In the book, Barbaro, Smarty Jones and Ruffian: The People s Horses, author Linda Hanna brings readers up-close-and-personal to the sport of Thoroughbred horseracing. Through the lives of these three dynamic fan favorites, Hanna shares all aspects of the sport as well as many pieces of personal information on Barbaro, Smarty Jones and Ruffian gleaned from her intense research. Through exclusive interviews with owners, trainers, jockeys, equine veterinarians, pedigree specialists and racing officials, she carries fans to a new level of knowledge and appreciation. Speaking from the perspective of a fan, Hanna educates her audience in the nuances of breeding, training and racing. The reader will be readily drawn into the new Golden Age of Horseracing in the 70s, as Ruffian makes her dramatic debut at Belmont Park and smashes track records during this brief and brilliant career. Insights from her trainer, Frank Y. Whiteley, Jr., shed new light on her devastating and fatal breakdown during The Great Match Race of 1975. As Smarty Jones captivated America with his Triple Crown bid in 2004, Hanna weaves readers into the history of horseracing in his home state of Pennsylvania and the positive reverberations there caused by the Smarty Effect. All aspects of Smarty s brief yet incredible career are presented in great detail with new revelations concerning his much-criticized retirement in August 2004. In a glowing Introduction to the book written by Smarty s owner, Patricia L. Chapman, readers are reminded of all aspects of the sport-positive and negative. Both Chapman and Hanna speak to the need for greater rescue efforts for needy horses and to the call for greater responsibility for all within the sport. As a designated charity for a portion of the book s proceeds, Hanna directs her readers to The Kentucky Equine Humane Center in a Preface by Staci Hancock who outlines the Center s wonderful efforts in horse rescue and placement. Another large segment of the population was drawn to Thoroughbred horseracing, as it watched Gretchen and Roy Jackson s Barbaro struggle for survival after breaking a leg during the 2006 Preakness Stakes. With poignant detail, Hanna moves her audience through the interworkings of veterinary orthopedics at New Bolton Center, an eight-month public relations/media effort on national television and an on-going and astounding fan base for the fallen hero, Barbaro. Since his death in January 2007, Hanna relates that fans have united in new and far-reaching causes in his name. In a final section of the book, which Hanna titles Legacy, she examines significant and timely equine topics. Some of these include: the injuries of these horses, an analysis of their pedigrees, efforts toward anti-slaughter, the need for rescue efforts, the work of the Fans of Barbaro and the legacies of these three special equine athletes. As a final kudo to fans young and old, Governor Edward G. Rendell of Pennsylvania addresses the wonderful careers of Barbaro, Smarty Jones and Ruffian in what has evolved as a feel good story about these horses lives.
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About the Author
Dr. Linda G. Hanna is a Professor in the Department of Elementary Education in the College of Education at West Chester University, West Chester, Pennsylvania. She has been an animal lover and horse enthusiast for her entire life, and has engaged in education and rescue efforts for animals in all parts of the country. Hanna shares the lives of these three wonderful Thoroughbreds from the standpoint of a fan, and includes a wealth of information from her in-depth research. She and her husband, Bob, reside in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Triple Crown of Horse Racing Books,
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This review is from: Barbaro, Smarty Jones and Ruffian: The People's Horses (Paperback)
Dr. Hanna conducted perhaps the last interview with Frank Whiteley, the trainer for Ruffian, before his recent death. This is just one of the fascinating aspects of this book. In telling the tales of Ruffian, Barbaro and Smarty Jones, she has dug a "little deeper" than most biographers to glean details that have not been shared to date.
In the case of Smarty and Barbaro, you are reading about two outstanding colts: one who should have been a Triple Crown winner and the other with unlimited -- and sadly -- unrealized potential. With Ruffian, you are reading about a filly that won the "Triple Tiara" and set track and stakes records with nearly every race. As Lucien Lauren -- the trainer of Secretariat -- is reported to have said, "As God is my witness, she might be better than him." All three of these wonderful horses were undefeated until their last race. Truly, this book tells why these horses and their connections were so compelling and why they are truly the "people's horses." A book you will not want to put down.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Trifecta Of Legends,
This review is from: Barbaro, Smarty Jones and Ruffian: The People's Horses (Paperback)
Linda Hanna takes three of the most enduring names in Thoroughbred racing and weaves a wonderful read that goes beyond straight-forward biographies.
Through her research - that uncovers new gems - and discussing major current issues like synthetic racing surfaces and the ongoing debate on the breeding of the runners - the book correctly brings onto the track the flow of events within the entire industry, where nothing occurs in a vacuum. A special section is a tribute to the champions by Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell. Barbaro, Smarty Jones and Ruffian. The trio have each brought special or renewed focus on Thoroughbred racing, oftentimes under some very tragic circumstances. But it's through the memories captured by Hanna which ultimately becomes the impetus for reform and the call for many to get involved in issues great and small that positively impact the future of every Thoroughbred, even if they don't stride from the starting gate to the winner's circle.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A terrific must-read book,
By
This review is from: Barbaro, Smarty Jones and Ruffian: The People's Horses (Paperback)
Barbaro, Smarty Jones and Ruffian, The People's Horses is a thoroughly researched compilation of a trio of stories. The author gives a compelling, poignant read about the lives of three magnificent Thoroughbreds, the people surrounding them and the dynamic effect these horses have had on the racing industry and on us. It is well written and easily understandable by those who do not follow the world of horses and racing. Even so, experienced horse people will find this a wonderful, informative read as well. There are pages of beautiful artwork and photographs of all three horses. It also includes a glossary explaining terms from the horse to the track, something not found in most other books. Hanna's Legacy section ties it all together and brings forth new aspects on the racing industry and the calls for change, particularly in light of the breakdown of Eight Belles in the 2008 Kentucky Derby. This is an absolute must-have book for anyone, whether they are a horse enthusiast or not.
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