Thoroughbred Books

don't know why no one has not written on this book
a classic and one of the better books on handicapping
structure is to classify and then list positives and negatives for each class of race category
intelligent treatment of handicapping

Sal Sinatra, Thoroughbred Racing: Picking the Winner (Alpha Press, 1992)

Sal Sinatra is another of the bunch who can be loosely described as followers of the Sartin Methodology, so it's not unreasonable to expect much the same thing one gets with Brohamer, Mitchell, et al. Nothing, however, could be further from the truth; Sinatra's book is almost impressionist in its approach, preferring to (almost) completely ignore the numbers in favor of the overall impressions one should be forming when handicapping any given race. It's an interesting approach to writing a handicapping manual, and certainly one that deserves more shelf space than it normally gets (the only other author I'm familiar with who writes in such a way that puts out anything worth reading is Mark Cramer; I thought of The Fast Track to Thoroughbred Profits more than once while reading this).

As (I am finding more frequently as time goes on) is seemingly common with smaller-press books, various spelling and grammatical errors abound, so if that sort of thing bugs you, be prepared. But if you can get past it, there's some stuff here that make this book a valuable addition to your handicapping library. It'll definitely give you some different ideas on ways to improve your handicapping. ** ½

This is a very nice book, filled with beautiful photos of horses, farms, and the world of racing.

After ten years of avoiding this book, and waiting well until the series ended, I finally decided to take a crack at The Horse of Her Dreams. I figured I would abhor it, but after reading the series straight through recently I find that, comparatively speaking, The Horse of Her Dreams makes every Cindy book before it look like a waste of paper. Harper Collins was right in getting rid of Cindy and Karen Bentley...they were a tremendous mistake. Their decision to marginalize racing wasn't exactly a horrible one either, but it definitely could have been done more gradually than tossing dedicated readers into a time in cannon they had no chance of recognizing. The author and/or editor's decision for Christina to trade Legacy for Sterling...probably broke the reader's back, and it should have. There was no reason for it, other than to get right up in everyone's faces and say "there's a new law in town, so shut up and like it."

However, the thing is Allison Estes wrote a decent, if not outstanding, installment to counteract all of these crazy publishing and editing decisions. I can't fault her, nor will I. Her characters have depth and feelings other than "must win, must win, must win" as they complain and moan and cry whenever things don't slightly bend in their favor. Her characters engage in conversations, rather than whine very loudly to themselves when things aren't going right. Her story actually knit together in a semblance of what a story should, rather than the feeling that the story just took you from one point to the next as the character groaned endlessly about how she knows everything and everyone else doesn't. Allison Estes's The Horse of Her Dreams was interesting, and that can't be said for any of the lessons in selfishness that were Karen Bentley's Cindy books.

The writing and characterization improved tremendously here, and for that I'm giving it high marks. The editorial and publishing decisions were silly and overdone, and that's unfortunate. However, just read Arabian Challenge and you'll immediately forgive Christina all her sins.

I loved this book! It was not as good as the last few through. I thought that Chistina was caring to stand up for the horse she loved, and how she gave away Wonder's Legacy. It was amazing, I never saw it coming! This is a book you have to read. Can't wait to read all about Melanie!

In the book The Horse Of Her Dreams, years has passed fast. The 3year old Christina Reese is now 12. Christinas parents Ashleigh Griffen was a famous jockey who raced in the Tripple Crown a couple times and the first female to win the Tripple Crown on Wonders Champion, the colt from the famous Ashleighs Wonder. Ashleigh Griffen also has helped train hundreds of promsing and champion thoroughbreds. Mike Reese Christinas father co ownes Whitebrook with Ashleigh. Mike has helped train hundreds of champions also. Mikes very first champion thoroughbred he trained was Jazzman and Ingigo. Both great racehorses and now excellent stallions. Christina is the luckiest girl ever. Christina has taken to 3 day eventing other than racing and wants a new event horse. Her old pony Tribulation is to small for Christina and Christina askes her parents for a new horse. On Christinas, Ashleigh and Mike lead Christina to the horses in training barn and there finds her new horse, Wonders Legacy. The chestnt colt was Ashleighs Wonder last foal and now he belonged to Christina Reese. Christina is upset but doesnt want her parents knowing. Legacy was a racehorse and not an event horse. On Legays first race, he comes in 4th and makes a bit of disapointment. But at the racetrack, Christina sees a grey mare being abused. When Chris sees how poorly the mare races, she finds out the mare can jump. Christina says that is the grey horse of her dreams. The mare jumped beautifully and Christina knew the mare would make a great event horse. Christina finds out the mares next race was a clamings race. Christina a Mike put up for the mare named Sterling Dream. After the race, Christina shows the groom did abuse Sterling and was fired and Christina now had the mare. Then a lady comes by and says she also put up for the mare. The track stewards decide to give Sterling to the lady. Mike offers good money but the lady still wants Sterling. Christina decides to trade her horse Wonders Legacy for Sterling Dream. Finaly Cristina and her parents are back at Whitebrook farm and without Legacy but with Sterling. U can email me for more details, at Blades60@aol.com

About the book: Christina Reese is a 12 year old girl who lives on Whitebrook farm. Her parents are the famous Ashleigh Griffen and Mike Reese. However, Chris doesnt like racing like her parents do. She would rather jump. She begs her parents for a horse, since she is outgrowing her pony. Well she gets a horse, but not just any horse; she gets Wonder's last foal (Wonder's Legacy). Chris is devastated; she wont even be able to ride Legacy. When the family goes to Belmont to watch a race, she sees the horse of her dreams. Sterling is a dappeled gray mare who is being abused by her groom. Chris would do anything to have her, even give up Wonder's Legacy. She traded Legacy for Sterling. Although life ends well for Sterling, Legacy (as we later find out) never even got the chance to race because his new owner and Brad Townsend didnt agree on ANYTHING.

My Opinion: Awesome book! There is only one problem I had with it and that was the major time jump. I think it jumped ahead by almost 10 years! And for everyone saying the series is supposed to be about racing: If you think about it, Christina feels like racing is more important to her parents than she is. On top of that they keep pushing her to like racing! Of course she will rebel against it. Remeber that old saying "you can lead a horse to water, but you cant make him drink". She already has the oppertunity to enjoy racing (she lives on a racing farm) but no one can make her like it. I wouldnt like it either if it was forced upon me. That would be like your parents trying to force you to marry someone you dont like. BLEH! So anyway what im trying to say is yes the previous books focused on racing, but HELLO we do have a new character and she doesnt like racing. Get over it!

I couldnt wit till Wonder's Legacy waz born and racing. I just started reading this book and found out that Christina trades Legacy for Sterling. Once I heard about Legacy in the begning, I knew he would be a champion like his brothers and sisters, mabe even better and Ashleigh and Mike give him to Christina and she doesnt even like him. All I hear from Christina is jumping, dressage and eventing and this is suposed to be a racing series. And wat happened to the past 9 years and I dont think Wonder had that long of a break. She could have had at least 3 foals in that time. I hated Cindy and in the first few chapters, I waz kinda glad that I never heard her name but now she is kinda better than Chris cauz she loves the horses and racing. Christina was suposed to be a racer through her life but she almost hates it. And in book 23, Ashleigh was pregient again and says nothing now. Its like they wanted her not to ride Honor and now she is a brood mare too. Along with Fleet Street, and Lucky Chance and all of teh horses that were 3 and now 10 or 11. Whatz going on?

i found the writing in this book to be kind of flat. there weren't really any subplots or exciting characters, which left it kind of lacking. however, i was glad someone other than christina was acting like a brat for a change. and it was nice to see that chris and sterling were making progress. i was getting tired of books focused on sterling's bad behavior. also, this is the first time we've really ever seen any of the characters in this series get teased for liking horses. and even though the heavy emphasis on boys at such a young age bothers me (one of the reason i liked the original books was because the women were so independent of men), i guess it's a more realistic portrayal...i just these grouping of books wasn't catering to such a young audience. the older books gave the readers more credit, assuming them to be more mature and interested in other things. i certainly was at that age.

i first purchased this book when it was published several years ago, and i still publish each new book as they come out. i'm very saddened that the series will end soon, and hope the publishers were reconsider.

These books are great uf you know absoulty nothin about horses i mean 3 months off the track and allready 3ft fences! please! I think that the lady who wrote this book knew nothin about training an event horse- hey im not saying i kno every thin but i am training a little filly to event and i have to say that in 3 years we are where Christina is in 3 months!!! Alos where the heck did Max go and why? Max and Cindy were perfect together! all around pathetic! I wish that Joanna would come back as well! Atleast she wrote the books and knows what had happened before!

This book is a great book for kids who love riding, but also love other things. Dlyan gradually stops paying attention to his horse Dakota, and more attention to soccer and sports. His friend Christina Reese is worried about him. At a competion he rushes a jump, and tries to impress a friend from school named Chad. He hurts his horse and leaves him for a soccer game when his horse needs him the most. Will Dlyan stop riding or change his point of view? Read this book and find out what happens.

In Dylans Choice, one of Christina Reeses best friend, Dylan Becker has second thoughts about horses. When Christina first met him, he was just as crazy about horses just as she was but now, he is saying that horses are just for little girls. Dylans best friend, Chad is showing Dylan another world without horses and tells him that he can make it to the big time for soccer. Dylan is a excelient soccer player and now his horse Dakota his just a pet instead of an eventer. Dylan was training his quarter horse to be a perefect 3 day eventer but after their last competition, Dakota showed no spirit like he normaly does and gets himself injuried. Christina even had to tell Dylan to take care of his horse before heading to his soccer game. A hour later Christina sees that Dakota has hardly been taking care of. She knew Dylan has changed. It seemed when Chad was around, Dylan tried to make him proud and be stuck up and everything. Dylan even choses to ride a dirtbike instead of his horse. Is Christina loosing her friend? Find out in Dylans Choice. (...) And please if u want to save Thoroughbred, (...)

This was a great book because it showed more of a conflict that would actually happen. I love the other books, but really what are the odds that you will have like 10 of those "one in a million horses" like Wonder, Pride, Princess, Glory, Shining, Honor, Star, Image. I could go on and on. It was really a story that you can relate to, I have had like a million friends that you think they like the sames things you do or whatever, but then bam they turn on you like a turn on the forehand! They also did it at just the right age I mean this happens mostly in teenages its not like an eight year old would do that. But its cool how Dylan comes back in the end. Its also true that its really hard to concentrate on more than one sport at a time. I used to horseback ride and do gymnastics (horseback riding more of course) but you really have to choose one sport in the long run. So this is really a good book and targets something that basicly everybody will have to go through at one time or another. Its great they got Dylan back though, because he was a really good character (realistic too, considering at Camp Saddlebrook he totally didn't know how bad Rachel was flirting with him, and all guys do that so it just makes it better.) This is definatly one of the best Thoroughbred books yet! Also, I love the books on eventing! What do all you people have against it? Why can't Christina and Melanie just stay on eventing instead of going to racing? We would all be much happier if Cindy never came back! So this little part of the series about eventing is either the best or best tied with the first ones about Ashleigh and Samantha.

My daughter loves this series of books. She tries to read each one as soon as she gets them. They are very well written and keep her entertained and interested through the whole book.

It didn't satisfy me, to say the least when I read it years ago. I found it extremely predictable, to start, just like all the other Thoroughbred Series Books, except a choice few. Ashleigh's Christmas Miracle and Seirra's Steeplechase. I'm a jumper and hunter fan and rider myself. I am also a fan of the longer Thoroughbred books. to those who agree with me, I have some suggestions. I used to read a series called Pine Hollow, the Second series after the Saddle Club. I even still read those books and just bought four off this amazon.com two days ago...To sum it all up, Thoroughbred isn't a bad series, but it doesn't turn my crank like they did when I was younger.

In Christinas Courage, Christina Reese and her grey thoroughbred mare, Sterling Dream is finaly getting ready to compete with Christina in 3 Day Eventing. But Christinas instructor, Mona wants to get Sterling to actaully behave and jump the liver pool. Sterling has always been afraid of water and that makes more of the challenge. Sterling just wont behave and starts to distrust Christina after Christina forces Sterling to jump the liver pool. Christina feels she has lost trust in her mare and ecaspically after Mona made Christina hit Sterling with a crop to make Sterling jump the liverpool. Mona starts to think Sterling will never make a good event horse. But Christina and her cousin from New York knows Sterling can make the best event horse around. But how can they get Sterling to behave and jump water or even step in it? Did Christina trade one of Ashleighs Wonders foals for nothing? Find out if Christina and Sterling forgive eachother and be one to compete. (...)

i have to say, alice leonhardt was never one of my favorite authors. i think this book is where the plot recycling within the series began in earnest. christina, who apparently learned nothing from previous books, is still a brat. and though i would understand and expect problems from a horse like sterling, it seems like she and chris never really make any progress.

that said, i've decided i like sterling as a character, and feel sorry for her that she has to put up with chris. then again, chris's behavior is kind of typical of a goal-oriented 12 year old. i also really enjoyed the scenes between chris and ash in this book. i was originally upset with the way ash's character was portrayed, but perhaps it's a good thing the she and chris don't magically get along.

i bought this book when i was about 14 years old, maybe even younger, and i'm still rereading it, along with others in the series. i'm saddened that the series will be ending soon. i enjoy reading and purchasing both the new and old books.

This is one of the best THOROUGHBRED books, though most of them are "one of the best"! Anyone who does or admires showjumping should read and own this book. It is awesome! Sterling isn't behaving, and Christina is fustrated. It will take a lot of work to make Sterling a good jumper again. There are lots of surprises in here.

Most fans of the Thoroughbred Series seem conflicted over which volume is the worst ever...Glory's Rival or Arabian Challenge? Personally, my opinion is that nothing can eclipse the singular awfulness of Arabian Challenge, but Glory's Rival almost manages it.

First, you have the premise. Will Cindy's horse race against Samantha's horse, and, if so, how will Cindy feel when her horse ultimately beats the living snot out of Samantha's horse? As, you see, there is no other option. Not that any of this matters, because Karen Bentley's plot implodes right when she decides that there will be no great race at all. You see, it's so much more fantastic to have two winners rather than have to deal with anything that might be actually interesting.

Second, you have Cindy's obsession with winning. Would it be nice to have a Breeders' Cup Classic winner? Well of course, but not only does Cindy expect this, she also demands a new world record and a unanimous Horse of the Year nomination. I am not even kidding. By the time she has her sit down with Samantha concerning how we can't always win, kids, the lesson has no hope of hitting home. Cindy nods, pretends she understands, and becomes even more infatuated with winning.

Third, the Townsends are abandoned in this book. Sure, it's done under the assumption that they weren't all that evil after all. Actually, hey, they're great, you guys! Those seventeen books before this? They were just misunderstood! Which, hey, I love Brad Townsend, but even I can't see the motivation behind this. I want my Townsends in plain view, I want them scaring our main characters to emotional overreaction, and I want Brad Townsend being awesome. He was really the only thing interesting in the series after a certain point as it was. How dare he be cast aside!

Not to even mention Glory's fantastic Classic win. Can we all say Secretariat?

This book is the best book cause Shining and Glory are my favourite including Ashleigh's Wonder and more. But anyway Cindy is being a selfish brat and wanted March to Glory to win the Breeders Cup Classic but she doesn't want to hurt her step-sister's feelings when Samantha wasn't sure which race she should put Shining in the Classic or the Distaff. cindy loves Storm too and is training him herself. Poor Storm! I HATE CINDY!! i like samantha better.

But this is a great book, especially when Shining won the Distaff. GO SHINING GO!!!!!!!!! I LOVE SHINING SHE"S THE BEST.

I have a horse smiliar to Shining.

I love the thorughbred series and this was a very good one! But I DO like Ashleigh's side of the storys better.

why didn't sam enter shining in the classic? she would of beat glory either way. why dows cindy have to be a stuck up brat and all she wants is her horse to be the best? sam is a lot nicer than cindy and shining should of entered the classic and beat glory. glory doesn't have a rival at all, shining's faster than him any way!!!!!!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

I love this book and the whole series i may be almost 16 but i don't care i love horses alot and reading the books i own almost the whole series. This book is Awesome not my favorite but it's up there!!! :)

I love this series, and I hate to know they are about to end, to the dismay of all the loyal fans who have stuck with TB even when it went downhill. I do not want the series to end-but I do want background chracters like Lyssa and Kaitlyn to stop getting books of there own, though this book finally dealt with girls who fall out of love with horses and boys that don't fit in with the horse world. It was a book on REAL issues that REAL people actually face- not as unrealistic as the others. But still, this book is too far off the regular plot line of the series- books like this should stop, and new racing chracters, like Allie, should be introduced.

I'm not sure why everyone hates this book. i liked it alot. I love the fact that Kaitlin is having a problem between a boy and her horse. It doesn't really go along with the TB series but it is good. I don't like that she lied to Sam but what girl wouldn't? I do like that in the end things clear up. I'll let you read the story to find out how. It was very good.

First of all this book had nothing to do with the series besides the fact that Katilin is a background character at Whisperwood. So this book doen't help to move the series along...Secondly, there is not resolution to the plot. Katilin just ends up right where she started at the beginning.

REGARDLESS of the fact that this book was poorly written, I still love the TB series and cherish each one. I'm soo terribly disappointed that Harper Collins is going to stop publishing these great books after #72. Please don't stop with the TB series! They are turning around and there is so much potential for good plots with the coming of the new characters like Allie and Sammy's twins. PLEASE SAVE THOROUGHBRED!!

while this book wasn't quite what I've come to expect from the TB series, it at least focuses on the more teenaged aspects pf the character's life. I can't wait to read the next book, Melanie's Double Jinx. Though, it does make me sad to know that we only have 4 books left.

though i was not found of this book, at all, i will continue to read this series, just as i have done since i was 8 (that's 11 years of being a loyal fan!). you can still find some of my reviews from years ago on the earlier books. i was saddened to hear this series will be ending soon. even poorly written books like this are close to my heart.

I read this book and promptly forgot about it and its characters. I found the writing poor and the storyline even worse. The characters - Marne and Daniel - didn't seem to have much of a connection to one another and after several years apart we are supposed to believe that Marne just walks into a hospital and all of a sudden everything is forgiven? The story was just too rushed and the characters felt 'fake.' I think Bevarly is a fun writer when she's writing full-length books/romances; these Silhouette and Blaze books are just too short to have any substance. Not recommended.

Eight years ago, public relations specialist Marnie Roberts and Aussie trainer Daniel Whittleson had a hot affair that ended abruptly when he left without a word to her. She thought he was her love forever, but though he felt similar he blamed her for losing his chance at the big time of thoroughbred racing.

They meet up when Marnie handles the spin of a woman who shot Daniel's father. They are pushed further together as the Preston family hires her to help them survive the breeding scandal that has ravaged their credibility just after their star horse Leopold's Legacy takes the Preakness. Both immediately know the attraction remains strong, but neither will take the first step towards the winner's circle of love.

FLIRTING WITH TROUBLE, the first Silhouette Thoroughbred Legacy tale of the tails, is a fun contemporary second chance at love romance starring two likable and vulnerable lead protagonists who belong together now as they should have over the past eight years. The story line gets out of gate and moves around the track smoothly; however a late fortunate happenstance causes a stumble near the finish line. Still fans will enjoy this fine horseracing romance.

Harriet Klausner

This book is absolutely unbelievable. I think it deserves at least one star.

Given how few books of this type are ever written, the author deserves credit for her efforts. I thought it a charming story, and my children did too. My kids are not grammarians, nor historians, but this book captured their imaginations and got them thinking about topics most adults can't really convey. I'd recommend it for anyone interested in expanding the horizons of young readers.

My children and I didn't like the book. It was too long and too silly. They like books about horses and dinosaurs, but they didn't find this one interesting enough to finish.

This book has too much about motorcycles and pig farming in it. The horses are sway backed and are not at all like Kentucky horses. The messages contain bad values and the story doesn't make sense. The writing is not just "plain jane" but positively ill written. Read the "Cat in the Hat" instead.

I read this book and it is really not very good.