Editorial Content for New York’s Greatest Thoroughbreds: A Contemporary History
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
The late Allan Carter held an important role in New York thoroughbred racing, serving as the official historian of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. He channeled his passion for the state’s role in the sport’s storied past to author three books on the subject.
The most recent volume, NEW YORK’S GREATEST THOROUGHBREDS: A Contemporary History, was released just six weeks after Carter’s passing at the age of 81, following a year-long battle with lung cancer.
"NEW YORK’S GREATEST THOROUGHBREDS is an outstanding guide to the Empire State’s most accomplished thoroughbreds of the past half-century."
The New York-bred thoroughbred spent most of the 20th century as an underdog, often overlooked for unfashionable pedigrees or its distance from Kentucky. However, New York-breds rose to increasing levels of national prominence in the 1980s, winning top-level races and arguably reaching a peak with Funny Cide, the first Empire State-bred winner of the Kentucky Derby, in 2003.
In subsequent years, it has become standard for horses hailing from New York to win contests all over the world. They can and do compete at every level with the best international competitors.
Carter outlines the achievements of these racehorses in blurbs underneath their names, which are organized chronologically. This information is valuable to those looking for an overview of stellar New York-breds, and is coupled with a brief explanation of how changing legislation played a role in their progress.
I was anticipating a narrative that went into more detail about the horses, their connections and New York’s changing equine landscape. Still, I am happy to report that NEW YORK’S GREATEST THOROUGHBREDS is an outstanding guide to the Empire State’s most accomplished thoroughbreds of the past half-century.
Teaser
From Saratoga to Belmont Park, New York hosts some of horse racing's most important races, but many of the most successful thoroughbreds of the past five decades also have called the state home. Say Florida Say seemed to only improve with age, winning 33 times throughout a seven-year career that made him a regional favorite in the 1990s. The first-ever New York horse to win the Kentucky Derby, Funny Cide, rose to national prominence in 2003, winning both the Derby and the Preakness in incredible fashion. The thoroughbred Audible shared owners with triple-crown winner Justify; though embroiled in some controversy as a result, he was also an elite race horse during a brief career.
Promo
From Saratoga to Belmont Park, New York hosts some of horse racing's most important races, but many of the most successful thoroughbreds of the past five decades also have called the state home. Say Florida Say seemed to only improve with age, winning 33 times throughout a seven-year career that made him a regional favorite in the 1990s. The first-ever New York horse to win the Kentucky Derby, Funny Cide, rose to national prominence in 2003, winning both the Derby and the Preakness in incredible fashion. The thoroughbred Audible shared owners with triple-crown winner Justify; though embroiled in some controversy as a result, he was also an elite race horse during a brief career.
About the Book
Author Allan Carter highlights the stories behind the greatest New York thoroughbreds of the past half-century.
From Saratoga to Belmont Park, New York hosts some of horse racing's most important races, but many of the most successful thoroughbreds of the past five decades also have called the state home. Say Florida Say seemed to only improve with age, winning 33 times throughout a seven-year career that made him a regional favorite in the 1990s. The first-ever New York horse to win the Kentucky Derby, Funny Cide, rose to national prominence in 2003, winning both the Derby and the Preakness in incredible fashion. The thoroughbred Audible shared owners with triple-crown winner Justify; though embroiled in some controversy as a result, he was also an elite race horse during a brief career.
