Customer Reviews

Smarty Jones: America's Horse

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Smarty Jones has proved to the critics that he is a true Champion, even though he was edged out in the Belmont. After all, up to that point this great race horse, Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner was undefeated in his young career. This book tells his heartwarming story through all of his exciting races leading up to his run for the triple crown and the stunning upset. The great part for fans is it has absolutely wonderful color pictures of Smarty and his whole Smarty Jones team. Smarty was gallant in defeat and his whole crew are first class people, they showed it at Belmont. This little horse will be a fan favorite for a long time. Don't count him out yet--yes he's that good. Just remember that this is a fan book, with more pictures than verbiage. The whole 'Seabiscuit'-type story remains to be told at the end of this colt's remarkable career.

What a beautiful book! I strongly recommend anyone to buy this book just for the pictures. Every page has huge, glossy scenes of Smarty. The rest is just articles and quotes, so it is a bit repititous, but still nice. However it makes a great picture book

After the exhiliarating trip Smarty took us all on in his quest for the Triple Crown, I was overjoyed to find this great collection of photos and writings on the whole experience. The pictures of the Derby are unbelievable! Alot of interesting and detailed background information, too. As a native Philadelphian and visitor to Philly Park, I am more than proud of our great champion.

I read this book and Smarty Jones: Forever a Champion, by Billy Valentine in the bookstore.

Smarty Jones's: America's Horse is just many color photos with accompaning newpaper articles. If you followed Smarty Jones career through the news on the internet or by newspaper, you will not learn anything new or personal about his life.

Smarty Jones: Forever a Champion, by Billy Valentine is a much better, although with less photos. You will learn the intimate details about Smarty Jones's life and anyone who is associated with him. You really get a feel for Smarty's personality, and people's inital reaction when they first saw him ("a runt") and when they first saw him run, how Servis changed his training tactics, etc. Definitely the book to get if you're a fan.

I was a little disappointed in this book, I thought I was ordering a book that told the story of "SMARTY" from birth to the present, instead I got a "GREAT" photo book of the "PEOPLE'S HORSE". If you are a horse lover of any way, shape or form you will like this book, and like a previous reviewer said, there are a lot repetions, but each picture will take you back to the races in 2004, even if you did not record it on VHS.

The book was put together quickly after Smarty Jones captured the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes & looked in the latter as if he was going to be a cinch to win the Belmont Stakes and capture the Triple Crown. I consider it more like an event program than a book. The photographs - like most pro game programs - are excellent, but the text is simply a collection of wire stories that could have been read in any number of newspapers.

To put the popularity and interest in perspective, one of the cable TV home-shopping channels was prepared to sell a range of Smarty gear literally minutes after the Belmont Stakes, provided - of course - that he win the last jewel in the Triple Crown. In a race where the tactics of several jockeys were questionable - seemingly riding not to win, but to make victory for Smarty Jones very tough - the champion fell short, placing second after a deep stretch duel.

But due to the way the book was published - and without it being updated - it is not a definitive account of Smarty's racing career and does not cover his retirement, the 2005 "controversy" created by trainer John Servis when he jokingly hinted that Smarty Jones was going to be put back into training or the splash his young progeny have made at the major 2006 Thoroughbred sales.

The racing career of Smarty Jones meant so much to the Thoroughbred industry in Pennsylvania. The long-delayed legislation permitting racinos (race tracks with casino-styled gambling) and casinos was passed during the height of "Smarty-mania" which will make the state a desirable location to race, gamble and build Thoroughbred farms on existing agricultural-zoned land.

As an unproven sire, the offspring of Smarty Jones have proven very popular with those at the high-end of purchasing racers to aim at the major events at tracks worldwide. The final chapter has yet to be penned on a champion whose racing career streaked before the eyes of the public, but will continue to drive the industry for years to come.

I really loved the photos of Smarty and the other horses in this book. It gives me a great chance to draw them on my sketchbook, but i'm also a horselover. We had some race horses from Kansas City, Proud Citizen and Perfect Drift, nothing compared to Smarty. I would recommend this book to someone.