Backyard Race Horse: The Training Manual: A Comprehensive Off-Track Program for Owners and Trainers [Paperback]

Lois Schwartz (Author), Janet Del Castillo (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Backyard Race Horse: The Training Manual | Publication Date: September 1, 2003

From training horses at the farm to hauling livestock and equipment to the race track, this hands-on manual covers everything a competent horse owner needs to know to get involved in horse racing. Extensive discussions examine how to exercise horses, keep a horse sound, and prepare for the race. Specifics on monitoring horses' legs, dispensing medication, and track personnel round out this in-depth manual. Included is a directory of thoroughbred racetracks and organizations.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Janet Del Castillo has trained racehorses for more than 20 years. She lives in Winter Haven, Florida. Lois Schwartz has owned horses and has written various equine articles. She lives in Brooksville, Florida.

Product Details

• Paperback: 459 pages
• Publisher: Prediction Publications; Fourth edition edition (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1884475027
• ISBN-13: 978-1884475023
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #733,672 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars From Dirt To Turf, There Is Room For An Owner With Big Dreams, March 24, 2007

By 

Bicycle Day - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Backyard Race Horse: The Training Manual: A Comprehensive Off-Track Program for Owners and Trainers (Paperback)

It may come as a surprise to casual fans of horse racing but the vast majority of owners at most tracks are from area farms. These race horse owners - who are oftentimes trainers of their racers - continue to be the foundation of the sport at the numerous mid-level tracks nationwide.

Authors Janet Del Castillo and Lois Schwartz takes the reader through the paces to get a Thoroughbred to the races; from building a track on a farm, the exercising of the runners and how to haul them to and from the track.

Other key issues covered include how to properly manage a budget to make a successful run in the sport, training techniques to properly prepare a racer and the variety of legal medications that are used on the athletes. There is a good directory of race tracks and organizations throughout the country.

The book is a great resource for those looking to take that step into the sport or for fans looking to understand an important - but oftentimes overlooked - facet of the industry.

The next winner of the Kentucky Derby is not be clocking workouts in someone's "backyard" training track, but such a runner just may be the next summertime star at a nearby track. Backyard Race Horse describes how that can be accomplished through proper financial and strategic planning.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice place to start., January 17, 2007

By 

B. Flaten (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Backyard Race Horse: The Training Manual: A Comprehensive Off-Track Program for Owners and Trainers (Paperback)

This is a very comprehensive book which covers a broad range of topics relative to training race horses. Because of it's broad scope it does not cover the minute details of training as some other books might...but as a survey of the subject it does fine. It is written well and organized extemely well. It is a good book to start with and will provide the reader with enough background information to be able to ask intelligent questions relative to the books subject matter. A good value.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Handy Book, December 28, 2007

By 

Mrs. Yvonne Knight "faris" (Qld, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Backyard Race Horse: The Training Manual: A Comprehensive Off-Track Program for Owners and Trainers (Paperback)

A book which reassures all those amateurs along the way, that you don't have to be Gai Waterhouse or Bart Cummins to join the winners circle. Handy references to a broad range of subjects and written in a way, that takes much of the mysteries out of the whole subject.