I can remember watching the Triple Crown races with interest for the time in 1973. This book by William Nack was the basis for the movie starring Diane Lane as Penny Chenery the horse's owner. The headline refers to the fact that in 1999 ESPN counted down the top 50 athletes of the 20th century and Secretariat was ranked 35th. What Penny Chenery and her barn risked and achieved was remarkable. Note that these actual events took place in the 1970’s – a time when few if any women owned racehorses and farms, let alone were willing to leave their marriage to campaign a horse. It is a book about believing in oneself, taking risks, and taking a stand against the status quo. It is a biography about the people who raised Secretariat and were affected by him. But note this: Nack’s Secretariat is more than a book about a racing legend. By the end you may wish the book would never end. Some may find the early info on breeding/confirmation too detailed. And yes, just like Secretariat himself, the book does start slow but takes off down the homestretch. Loved It - But It Is Not Just About A Super HorseĪs a horse lover, I loved this book: the quick tempo, the description coupled with facts, the characters, the post-racing life of the horse, and the excellent narrator-I loved it all.
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