(You all know that I have a love/hate relationship with the racing industry.  I love the heart of the animals, I hate some of the horrible behind the scenes by-products.)

The AMERICAN PHAROAH book is out!  I read it.  GET IT.

So…. I was very happy to receive an advance copy of AMERICAN PHAROAH The untold story of the Triple Crown Winner’s Legendary Rise by Joe Drape.

I read it in one sitting.  I swear, it grabbed me like a swift stream and pulled me along.   But what really engaged me was the author’s voice.  It was like I was sitting with the storyteller as he was relaying this beautiful story of hope, hard work, heartache and triumph.  But, not just as a storyteller, but as a writer who understood horses… a writer who understood elite athletes… a writer who understood what is very wrong with the racing industry and what is very right.  I felt like he was also the voice of the horse (all horses) through the honor he presented for American Pharoah.

Drape wrote with honesty, integrity, appreciation, knowledge and skillful presentation.  He explained the goings-on so that non-horse people would understand – while also giving nods to those who have ‘been there/done that’ via his accurate imagery that pulls you right into each situation.  He really put me right there with him.  And Drape told the story – how it all happens in sequence… who has to do what to bring a horse like this (from the conception – literally – to the finish line) and where these people grew and how they were influenced and formed and the wills, sacrifices, work ethics, knowledge, hunches, hopes and dreams that create a champion.  Drape did a great job of weaving these complexities into vivid, understandable prose.

Truly.  I think you should get this book, if you are at all interested in this story.

The author had me at HELLO.

I’m one of those people that reads a book from the very beginning (copyright and all) to the very end.

In the first section was “Author’s Note”.  I read it.

Yup, he had me at HELLO.  Below I will retype the words that resonated with me so clearly.

From Joe Drape:

“Best of all are the horses — lovely creatures that take my breath away when their strides stretch out effortlessly with their feet barely touching the ground.

Long before I wrote about race horses, I owned them, which helped me appreciate the great costs, great responsibility, and great thrill that comes with being part of the sport.  Horses are athletes, spectacular ones, and depend on their grooms, trainers, and owners to do right by them.  Sometimes that is easier said than done and, as a result, a great deal of my work has focused on what is wrong with what can be a beautiful sport.”

Get the book here.  (no affiliation)

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