exactly as the listing stated. Very good condition…clean, and binding tight, as though it was never opened. For such an older book, I’m amazed at the condition. Delivered on time. I would buy from this seller again. Thank you.

Nobody but Bill Mack could write this story. He takes you to the reality of life on and around the race track and the racing community. I clearly remember the Triple Crown of 1973. My father and I used to watch the Derby, Preakness and Belmont every May/June together and as long as I had a television, I never failed to tune in after I left home. Bill Mack's portrait paints those races of 1973 so intimately I could feel the same tensions, the same anxiety and the same joyful celebration of Secretariat's brilliant career. Yes, he lost a couple of races - the Wood Memorial, just in advance of the Kentucky Derby caused all of his fans some anxious moments. Secretariat more than compensated all of us with his wins in the Derby and the Preakness and then blew us away with his triumphant desecration of the competition in the Belmont. Bill Mack was there through it all and his words make you feel it all over again. Thank you Bill Mack for writing this book and for your acknowledgement of some of the folks who were fundamental parties to Secretariat's success but unknown and/or unrecognized by others. That alone sets your book apart and merits our appreciation.

had a copy of the dvd but wanted the book also to read

Great detail.Would be of interest to all horse racing enthusiasts.Though would be great to know what happened to Billy Silver.

So boring. Bought this as I love the movie. The book is very dull and goes into horse blood lines too much to interest me.

Diane Lane ist eine meiner Lielingsschauspielerinnen. Deshalb und auch weil ioch eine Pferdeliebhaberin bin, hat mir dieser Film sehr gefallen. Obwohl der Film nicht ganz zur Originalgeschichte passt, gab es keine drastischen Veraenderungen. Die Originalgeschichte mit allen Details kann man im Sachbuch erlesen.