Thoroughbred Books

Not his best book, but a good book for the most part. Yes there was a lot of Beyers same old stuff but there was also some new angles thrown in. So hey listen even ONE new angle from this guy is worth $11.70. I don't know what you guys are expecting for $11 but I can't even buy lunch now a days for that kind of money. So spend the $11 because his knowledge is worth way more then that in my opinion. Any serious horse play owns ALL of Beyers books.

This is a great book on handicapping or punting as we call it in Australia. Sure it has been around for many years now but much of the wisdom contained in its pages has universal application especially in relation to 'trip handicapping'.

Beyer has an always engaging writing style and the book is replete with anecdotes many of them humorous to underscore his assertions. Applying just a few of his pearls will surely increase your odds of beating the game.

For my money one of the best books of its type I have ever read.

As a part-time horse player this book is just not a good fit. To benefit from everything this book offers you would have to be a full-time handicapper. There are some great hints and tips that can be pulled out for any horse player, but to truly implement everything involved in this book you would have to be at the track every day. Maybe when I retire and I can be at the track every day I can pull out this book and use it to pick winners all day long, but until that point just 2 stars.
A great book for the part-time player is Brad Free's book Handicapping 101.

This book was a reissue of an old book with nothing new worth buying it again.

Andrew Beyer revolutionized Thoroughbred handicapping in the 1970s with the introduction of the Beyer Speed Figure.

Found in most racing forms, the speed figure gives the handicapper a guide to how the runner rates against others in the field that day no matter if they competed in races at different tracks and/or against a variety of levels of competition.

In The Winning Horseplayer, Beyer takes his analysis to trip handicapping, which takes into account the type of journey a Thoroughbred has in a race, with a focus on being compromised due to any trouble in the start and turns, what path was taken around the track and if there was any stress due to the pace.

What has been perhaps the most subjective handicapping tool is given a firm foundation by Beyer, which can be utilized by horseplayers who take the time to take trip notes from replays of previous races.

In an updated version of the book that was originally published in 1994, there are numerous case studies and witty anecdotes, along with a new preface penned by Beyer.

This is not a book for beginners to handicapping races. But for those with experience - and are looking for a possible betting edge or simply a great read on handicapping - this is the winning ticket.

I loved reading this book. I read it at home, at work, while driving... It is the best history of the origin of the thoroughbred I've read. Everything imaginable is compiled into one book. All racing nuts have heard "The" story of the origin of the thoroughbred: in the 17th and 18th centuries, English nobility imported a handful of Barb, Turk, and Arabian stallions, crossed them on non-descript local mares, and found that because of the enormous "prepotence" of these fabulous foreign studs, the offspring were stamped with their sires great speed and beauty. Mackay-Smith's great contribution is telling the history of these local mares, showing that they were not just empty vessels waiting to be filled, but were powerful sources of speed themselves, having been bred for racing for generations in England and Ireland. Indeed, they may have been faster than the imported stallions, with the Arab/Barb/Turk sires adding conformation and endurance, more than speed itself. The sires are the source of "speed that can carry", not speed per se. Fun book -like a little trip to a museum everytime you flip through it.

I enjoyed reading this book. It is full of interesting information. Most books about the history of thoroughbred breeding tell all about those magical three eastern stallions. But this one tells the whole story. Mackay-Smith has offered proof that the Irish hobby- and English running-horse strains were thriving in England in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and that it is the "taproot mares" which offer the thoroughbred its speed. The addition of the blood of the eastern stallions provided middle distance stamina to the breed. He also talks a lot about the various personalities surrounding the early breeding of thoroughbreds. Until I read this book, I wasn't aware of the connection between the English civil war, the Restoration, and the development of the thoroughbred.
BUT.... this book is far from perfect. As an earlier reviewer pointed out, it is very poorly edited. The illustrations are very good, but the style is a bit jarring and disjointed; it does seem like a bunch of author's notes thrown together under sketchy headings, and the same facts are repeated over and over. There are punctuation errors, and at one point the book refers to "Kentucky Derby winner Native Dancer", a grievous mistake that I think highly unlikely to have been the fault of Alexander Mackay-Smith. In my experience of books published by the Derrydale Press, this book is not quite up to their usual high quality of production. However, even with its faults, I thought this was a unique book, and for racing fans it's definitely worth reading.

This book is not a good read but full of interesting bits of information. It is drastically in need of editing. Published posthumously, the format gives the sense that the author's notes were simply printed as they were found with information oddly organized or repeated.

I was dreadfully sad to read a review of this book which thought that it was too difficult and not well edited. I'm only 21 and found this book to be fascinating, with much knowledge and information that captivated my interest. It is a text that has to be thought over and studied, making it much more valuable than simply a child-view of such a distinct history of the Thoroughbred horse. It was well written and planned out. I found this to be a brilliant construct of the details of such a beloved tradition as these creatures.

I was 15 years old in 1978 when I watched two horses battle tooth and nail for that year's Triple Crown. The Affirmed/Alydar rivalry may be the best in horse racing history and could be one of the best in sports history. Three great races, each one more competitive than the one below, climaxing with the greatest horse race in history, the 1978 Belmont Stakes, where Affirmed completed the Triple Crown sweep by edging out his rival Alydar by a head.

I thought the idea of combining the stories of these two great horses was a great idea for the Thoroughbred Legends series. Tim Capps has done a good job in capsulizing both horses careers, from their breeding (both horses had blood of Raise A Native - Alydar's sire and Affirmed's grandsire) to their career (where they met nine times in total), to their years at stud (where Alydar was the runaway winner) to their deaths (Affirmed's through the maladies of old age and Alydar's through suspicious circumstances).

My only complaint about the book is that it appears that most of Capps' research was done through reading and summarizing articles about the two horses' races. Unlike some of the other books in this series, there are very few quotes from the two horses' connections (in fact it appears he only interviewed Alydar's trainer, John Veitch). Many of the horses' connections are still alive (like their jockeys) and it would have been nice to hear more about their thoughts on the two horses.

Overall, a good book about these great warriors from years ago.

Unworthy refers to the book, not the horses. The book is really thin, in both content and intensity. The first chapter was exciting and well written (in the vein of Nack's "Secretariat"). The rest, however, is poorly written and put together and ends as anti-climactically as the rivalry between Affirmed and Alydar. The price is simply too much. I was surprised that the author, who seems to have the credentials, wrote stumbling sentences and never seemed to believe in the two horses.

Tim did a very good job with the hitorical account of the Famous Affirmed/Alydar rivalry.

Many people do not know that they met many times outside of the 3 Triple Crown races.

In fact, as 2 yr olds at Saratoga, Alydar was placed first in a DQ of Affirmed !

The Triple Crown races set these two horses apart from the rest of the racing world, becasue they owned the Triple Crown.

While Affirmed was a clear victor in the Kentucky Derby, his Preakness win was much closer then most people remember.

Coming into the Belmont Stakes, a Triple Crown was on the line and nobody dared even intimate that Affirmed would win it.

Coming through the entire length of the very long Belmont Park Stretch, Affirmed and Alydar hooked up into an EPIC battle.

They bobbled back and forth and back and forth and no one could tell who was going to win, no one gave an inch !

When they hit the wire and Affirmed has a NOSE in front it was simply the luck of the bob. These two horses were equals, and while Affirmed deserves the glory of being a Triple Crown winner, Alydar went on to become on of the greatest sires of all time.

A must have book for the Horse Racing enthusiast, and one of the greatest rivalries in the history of the sport.

Best Regards to all, MC - TheStickRules.Com

How dare they NOT include ruffian in this book!!!! She is by far the best filly to EVER set foot on a track!!!! That is HORRIBLE!!!!

Ten great American Thoroughbred fillies and mares are featured in this book, and not the ones that you might guess, either. For instance, the unbeaten Personal Ensign was never elected `Horse of the Year,' so she is not included. Neither were the Kentucky Derby winners, Genuine Regret or Winning Colors, nor Ruffian, who was perhaps the greatest racing filly of them all. Miss Woodford (who won the title twice), Imp, Beldame, Regret, Twilight Tear, Busher, Moccasin, All Along, Lady's Secret, and Azeri are the only American Thoroughbred females who were crowned `Horse of the Year' (or its equivalent back before there was such a title). According to the various authors who wrote a chapter for "Women of the Year," female Thoroughbreds weren't usually chosen for top honors unless there was no outstanding Thoroughbred male for a particular year. For instance Personal Ensign, who won thirteen out of thirteen races, most of them grade I stakes, was beaten out for the 1988 Thoroughbred crown by Alysheba. The following year, Bayakoa won seven grade I races and was nosed out by Sunday Silence, who won just five, but they included the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Okay, life isn't fair but "Women of the Year" is still an interesting read for Thoroughbred fans. I personally wasn't acquainted with the stories of most of these ten great racing fillies, especially the ones who raced in the first half of the 20th Century.

The authors of this book all wrote for the weekly magazine, "Blood Horse" and their individual chapters range from pleasant to scintillating. I was particularly fond of Judy L. Marchman's story of Moccasin, who was the first and only two-year-old filly to win the "Horse of the Year" title. During her 1965 two-year-old season, the big chestnut filly defeated everything that set foot on the track with her, including the boys. She ended her juvenile season "with a record of eight wins in eight starts, with a combined margin of victory of fifty-one lengths..."

"Women of the Year" includes black-and-white photographs of its four-legged subjects, along with their various human connections. I would rate it as a very pleasant way to spend an evening if you are an American Thoroughbred racing aficionado.

Horse of the Year, the most prestigious of the Eclipse Awards, is an honor that traditionally goes to male horses. There is no rule that says this has to be so, but year after year it is nearly always won by a colt. Only ten fillies and mares in the history of American racing have managed to come away with the title. Those ten outstanding females are profiled here in yet another excellent book put out by the staff of "The Blood Horse."

Official voting for Horse of the Year honors was not begun until 1936, after the eras of the first four fillies included in the book. Miss Woodford, Imp, Beldame, and Regret are, nevertheless, said to have earned the equivalent of the title based upon the general consensus of the racing world at the times they ran. They are included in what is considered a "legitimate, although unofficial, list of champions dating back . . . to 1870," compiled by then-editor of "The Blood Horse" Kent Hollingsworth in 1970 (pg. 8).

Miss Woodford, the first filly to earn the Horse of the Year title, was also the first and so far only female to be accorded the honor twice, in both 1883 and 1884. Her career earnings of $118,270 also made her the first horse of either gender to earn more than $100,000 in America. Of 48 lifetime starts, she won 37, placed second seven times, and third twice. By the end of her career she had earned the equivalent of seven Eclipse Awards - "one division title for each of the five years she raced and two Horse of the Year honors" (pg. 28), proving her a truly phenomenal athlete even by today's standards.

Imp, nicknamed the "Coal Black Lady," next earned the title in 1899. A homely-looking mare, and the daughter of parents who each raced only once, Imp herself started in an astonishing 171 races, placing in the top three in 126 of them. She was also the first mare to win the $10,000 Suburban Handicap. Imp was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1965, more than five decades after her death in 1909.

Beldame, for whom the grade I Beldame Handicap is named, captured the Horse of the Year title in 1904. Bred and owned by August Belmont II, who also bred the great Man O'War, she was the second female to win the Suburban Handicap, and was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1956.

Regret was named Horse of the Year for 1915. She was raced only lightly - her heaviest season was in 1917 with four starts, but she attained champion status in three out of the four seasons she ran, winning nine out of eleven starts. Even more impressive, Regret was the first of only three fillies to win the Kentucky Derby (Genuine Risk would win it in 1980, and Winning Colors in 1988). Her two losses were to male horses. She was never beaten by another filly.

Twilight Tear was the first filly to be officially voted Horse of the Year, named in 1944. Her career accomplishments include winning the Pimlico Special against the colt Devil Diver, in which she matched Seabiscuit's stakes record of 1:56 3/5, and also besting stablemate and Kentucky Derby winner Pensive.

Busher earned the title the very next year, in 1945. She won 15 of her 21 career starts, placed second three times, and third once. Busher won both the Arlington and Washington Park Handicaps against colts, conceding weight to all opponents. Her win in the Washington Park also brought the defeat of 1947 Horse of the Year Armed.

Moccasin earned Horse of the Year honors in 1965. The 16 hand, 1 3/4 inch filly broke her maiden by eight lengths and entered every subsequent race of her career as the odds-on favorite. She won eight of eight starts in 1965, and is the first and only female to win the Horse of the Year title at age two.

All Along, named in 1983, was the first European to be voted American Horse of the Year. In 1982 she won the Arc de Triomphe in her native France, only 1/10 second off the record time. The author states: "By the end of 1983, All Along had become the most popular French female to grace the shores of America since Brigitte Bardot" (pg. 131). She was also the leading money-winning filly of her time, earning over $3 million.

Lady's Secret, nicknamed the "Iron Lady," earned the title in 1986. She racked up 22 career stakes wins, won the Fall Triple in New York in two consecutive years, and distinguished herself as the first female Whitney Handicap winner since Gallorette in 1948. She was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1992.

Azeri rounds out the group, her 2002 Horse of the Year title making her the most recently named filly. She is the only one of the ten who never ran against males, but she nevertheless proved herself by winning a string of eleven graded stakes races in a row, including a five-length victory in the Breeder's Cup Distaff. She is the first horse to win the Apple Blossom Handicap three years in a row, and is also the richest American female racer of all time (the book lists her second to Spain, but she now has the lead with over $4 million).

Each profile was contributed by a different author, but each is well-written and the book as a whole remains solid and engaging. Also included is information on ancestors' and offspring's accomplishments, pedigrees, and numerous great photos. At the end is a full list of past performances for each horse, excepting Azeri who was still in training at the time of publication. "Women of the Year" is a quick and easy but fascinating read, and I'd highly recommend it to any Thoroughbred racing fan.

The Cindy and second generation eventing portions of the series were dark days for Thoroughbred. The plots have since switched back to racing and the newest few books have been exceptional. Just as we thought there was hope for the Thoroughbred series to be restored to its former glory Harper Collins has decided to end the series abruptly after #72. With such a dedicated following and online fan base with members from all over the world, this is a classic and beloved series that has inspired many people and provided horse fans with vicarious thrills and adventure. Ashleigh saved Wonder, now it's up to you to help save Thoroughbred. [...]

I am very angry with the way the Thoroughbred books are changing. Joanna Campbell did a far better job writing them, and I think the new author needs to take a hike. Ashleigh and Samantha have always been my favorite charcters, and now they are totally kicked out of the picture. Especially Sammy in the later books. And what of the other characters, like Mandy and Jilly? They played such large parts in previous books, so where are they now? I especially dislike Cindy. She was tolerable at first, when she had just one special horse...Glory. Now though, she has had numerous 'Wonder Horses' and as soon as a new book comes out, she drops them. I say kill Cindy off, and bring back Sammy and Ash. And stop creating all these stupid new characters!

I didn't really like this book because practically 12 books were all on Cindy, Cindy, Cindy. She acted like a brat at the track in Arabia, saying Champion was "her horse." why did Ashleigh ever let her ride Champion anyway? It was obvious Champion was going to win, and this book is all about dating this ugly guy named Max.

this was the best maybee not the best but a really good thoroughbred book. Its about Cindy and she gets her jockys licence but she loses her first race. then she wins her second race. then Ahsleigh asks her to race Wonders Champion a triple crown winner in the Dubai World Cup. But if Cindy races she has to race aginst Ashleigh her coach and best friend. She takes the challenge but will cindy risk looseing her friend ship with ashleigh. I give this book a 10 stars it was so good. If you love horses read the thoroughbreed series but remember start from number 1

In Arabian Challenge, Cindy Mclean is finally a aprentice jockey. Cindy passes both jockey test by riding black Reason. Black Reason was bought by Whitebrook and Reason is doing well on the track. But Cindy was overwhelmed when she pased her test on the black colt. Cindy couldnt wait for Wonders Champions next race. the Tripple Crown winner. Cindy has watched the colt grow into a champion, living up to his name. Wonders Champion has been invited to race in Dubia, where he will race against the best colts and fillies over the sand track. Cindy believes Champion can blow the others away and ecspically with his jockey Ashleigh Griffen abord. Ashleigh was the first female to win the tripple Crown and nothing was gonna stop Ashleigh from getting Champion in the winners circle. Cindy wants to ride the colt in the Dubia World Cup but will she be allowed. Ashleigh finally tells Cindy what she wants to hear, Cindy will be able to ride Champion. But Cindy aint the only one racing. One of the orphan foals from when Cindy came to Whitebrook is racing. 4 Leaf Clover was raised here after being bought at auction. Cindy knows Clover will be a threat. And so will March To Glorys old trainer, Ben. One of Bens horses will be racing. Just Deserts, one of champion Just Victorys offsprings so he will be a tuff competor. But the most to worry about is a friend. Ashleigh has entered her colt Limitless Time, one of Fleet Goddess foals will be racing. That means Cindy will have to race against her best friend and teacher. Can Champion and Cindy beat Ashleigh and Limitless in the Dubia World Cup? Find out in Arabian Challenge. Or email em at [...]

Unfortunately for Allison Estes, she probably should have stuck with Christina. Melanie's Treasure has good points, but is mainly a meandering attempt to distract us with Melanie as she bridges between when Christina purchases Sterling Dream to when she starts to worry obsessively over Sterling Dream's natural talent and why she's not using it completely. Naturally this means the books just get worse from here.

Melanie is definitely a different character for the Thoroughbred Series. She's imported from New York, has an attitude that borders on somewhat respectable instead of gratingly annoying, but I could live without the Kool-Aid colored hair. Really, it's not impressive. In any case, Melanie comes out to Kentucky when she accidentally kills a horse during some nighttime shenanigans. Instead of properly parenting Melanie, her father ships her off to his brother-in-law to do that work for him, and Melanie is none too happy about that. So she acts surly and annoyed, hoping they'll send her back when they realize no one gets through to her. That's where Pirate steps in and thus begins another round of magical girl meets upset horse equals sparks and shiny rainbows of happiness. It doesn't seem very well conceived, especially when I keep trying to figure out why they're going to keep a blind horse on the track as a pony when he kept accidentally ramming into horses when he was racing. Well, that's logic, and we don't do that in these books after all.

This one is mostly forgettable.

About the book: The setting first opens up in New York, where Melanie Graham lives. There we find a troubled young girl with a love of horses. Well that combination doesnt work out too great. Mel decides that she and her best friend Anslee should go for a moonlight ride in central park. Mel takes her favorite horse, Milky Way, and Ans takes Rams. While they were crossing the raod Mel's horse slips on a metal sheet covering a hole in the road. He goes down and in the prosses Mel dislocates her shoulder. At that same instant a Taxi comes speeding around the corner and hits Milky. Ans blames Mel for everthing that happened and as a result Mel's father sends her to live with her aunt and uncle on Whitebrook farm. This puts us in Kentucky once again. Once there, Mel finds she doesnt get along with Christina, everything she does is wrong, she finds out her beast friend hates her, and she vows never to ride again. But then she sees Pirate's Treasure, a big, black, and blindingly fast Thoroughbred. She notices that he gives everyone a problem. She finds out that pirate and her have much in common. For example, the way people treat them. She takes on the responsiblity of caring for pirate, and eventually gets the guts to ride him. she discovers why he is misbehaving (he has moon blindness)and saves his life. She descides she would like to stay for the rest of the summer.

My opinion: Im surprised that this book had a low rating. I loved this book and it was on of my favorites. Melanie is a wonderful addition to the series. She turns out to be alot of people's favorite character later on in the series. Definatley worth reading.

Melanie was my favorite character of Thoroughbred's second generation. She is quirky, spirited and very real. Not long after she accidentally causes the death of her favorite horse, Melanie Graham relocates from New York City to her aunt's Whitebrook Farm. Here she forms a bond with Pirate, a troublesome racehorse, and a unique story unfolds. One of my favorites in the series. Unfortunately, Harper Collins has decided to end the series abruptly after #72. With such a dedicated following and online fan base with members from all over the world, this is a classic and beloved series that has inspired many people and provided horse fans with vicarious thrills and adventure. Ashleigh saved Wonder, now it's up to you to help save Thoroughbred. Go to www.whitebrookfarm.com and join the effort.

Melanie is the best. After her favorite horse is killed in an accident that Melanie thinks is her fault, Melanie finds it hard to fit in in Kentucky, where her father sent her. Melanie never wants to fall in love with a horse again. But Melanie finds Pirate, a black TB stallion who has a problem. Everyone else gives up on him and puts him in the pasture, where he is miserable, but Melanie knows there winner in him. Will Melanie give up on Pirate, or will she rise above the rest and find Pirate's problem? READ THIS BOOK!!!!!

In Melanies Treasure, Melanie Graham, the city girl has lived in New York her whole life with her father, Will Graham. Will was Mike Reese father. Mike Reese and his wife Ashleigh Griffen own a large racing and breeding stable in Kentucky for Thoroughbreds. Will worked in his studio business and was never home for Melanie. So one night, Melanie and her best friend take 2 of the stable in New Yorks horses out for a night trail ride. But instead of having a great and fun time riding their horses, fun turns into diseaster. Melaines favoirte horse at Clarebrook, Milkyway pretty much stumbbles in the street, crossing to get to the park. But when Milkyway stumbles, a taxi hits Milkyway and Melanie loses her favoirte horse in the world. Milkyway was killed and Will sent Melanie to live with her aunt Ashleigh, Uncle Mike and Christina, Mike and Ashleighs daughter. At first, when Melanie comes to Whitebrook, she decides she hates it more than anything. Melanie wants to go back home in New York but when she sees the unperdictable colt, Pirates Treasure, Melanie felt one with the black horse. Melanie helped train Pirate to go in the starting gate without him balking or rearing. Soon, Melanie helps trains the dangerous colt to become a champion racer. but after Pirate crashes into the rail aster winning one of his races, Melanie feels that she has brought bad luck to Whitebrook and Pirate. Soon, Melanie finds out Pirate is blind after is accident and discorved the rail hit gave Pirate moonlight (or something like that) which has forced Pirate to end his career. But staying away from the track has caused depresion to the colt and Melanie knows he misses the track. Pirate harldy eats and is very weak. Can Melanie save the horse she loves from dying or will she lose another horse? Find out in melanies Treasure or email me at Blades60@aol.com. You can also go to Whitebrookfarm.com to learn more about the Thoroughbred series.

gggrrr!!! I am really starting to dislike these series! I want the old charecters back badly! When Cindy was in the picture, i didn't like her, but now, with Cristina (eeewww), i want cindy back! i also want all of the old charecters back! what happened to samantha, Tor, Heather, mandy, Yvonne, Len, Brad and Lavinia Townsend?, and at least they can keep Townsend Acres in the picture. i mean, thats the barn that started it all! Cristina is really getting on my nerves. She thinks she is so good and she pushes Sterling WAY to hard. Joanna Campbell could've at least made a super edition with all of the old characters come back for a reunion or someting. I think i'll make my own book like that. Can anyone answer my questions?

In Melanies Last Ride, Melanie Graham, from New York is having a great time with her cousin Christina Reese and all her new friends at Camp Saddlebrook. Christina and Melanie went to camp for 3 weeks to learn more how to ride. But with everything going on at Saddlebrook, Melanie might have to leave or her father might take her back to New York. Somebody was pulling pranks on people and mixing up tack to get melanie in trouble. If this keeps happening, Melanie probably have to move back to New York forever and leave Christinas pont Tribulation and Pirates Treasure, the retiered racehorse. Melanie knows she cant leave Whitebrook farm, the famous racing and breeding stable in Kentucky. Can Melanie find out whos pulling the pranks before she has to leave for good? Find out in Melanies Last Ride.(...)

What happened??? Camp Saddlebrook was the best and then it dropped into the toliet! You lost your touch! Camp Saddlebrook was the absoulte best, but this one just fell off the cliff! No good! Mel needs to have her pesky attuide and funny fever, like she did in #28, but she lost that all in #29. I have to say this book is not on my #1 book list. I own all of the Thoroughbred series, and this one just makes stop and wonder if it was really worth it and will it still be worth it. Also I still think Christina is and always will be a brat. What kind of kid cries when she gets a horse on Christmas and her birthday, just because it's a racehorse and not her dream eventer? Come on! Get Real!

I really liked this book. The story line was good and i loved the suspense. I do think it concentrates a little much on the people, not the horses, however, and the racing ones are the BEST. i really reccomend this book, though.

This book was OKay. I like the tint of mystery to it. I think it adds spark. But it's kind of slow and easy to put down. That's why I didn't give it five stars like I usually do. Don't get me wrong, I still recommend reading it because if you skip it you might get confused in Dylan's Choice, the next one. I'm just saying it isn't as great as it should be.

like i said, this book was OKAY but even that is streching it. To give a short summary of it, this is what happened: christina is having alot of trouble with sterling. the horse keeps on refusing the jumps. there is this one girl named cassidy that is a very experienced rider(besides being pretty and friendly and generouse.)
christina doesnt like her from the start, especially becouse dylan, the boy christina has a major crush on, seems to like her and is a bit in amazed by her riding ability. so when christina hears cassidy talking to dylan and calling sterling a quitter, christina turns into an absolute brat. she keeps on having more and more trouble with sterling, and soon falls off and hurts her wrist. she cant ride sterling now and when her cousin melanie trys to ride her she falls off too. so now there is only one more person who is willing to ride sterling: cassidy. but christina seems to hate her and goes out of her way to ennoy cassidy and be an absolute brat. she feels jelouse of her and also feels like cassidy is trying to steel dylan. I wont give the ending away becouse that would spoil it--what i will say is that the ending is very predictable. if you are hard up for a read, get this book. if you are not, dont waste your time in getting it.

Well i say thoroughbred series aren't the best.
I am atlast glad that someone likes show jumping like Christina.But once you keep on reading she sells Sterling and goes back to racing.So yea.My favorite charactor and the best is Melanie.She is really cool.I for one like horses,mystery & fantasy.Horses and mystery is what i like looking for. :D
I keep reading these books one book after another and say wait always {mostly} end very simaler as the other books ive read in the series it just keeps going on and on and on! Its CRAZY! Like Nancy Drew for instance its always the SAME! No matter how diffreent it is its the SAME!!! Sometimes it's just plane annoying reading the same thing over and over though its a diffrent series number.I am telling now on earth its very hard to find a good interesting book.

The best series i find is Horsefeathers by Dandi Mackall
They are the BEST!

What i really like admiring is the covers of the series.They are drawn very nicely.
I want to draw one day like that.

In Sterlings Second Chance, Christina finally has the mare of her dreams, Sterling Dream. A few weeks back, Christina had to trade her colt, Wonders Legacy, The last foal out of the famous mare, Ashleighs Wonder. When Christina saw Sterling out on the racetrack, Christina new that was the horse of her dreams. When Sterling and Christina got back home to Whitebrook, the famous racing and breeding stable in Kentucky, Christina knew Sterling would make the best event horse ever. Christinas riding uinstructor, Mona has entered them both in a trial at Kenswood park, Christina and Sterling get into an acciednt. Christina has broken her arm a bit, enough to stop her from riding Sterling. But what will Christina do with Sterling. If Sterling dont have a rider, she cant compete. Christina has to find someone to ride the mare. Christina first askes her cousin from New York to ride Sterling. Melanie Graham first does well on Sterling but after a sppok, Melanie refuses to ride Sterling. Christina has asked many people to ride Sterling but no one was able to ride her. There was only one more person, Cassidy Smith. Cassidy and her father moved to Kentucky and Cassidy was able to ride her 2 horses at Monas. Cassidy is a very good rider and Christina gets kinda jelious of that. Christina doesnt like Cassidy and denfinantly doesnt want her riding her mare. Will Christina allow cassidy to ride Sterling in the trials or will they have to scratch Sterling? Find out in Sterlings Second Chance.
(...)

that was very very very very stupid of christina to trade legacy in for sterling. legacy would have been a great racehorse. if i was ashleigh i would of told christina not to give up legacy for sterling ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wonder's Star has finally recovered from the disease that halted his promising racing career at Belmont. The vets are baffled at his amazing recovery and everyone at Whitebrook is celebrating his comeback. Christina Reese is overjoyed that her beloved colt is alive, and she still has secret dreams of winning the Kentucky Derby with him. Christina can't wait until Star can race again, but Star doesn't seem to care. Then Star starts behaving horribly. Christina knows he just isn't listening to her and she tries everything she can think of to bring back the extrordinary bond that she had with the colt before he got sick. But she draws the line at her boyfriend, Parker Towsend's, crazy suggestion of taking Star to Lyssa Hynde's ranch in Montana. But Star gets worse. One day Christina is looking at the damage he has recently done and she gives in. Lyssa has lots of helpful suggestions but Christina won't try anything for fear of losing Star. It will take a miracle or a mountain adventure to bring Christina and Star together again.

This book was not one of my favorites in the series so far--A Horse Called Wonder, Sierra's Steeplechase, Pride's Challenge--but it is one of the most important of the books about Christina and Star. You should read it anyway, though. (...)

I have been reading all the Thoroughbred books for as long as I can remember. But I have to say that since other people have been writting the series it has gone down hill. BUT I'm not saying that the books are bad they writters just need to stop writting books so fast. They need to stop and go back and read the books about Wonder and her days. They need to go back and remember how they made the reader feel. To me the writters are just wanting to put new books out at any cost. BUT the books still are okay.

I have enjoyed all the Thoroughbred books so far, excypt for this one. It was very boring and it took forever to end. I usually finish a Thoroughbred book in a day, but this one took me at least two weeks. I'm tired of everything always working out for the characters. The books have become very predictable. Like when you read this you know what is going to happen to Star(which I won't reveal). I'm really glad the next book was on Cindy. That book was wonderful, but do recommend to read this book if you keep up with the series only so in the future books you will understand what is going on!

I haven't read this yet, but I just want to say that when Christina gave up jumping for racing I was SOOOOOO upset! I am 16 years old, but I love these books... or at least I did. They're still good, but Christina is turning into an Ashleigh clone!!! Dont get me wrong, I love Ashleigh, but this is the new generation!! I think it would be good if the new characters (Christina, Parker, Melanie, Kevin) had different personalities than the ones before. Its like, Christina is the new Ashleigh, and Melanie is the new Samantha. I compete in jumping some, and I love it a lot more than racing, but I do like to read about racing. I think the series would have been great if Melanie was the one racing and Christina had stayed with jumping. She is just like Ashleigh! She even looks like her!! I thought she had blond hair! I loved the book "Ashleigh's Christmas Mirical", when Christina was into jumping. I mean, I know that Parker loves jumping, but I like reading about other female jumpers. So, please, do something, bring back the old Christina that was in "Ashleigh's Christmas Mirical"!!!!! One good thing about the new books, I love Christina and Parker as a couple!!!

I am simply annoyed with the entire Star thing. Why do they always either have to recover completely or die? Why can't Star just be non retrainable and have to be retired? Then maybe Christina can get Sterling back. Or is stupid Star the new Horse of her Dreams? I mean, look at the past! Sterling was her dream horse! Now Christina never even remembers her!! All it is is STAR STAR STAR And I am sick of it! Authors, please listen to me, MAKE STERLING A STAR AGAIN!!!

I was really dissapointed with this book. For one thing...Cindy is all ticked off because she can't ride Gratis. She acts as if she can't ride at all. Another thing...she was complaning that Wolf would never ride Gratis because it takes years of experience to ride in the Derby. But remember in book 22? Didn't Cindy ride in the Dubai World Cup after riding in only TWO races? Yes Cindy, it takes YEARS of experience to ride in a world class race. Brad Townsend? Gimme a break! Attitude way WAY to strong. It made me want to rip the book into thosands of pieces. But I guess it's an important book, so you should buy it...only if you have a lot going on around you.

This was a very good book, but not as good as the other Thoroughbred books I have read. This book was a good chance to get to know the character of Cindy McLean because she hasn't been mentioned much in the series. With the Kentucky Derby coming up Cindy is pressured to get a jockey. Christina and Melanie both are riding their own horses, so Cindy doesn't have much choice for a really good jockey, either they can't handle Gratis or the already have rides. Gratis is the most stubborn and untrained horse I have ever heard about. He is pig-headed and tries to throw his rider off at any chance he gets. I can understand Cindy's suffering of not being able to ride because of her shoulder injury. She really wants to race Gratis and she probably could if she could ride. I really enjoyed this book because it showed a side of Cindy I had never seen before. The only thing I would change about it is that it probably needed a bit more action in it, although it did have some. I can't wait to find out who wins the Derby! You should definitly buy this book!

This was a very good book, but not as good as the other Thoroughbred books I have read. This book was a good chance to get to know the character of Cindy McLean because she hasn't been mentioned much in the series. With the Kentucky Derby coming up Cindy is pressured to get a jockey. Christina and Melanie both are riding their own horses, so Cindy doesn't have much choice for a really good jockey, either they can't handle Gratis or the already have rides. Gratis is the most stubborn and untrained horse I have ever heard about. He is pig-headed and tries to throw his rider off at any chance he gets. I can understand Cindy's suffering of not being able to ride because of her shoulder injury. She really wants to race Gratis and she probably could if she could ride. I really enjoyed this book because it showed a side of Cindy I had never seen before. The only thing I would change about it is that it probably needed a bit more action in it, although it did have some. I can't wait to find out who wins the Derby! You should definitly buy this book!

I liked this book.Cindy was one of my favorite girls in the series. I wish her old boyfriend Max would not have disappered though. It was not my favorite THOROUGHBRED book, but I liked it.

Yet another book to stretch out the time before the derby....Mary Anderson, why? Why did the series suddenly become even more of a soap opera? Really, the character of Brad Townsend is so greatly exaggerated that is borders on the ludicrous. I realize that they are trying to present him as the antagonist and as a flat character that will never change, but honestly! Furthermore, I found Cindy to be infuriating in this novel...the only way she got to be a jockey was having a family in the business and willing to help; yet she can't give Wolf a chance? And didn't she get to ride Glory when she was barely learning? She is taking her frustration at not being able to ride out on Wolf. She is still the insecure, petty, ungrateful child she always was, and will remain.