Book Review: ARKLE: The Story of the World's Greatest Steeplechaser

Wednesday August 8 2018

Can you name the world's greatest steeplechaser?

If you can't, you should know: ARKLE.

And when you read this book, there will be no doubt that this Irish steeplechaser who ran in the 1960's was transcendent among his kind.

What is it about the national hunt racing and steeplechasing in Great Britain and Ireland that gets to me? Chapter 2 in my book Soul Deep in Horses gives you a glimmer of the romance of working in an Irish yard, grooming and leading 'round the paddock the heroic grand Thoroughbreds who willingly (most of the time) hurl themselves over monster fences and ditches, and either stay on their feet or fall and get back up onto their feet. It got so it was hard for me to watch their races, but at the same time I couldn't not watch, gritting my teeth and cringing at the rough and tumble sport, but mesmerized at the magnificent power and heart and athleticism of the jump horses.

ARKLE: The Story of the World's Greatest Steeplechaser, by Sean Magee, brings to life this spectacular gelding who ran from 1961-1967 in England and Ireland, winning an astonishing 27 of his 35 races. He beat the best of the best, and became better than the best.

Part of the reason, I'm sure, that I have a special jumping spot in my horse for Arkle, is that he ran over some of the very tracks I led our racehorses around the paddocks and onto the turf: Navan, Naas, Fairyhouse, Leopardstown. Punchestown. In another day and time, like 30 years earlier, I might have been leading the God himself!

Yes, there was that 1964 season, March 7 to be exact, "the day Arkle became a God." That was the day he beat the reigning jumping great, Mill House, to win the first of his 3 consecutive Cheltenham Gold Cups, the greatest steeplechase on earth (not to be confused with the Grand National - the other greatest steeplechase on earth, but one Arkle never ran in, as his owner, Anne, Duchess of Winchester, thought it too dangerous). He simply, and widely, was referred to as "Himself." Capital H, of course,

Then there was his '65-66 "Arkle for President" season - because he really was that incredibly amazing. (Someone had scribbled this phrase on a Dublin wall in 1965.)

That he was personable and loved people, and he loved to run and jump, and loved the adulation, just adds to his incredible story.

Himself is magnificent eye candy, no?

*By the way, I do have a couple of the Arkle 2020 bumperstickers.

Arkle for President in 2020? Why not! Is there anyone else more magnificent? (Read the book, and you'll agree.)

$5 includes mailing, PM me theequestrianvagabond at gmail dot com if you've got a sense of humor and you're interested.

**By the way, Spell Check likes to correct "Arkle" to "ankle". seriously??? Spell Check needs to learn the greatest steeplechaser of all time's name.

Book Review: Foinavon: The Story of the Grand National's Biggest Upset

Wednesday June 6 2018

Jump racing makes me cringe, but I can't help being fascinated by it. The Grand National Steeplechase, held every year (usually in April) since 1839, at Aintree Racecourse in Aintree, Liverpool, England, is the granddaddy of them all.

Four miles 514 yards, 30 fences, none under 4' 6", except the water jump, at a height of 2' 6".

Foinavon: The Story of the Grand National's Biggest Upset, by David Owen, was a most excellent read. This 100-1 shot pulled off the win in a terrifically chaotic race in 1967. (In his previous race, one bookmaker had him at 500-1; he finished last.)

Pat, in the pink, my Irish jockey friend in a National Hunt race

I worked in an Irish National Hunt yard one winter (chapter 2 in my book Soul Deep in Horses) and same thing: I was fascinated, but watching our horses run over the jumps made me cringe, hold my breath, and heave a sigh of great relief when they returned to the stables. Our horses did have a fall or two… frightening for me, but all in a day's ride for the jumping horses and jockeys… and none were seriously hurt. 

our horse Castle Ranger almost tipping over on the landing, jockey loses reins; Ranger tumbles at the next fence but was unhurt

But I was captivated by this terrifically-written tale that for me was bigger than life, knowing Foinavon ran at some of the racecourses our horses ran over, and knowing exactly what these astounding athletic animals go through, as well as the people who work with them.

David Owen's storytelling reminds me a lot of Laura Hillenbrand's Seabiscuit: thorough, engaging, and could not put it down till the end! 

(And then I found Foinavon's race on youtube... watch it after you read the book!)

one of the bigger National Hunt fences

Author Extraordinaire Laura Crum

Monday June 3 2013

Don't you hate it when one of your favorite authors goes and dies? (Or you discover he/she is already gone after you finished their published books - kind of like finding out your new favorite band, whose entire collection of albums you have bought with one mouse click, already broke up 2 years earlier).

If you wait long enough - a decade or so, and you don't have a photographic memory, you might be able to go back and re-read the author's entire collection, although it's not quite the same as the first time through.

I'm not a big fiction reader. The exceptions have been Walter Farley's Black Stallion series (which one can definitely read over and over!), and the masterful Dick Francis. His racing mysteries were excellently crafted with engaging writing, heart-stopping adventures, and intriguing characters, many that stay with you long after the stories have concluded.

Then Dick Francis went and died in 2010. I thought my days of reading good horse fiction were over.

OK, sure, I thought, when a friend Funder introduced me to Laura Crum's books, I'd try the first one, "Cutter". Sounded innocuous, and it couldn't be that bad; and sometimes I like some light, undemanding reading, where I don't have to invest too much attachment or attention.

My God. Was I in for a surprise!

Like Dick Francis (who - no surprise here - has "both entertained and inspired" Laura Crum), Laura's Western Horse Mysteries (12 books so far) are cleverly composed, the adventures erudite and authentic (I am not convinced Laura has not lived every one of these thrills), and the characters - human and animal - astute and charming. I know for sure I'd like to meet the main character Gail McCarthy and her horses and friends.

Gail is a diligent equine veterinarian who dabbles in the western disciplines of cutting and reining (a world I happen to be very intrigued by), and who always seems to stumble into danger.

I dare you to read slowly, and I dare your heart not to pound as you hide with Gail on a stack of hay bales from a killer, or run with Gail from getting shot at in an abandoned barn in the dark, or run with Gail from headlights chasing you, or wake up with Gail tied up with a gag in your mouth. Dare you.

The best part about Laura Crum's books is…. everything. The worst part (the only bad thing) about Laura Crum's book is… I'm going to finish them one day. They're like fine Belgian chocolates: to be indulged and savored, every bite, every word.

Do yourself a favor and pick up one (or all) of these excellent novels by Laura Crum. They are truly delightful works of art.

www.lauracrum.com

PS. Happy birthday Laura! And thanks for the great work! Now put down your cake and get back to writing, please.

Losing Charlotte Book Review

Tuesday May 18 2010

In April, I was sent a copy of the book Losing Charlotte by Heather Clay, and asked to review it in my blog.

While it was advertised as a book with much of it taking place in the horse world, the horse world was barely peripheral to the story of how one young woman Knox deals with the loss of her sister, Charlotte - with whom she had a complicated relationship - who died right after the birth of her twins, and the subsequent choices Knox makes based on that kinship.

There are some well-written parts, close attention to details, and interesting takes on sibling rivalry and bonding. However, as a horse person expecting a horse book, and as one who grew up as an only child, and one with no kids of my own, I simply couldn't find any common connection with the story.

Perhaps other readers will have more in common with the characters and events of this book and will appreciate it.