Secretariat - Hardcover

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Raymond G. "Raymie" Woolfe, Jr. is a lifelong horseman. Son of a leading trainer he turned professional at 16, has been a professional steeplechase jockey, licensed trainer, manager of horse farms and designer of race courses and throuroughbred training facilities. He still holds the record as the youngest professional steeplechase rider licensed and youngest to win at a major U.S. track.

An alumnus of the University of Virginia and the University of South Carolina School of Journalism, a Marine veteran and long-time career photo-journalist, including 11 years chief of photography for Daily Racing Form, columnist and commentator for other publications and broadcast media, and author of STEEPLECHASING, Mr. Woolfe lives on his "Hawk's Nest Farm" near Charlottesville, Virginia.

Mr. Woolfe literally lived day by day the career of Secretariat on a first hand, hands-on basis from the beginning. He was there at 6 a.m. on the training mornings, with cameras and notebook for observations. He was there for Secretariat's races and there for all the pre-race hype that accompanied the great horse's career once recognition of his significance dawned on the minds of the public and the press at large. He met with Penny Chenery and Lucien Laurin to propose and agree upon a book about the great horse even before Secretariat won the Kentucky Derby. Mr. Woolfe was there at the beginning, before all the glory happened and the flags flew. Riva Ridge, Secretariat's grand, gutsy stablemate, 1972 KY Derby and Belmont Stakes winner, was a big part of the reason. Having covered Riva Ridge in depth for Daily Racing Form, Mr. Woolfe had already been a frequent presence at the Lucien Laurin stable. In addition, Mr. Woolfe's father and Lucien Laurin, both respected trainers, were friends...So, as the racetrack term goes, Raymie Woolfe had a leg up on the rest of the world on what was to be a racing legend.

Secretariat was written by Mr. Woolfe to suit two kinds of reader: one the knowledgeable racing fan and horseman, and the other: the average lover of horses who might know little or nothing of racing and racing terms in themselves but who yearns to learn. This fine line seems to have been achieved in view of the broad, positive reception of Mr. Woolfe's book as a modern classic about horses and racing, a "Black Beauty" for thoroughbred horse racing.

The current 25th Triple Crown Anniversary Edition in quality paper back is the same coffee table size as the collectors' edition and has in it the entire content of that edition. At a suggested retail price of about $30, the current edition is an exceptional buy for any lover of racing and sporting books.