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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Story of "The Sport of Kings," After the Finish Line, April 22, 2008
This review is from: Freedom's Rein (Hardcover)
This is a story about the Thoroughbred industry that strips away the colorful silks, pageantry and celebration at events like the Kentucky Derby or Breeders' Cup. It is racing seen through the eyes of one of the best jockeys ever to climb aboard some of the most regally-bred runners in the top races in the world.
Shane Sellers won more than $122 million in total purse money, while capturing more than 4,000 races in a career that spanned 26 years. But Sellers was not content on amassing such gaudy numbers without trying to expose what he feels are the wrongs in the sport.
And this is where his story begins.
With co-author Tricia Psarreas, Sellers discusses the toughest races in his storied career; taking the reigns for making the sport healthier by increasing riding weights, allowing the free-market pursuit of income by wearing racing gear with personal endorsements and safeguarding his brethren from financial ruin due to injury through better insurance polices.
And - as important - Sellers outlines his concern for the health and welfare of the equine athletes who have no voice when their bodies are pumped full of drugs to keep them on the track, though it may increase the likelihood of serious injuries to them - other runners in racing or training - and the jockeys or exercise riders.
The consequences that Sellers met for speaking out are chilling, but has not diminished his drive for a safer, more equitable sport for those who put their lives on the line every day, in the race to the never-ending finish line.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Real Reason Horse Jockeys Maintain Their Small Figures, May 20, 2008
This review is from: Freedom's Rein (Hardcover)
Horse jockeys are so small, I've often thought. To be honest, I just assumed it was a sport that attracted smaller people. Football players are muscular, dancers are flexible, and basketball players are tall. Common sense told me that a horse with less weight on their back could run faster. I grew-up in the south where we raced cars not horses.
In my mind horse racing was for the rich - another way for them to amuse themselves. A legal way to bet their money and a place for privileged women to show their stuff. The horses were beautiful and well-groomed. Unlike participants in contact sports, the jockeys appeared to be injury free and healthy. Unlike other athletes it's unusual to hear stories of drug abuse or inappropriate behavior among the jockey community. The perfect sport, I thought, until I read Freedom's Rein.
Freedom's Rein is the true life story of Shane Sellers. Co-written by Tricia Psarreas, it's one of the best memoirs I've ever read. The story is well written and easy to follow. It grabs your attention from the first chapter - with each page you wonder what is going to happen next. Shane grew up in a poor family with an abusive father. Many individuals exposed to those circumstances are unable to rise above this. Abuse effect it's victims in many ways as is evident from reading this book.
Shane went from being extremely deprived to having everything that he wanted. He won over 4,000 races and $122 million dollars. An unfortunate knee injury ended his career, forcing him to examine his drug addiction and the abuse jockeys inflict upon their own bodies. As an athlete he was expected to maintain a body weight of no more than 112 pounds, to spend hours in saunas, and to throw-up food in special toilets provided by the tracks. The result is these behaviors is that many jockeys die from over-exposure in the hot rooms, develop eating disorders or end up with life threatening illnesses.
Shane became the whistle blower for his sport. The one to speak out, the one to ask questions, the one to fight for change. His actions have resulted in positive changes but he paid a high price. For those wanting to get an inside look at horse racing, this is the book for you. It's not a pretty story but it's one that needs to be told.
As a society we often turn our heads not wanting to get involved when others are mistreated. Our reasons for doing this are many. But the bottom line is no individual or animal deserves to be mistreated. I think that fear keeps us quiet. If we talk about abuse then we just might have to do something about it. Shane fights for better conditions and more humane treatment of jockeys. You might think if you're not directly involved in horse racing that this doesn't affect you. But you're wrong. Abuse is an attitude and a choice. The person who abuses someone at the track is likely to abuse others away from the track.
An abused person has little or no freedom. Like a jockey, there's always someone riding their back. It's important to read Freedom's Rein because it's anyone's story - anyone that has ever been abused in any way by another person. Shane has millions of fans - his name and face have instant recognition. If he can take a stand against abuse, so can you. One of the best ways to fight this problem is with awareness. In their book, Shane and Tricia, force us to think about abuse in a provocative and enjoyable way.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An inspriring journey..., May 26, 2008
This review is from: Freedom's Rein (Hardcover)
Freedom's Rein is a book that will undoubtedly cause your heart to feel heavy: heavy with shock, sadness, awe, joy, passion, anger, love, hope, and familiarity. It is the story of Shane Sellers, one of the world's most renowned jockeys, and his struggle both on the track and off.
From its opening chapter and throughout, be prepared to be stunned. Shane vividly describes through author Trish Psarreas all of the events of importance in his life that helped shape him into the man he is today: one of the best jockeys to have ever mounted a horse, and a very troubled soul to counterbalance that particular glory.
In his childhood, Shane suffered a dizzying and tumultuous family life. While you or I were more than likely playing with our various toys, Shane was helping his abusive father poach rabbits and other animals in order to survive. He describes the constant hunger he endured for many years, including a harrowing and sad tale of a beloved family pet that was lost to starvation. Issues such as mental, physical, and emotional abuse are reluctantly but boldly and honestly discussed.
The trials that Shane lived through as a young boy led to a beautiful discovery: his all-consuming, unfaltering love of horses. Experience the birth of this love, its nurturing, and the resulting atrocities that Shane and all other jockeys must live through in order to bring America the sport that it loves so very much. Be prepared for some uncomfortable truths, as Shane reveals secrets about the fraying seams of the dark side of horse racing. What you will learn through the revelations in this book will amaze and empower you. Shane unabashedly tells all: the necessity of a binge-and-purge lifestyle, the cannibalization and destruction of one's own body, and the risk and the danger that every jockey takes when he mounts a horse for a meager amount of money.
As the writing style is direct, raw, and wastes no thoughts on pretty words, you will be taken in by this book, and will find yourself pouring through it, eager to see where the story goes with each fresh chapter. Watch and learn as Shane struggles with his ever- mounting personal demons, the tiresome labor to keep his family healthy and happy, and his own severe injuries and accidents. Be immersed in the previously unknown world of the professional jockey, and feel pride and conviction when Shane takes on one of the most closed and secretive empires of sport: horseracing. Trish Psarreas clearly shows the many ways Shane fought for himself, his family, his fellow jockeys, and his fellow man.
Freedom's Rein is full of lessons for life. It is about never giving up, even in the face of monumental adversity. It is about fighting for what you believe is right, even when you are the only one fighting. It is about maintaining personal integrity above all else, and Shane Sellers should be commended not only on his superb and unparalleled riding skills, but also on his own perseverance to bring about change to an industry that sorely needs it.
Although the book deals primarily with horseracing and the ever-worsening personal issues Mr. Sellers experiences, there are many scenic side-trails: Shane's stint as a mildly successful country music singer, his joy at being a father to three children, and even a chapter that describes in detail his relationship and experiences with the one person who could put his thoughts and experiences into writing better than anyone else: Trish Psarreas. The two were a perfect pair for this book, which I strongly recommend to anyone who is seeking a bold, enriching book that will cause you to want to bring about positive change in your own world.
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