Citation: In a Class by Himself [Hardcover]

Phil Georgeff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 3, 2003

When Citation (1945-1970) retired in mid-1951, he was horseracing's first and, to that point, only millionaire racehorse. Following his 1948 triumphs at the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont in 1948, it would be twenty-five years before another horse (Secreteriat) would again wear the coveted Triple Crown. Citation, by legendary announcer and longtime horseracing insider Phil Georgeff, reveals all about the thoroughbred, his remarkable career, and those in his inner circle. Georgeff delves into Citation's unusual bloodline; the death of his original rider, Al Snider, swept out to sea while fishing off the Florida keys; Citation's stunning 1948 Triple Crown victory; and the ultimate effects of the horse's excessive, aggressive schedule (racing on little rest after traveling cross-country in sweltering vans and railroad boxcars). Based on interviews from those who knew the thoroughbred, including famed jockey Eddie Arcaro and renowned son-and-father trainers Ben A. and Jimmy Jones; Citation is more than merely the biography of a gifted horse. It the full story of the greatest sports figure in the history of horseracing, a champion who won or placed in thirty different contests in his career and whose spirit continue to captivate the American public.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

It's hard not to compare this straightforward story of 1948 Triple-Crown winner and racing legend Citation with Laura Hillenbrand's elegant and uber-selling Seabiscuit. But Georgeff's book, which differs greatly in both tone and style, should be judged on its own merits. A racing insider, Georgeff holds the Guinness World Record for most horse races called (over 96,000), and his prose reflects his experience in its narrative immediacy and snap-crackle-pop. In describing Citation, Georgeff writes, "If he were a matinee movie idol he'd be Harrison Ford as opposed to Clark Gable. For pure beefcake, he'd be Bruce Lee, not Arnold Schwarzenegger." The author of And They're Off! uses conversations with jockeys, trainers and other racing folk from the 1940s on to bring Citation's story-and by extension, the sport's story-to life. One of Calumet Farm's many sons of Bull Lea, Citation lost only twice in 29 starts in his first two seasons. After his stunning three-year-old season of 1948, Citation had a tougher time-he was injured; he lost some heart-breakers. His owner's insistence that Citation be a million-dollar winner (indeed, he was racing's first) kept him racing when he might have been put to stud, but Citation was a champion, a horse of both speed and stamina. Georgeff's writing is generally brisk, though he waxes overly poetic here and there. "Fame, like life, is sweet and awfully short," he writes of the untimely death of Citation's first jockey, Al Snider. "The young rider at that exact moment in time rode tall in the saddle as king of American jockeys, only to have all his hopes, dreams, and joy dashed abruptly in a horrific whirlpool of surreal mystery." Despite such missteps, Georgeff's admiration and affection for Citation, often hailed as "The Greatest Thoroughbred Who Ever Lived!," is catching, and his raw enthusiasm for the sport will excite any fan. 16 pages b&w photos.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Citation profits from the unique and rich writing style of Phil Georgeff, who's lived it. Name any horse or jockey of the last 60 years, and the man has innumerable first-hand stories of them. (Publishers Weekly )

His writing style makes for a very entertaining yet informative read, perfectly suited to the subject at hand. ...his complete order of finish is one that every race fan would enjoy reading and debating over. Georgeff's work is strongly recommended to all racing fans especially history buffs. His aim was to ensure that Citation is never forgotten, and through this book he won't be. (Horse-Races.Net )

...Georgeff's admiration and affection for Citation...is catching, and his raw enthusiasm for the sport will excite any fan. (Publishers Weekly )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing (March 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878332928
• ISBN-13: 978-0878332922
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #860,460 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well Told Story From A Passionate Author, June 23, 2003

By 

K. Palmer (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Citation: In a Class by Himself (Hardcover)

If you scan my Amazon reviews, you'll see I read a lot of horse racing books. But one thing about that, there haven't been many books about racing. But with the success of Laura Hillenbrand's "Seabiscuit", many more horse-racing books are finding their way on the shelves. One of those is former track announcer Phil Georgeff's biography of 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation.

The casual style in which he tells the story of "Big Cy" lets you know in no uncertain terms that Georgeff loves Citation. He does this through periodic digs at other great horses, like Secretariat and Cigar, but it is hard to argue with the man. Citation had a terrific career as a 2 and 3 year old including the easiest trip through the Triple Crown of any horse.

Georgeff chronicles Citation's career, including the story of his greedy owner who wanted to race Citation until he became horse racing's first millionaire, causing him to run until he was six years old, long after a horse of his caliber should have been retired and sent to stud duty. He also describes the story of Citation's jockey who disappeared on a fishing trip not long before the Kentucky Derby and was replaced by the great Eddie Arcaro.

All-in-all, it is a well told story and worthy to be included in horse racing fan's collection. Georgeff also includes a "dream horse race" with 20 of the all time greats. Want to guess who wins?

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Greatest Horse Ever, December 16, 2003

By 

Michael E. Tymn (Kailua, Hawaii) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Citation: In a Class by Himself (Hardcover)

It appears that this book and those on other great horses was inspired by the interest in the book and movie on Seabiscuit. However, Seabiscuit was not in Citation's class.

As a long-time follower of the "sport of kings," I consider Citation as the greatest thoroughbred ever. Had Citation been retired at the end of his three-year-old season, as were Man o'War and Secretariat, he would have had a record of 27 wins in 29 races, the two second-places losses easily explained. That record is more impressive than those of Man o' War and Secretariat, the two horses usually rated higher than Mighty Cy in polls of racing experts. Unfortunately, Mighty Cy's owner wanted to make him the first million dollar winner and brought him back as a five-year-old, after more than a year's layoff. Clearly, the horse lost something in that long layoff and was the not the competitor he was as a two- and three-year-old, winning only five of his next 16 races before finally going over the million dollar mark. When comparing Cy with Man o' War and Secretariat, it seems only reasonable to consider only his two- and three-year-old seasons. Who knows what those two horses might have done as five- and six-year-olds?

Author Georgeff captures the greatness of Citation, appropriately referring to him as "the greatest thoroughbred in modern history" and "in a class by himself." I couldn't put the book down once I started on it.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Citation A True Stayer! Written by one who saw Cy Race!, September 26, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Citation: In a Class by Himself (Hardcover)

Even if you've never visted a racetrack, stood by the rail near the wire and experienced those beautiful Thoroughbreds thunder down the homestretch, feeling the wind in your hair as they flash past you...you'll feel as if you have, once you read Phil Georgeff's "Citation, In A Class by Himself!"

Not only an avid reader & fan of great racers, I exercise race horses and working toward my trainer's license. If you want to feel pure freedom and excitement, hop on a thoroughbred and race with the wind. Or just go for a ride on a riding (pleasure) horse one day! You'll find a joy that can't be compared to anything! Except maybe, to reading this wonderful book! As for reading about horses, this book tops the list. It's great!

While exercising horses with dreams of becoming a jockey, 17 year old Phil Georgeff saw the "Mighty Cy", a great thoroughbred "live & in person" at Washington Park & other various times."...1947 the day I first laid eyes on Citation. He was a fine upright two year old...Instinctively I sensed thoroughbred greatness in the making. Happily I was right."

"From 1941, until 1953 as race track publicity employee...until I called my first race May 18, 1959, until retirement in 1992 with a world record 96,131 "calls" under my belt, I devoted countless hours discussing, recalling, reviewing and reliving Citation's grand career with everybody I met and knew. And I mean everybody...Calument farm's Warren and Lucille Wright, trainers Ben and Jimmy Jones, ....Eddie Arcaro, ...contact with sports writers Arch Ward,...Joe Palmer, Red Smith, Joe Agrella and Elmer Polzin... there was only one Citation!"

I loved this book! It's full of witty, engaging, exciting and nearly poetic word portraits about the great Triple Crown Winner and first millionaire in horse racing (winnings of 1,085,760!) --who raced with his gritty, never-say-die heart into history!

Citation won 16 races in a row, into his sixth year on nearly only three legs and scorning man-made pressures! A champion racer from coast to coast despite constant racing and crippling man-made adversities. He remains a champ even after becoming immortal on August 8, 1970.

This book'll pique your interest and imagination painlessly. It's full of life. Not one page is dry, boring nor filled with meaningless details and/or filler drivel!

It's a captivating account of a magnficent race horse. Phil Georgeff has written the definitive book on Citation! Above all, it gives the stalwart, dark bay stallion long overdue credit for his incredible career and will to win. The author's human touch reaches out and captivates you with Citation's own exhilerating and sensational dynamic will "to beat any horse he could see!"

I'm a sucker for horse stories that enthrall me and Phil Georgeff's "Citation" has accomplished this! It's full of life, is an enduring classic and heartwarming horse story that's worthy of an Eclipse Award! This book has Citation come alive and has an inspiring and bona fide Hollywood finish!

Written with love and honesty, verve and passion from a man who not only experienced but lived those golden days of racing then and now... and who is still thriving and writing more today!

Walk beside Mighty Cy as he competes, conquers and becomes a Sovereign in the Sport of Kings! Then, now and always!
"Citation...27 wins, two seconds in 29 starts...a great achievement for a six year old cripple who never knew the meaning of the word 'quit'!"

Like Cy, this book's a true stayer! A rousing, amicable heartening book! Enjoy reading this uplifiting,exciting book now -- before it becomes a widescreen, classic blockbuster film!

Because it's a natural for a horse racing epic movie waiting to be made! Hop on! Take a thrilling ride, you'll never forget!