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Wild ride: The rise and tragic fall of Calumet Farm, Inc., America's premier racing dynasty
Interesting to find out what went on behind the scene at beautiful Calumet Farm. Author did a great job of telling this almost unbelieveable story with detail.
Wild ride: The rise and tragic fall of Calumet Farm, Inc., America's premier racing dynasty
I purchased this book after reading "Seabiscuit" and expected to get the same type of biography. However, my enjoyment was hindered by Auerbach's excessive use of financial jargon regarding the Wright family's trust as well as the battles and litigations that ensued. I do have to commend the author for digging down into the nitty-gritty, though I did sometimes wonder about some of the finer details and their credibility. I'd recommend this book to anyone who really wants to know the story of Calumet Farm, as long as they don't mind drudging through pages and pages of boring and often confusing jargon.
Wild ride: The rise and tragic fall of Calumet Farm, Inc., America's premier racing dynasty
Auerbach's book about the history, rise and fall of America's most famous racing stable, Calumet, is for the most part outstanding. Reading it I was captivated by the story of the Wrights and others who made the stable a success. She also documents its fall in the hands of one J.T. Lundy, married to one of Louise Wright Markey's granddaughters, who totally mismanaged the farm and veered it to bankruptcy and liquidation. There is no doubt in my mind Lundy was totally out of his league in running a racing stable.However, being inept or greedy is one thing, having a horse killed to pay debts is another thing entirely. Auerbach makes the fatal mistake in her book by veering away from straight reporting and plunging headlong into speculation and insinuation. Now to date there is no evidence whatsoever that the farm's great stallion and most valuable asset, Alydar, was killed for the insurance money, but Auerbach insinuates the possibility in her book. This is very irresponsible for a supposedly reputable writer to do. I do not believe such a thing happened; it boggles the mind that anybody could ever be that greedy and that cruel. Shortly after Alydar died, I saw an interview with Lundy and he certainly didn't look very happy the horse died. So, no, I'm not buying the Alydar conspiracy theory.For the reason I stated above, I cannot give this book, which has so much in its favor, the highest rating. It still does have much valuable information, however.
Wild ride: The rise and tragic fall of Calumet Farm, Inc., America's premier racing dynasty
How could this happen? So many people involved. Better than any fiction. Couldn't stop reading to find out what happens next. Even if you know nothing about horses or racing you will enjoy this book.
Wild ride: The rise and tragic fall of Calumet Farm, Inc., America's premier racing dynasty
Wild Ride, The Rise & Tragic Fall of Calumet Farm, Inc., Ann Hagedorn Auerbach; Henry Holt & Co. (1994; brief notes on, written about a decade ago; post-note added)"Brilliant; indispensable.""Poor Ann. She wrote this one great book - & then fell off the face of the earth."Post Note: Or so I thought. See the review of Ann Hagedorn's "Savage Peace," her history of the year 1919 (published in 2007; encountered in 2009). In the interim, her last name - Auerbach - has disappeared.The review's title refers to the name of the one-time dynamic Wright family horse breeding & racing operation, which was originally financed by the fantastic profits derived from sales of the "Calumet" brand baking powder (the name needs no introduction in the Chicago area, even today). Sydney Lumet, now deceased, was a famous film director.*****Two men at a race track, one summer afternoon:Joe: "Ever think of owning a racehorse?"Moe: "I go to the circus. That doesn't mean I want to be a clown."
Wild ride: The rise and tragic fall of Calumet Farm, Inc., America's premier racing dynasty
i personally loved this book, and i would read another book by this author. the details and the writting style just flows and makes this book a page turner that you cant put down. however i would agree with the person who only gave it 3 stars that it's really about JT lundy, not horse racing - but it says right on the cover the rise and fall of calumet farms.... so i'm not sure what that person was expecting to read. i found the numbers facinating, how the horse racing industry spends trades and transfers millions of dollars... just crazy to read the amount of dollars in this industry.