| Edition |
First Pegasus Books hardcover edition. |
| Description |
xv, 426 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color) ; 24 cm |
| Note |
First published in Great Britain in 2016 by John Murray (publishers). |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 375-406) and index. |
| Summary |
"The audacious and inspired history of horse racing told through the bloodline of twenty-five exceptional Arabian steeds. In 1704 a bankrupt English merchant sent home the colt he had bought from Bedouin tribesmen near the ruins of Palmyra. Thomas Darley hoped this horse might be the ticket to a new life back in Yorkshire. But he turned out to be far more than that, and although Mr. Darley's Arabian never ran a race, 95% of all thoroughbreds in the world today are descended from him. In this book, for the first time, award-winning racing writer Christopher McGrath traces this extraordinary bloodline through twenty-five generations to our greatest modern racehorse, Frankel. The story of racing is about man's relationship with horses, and Mr. Darley's Arabian also celebrates the men and women who owned, trained and traded the stallions that extended the dynasty. The great Eclipse, for instance, was bred by the Duke who foiled Bonnie Prince Charlie's invasion (with militia gathered from Wakefield races) and went on to lead the Jockey Club. But he only became a success once bought and raced by a card-sharp and brothel-keeper--the racecourse has always brought high and low life together. McGrath expertly guides us through three centuries of scandals, adventures and fortunes won and lost: our sporting life offers a fascinating view into our history. With a canvas that extends from the diamond mines of South Africa to the trenches of the Great War, and a cast ranging from Smithfield meat salesmen to the inspiration for Mr Toad, and from legendary jockeys to not one, but two disreputable Princes of Wales (and a very unamused Queen Victoria), Mr. Darley's Arabian shows us the many faces of the sport of kings."--Jacket. |
| Contents |
Part I: Roots. "The most esteemed race amongst the Arrabs both by syre and dam" ; "The cross strains now in being are without end" ; A groom with a view ; A day at the races: Outwood Racecourse, Wakefield, 4 September 1745 ; "He won as many hearts in Newmarket as he lost in Scotland" -- Part II: Rakes. "Eclipse first, the rest nowhere" ; Breeding discontent ; The way ahead ; A day at the races: Epsom, 16 May 1793 ; The regeneration gap -- Part III: Ringers and wrong 'uns. Nobblers, broken heads and the "artful dodger of the corps" ; The west awake ; "I see a rum set in my day...But these beat all calculation" ; A day at the races: Doncaster, 17 September 1845 ; "Mr Palmer passes me five times in five minutes" -- Part IV: Age of the iron horse. Full steam ahead ; Old sweats and new money ; A day at the races: Epsom, 20 May 1863 ; "She is my brood mare. The others are my hacks" ; A day at the races: Alexandra Palace, 1 July 1868 ; "The lad rode as well as any could" -- Part V: The fast set. "My God, Berkeley, this is too hot!" ; A day at the races: Ascot, 17 June 1897 ; "He is far ahead of the lot, even with all his faults" ; Jewels in the crown -- Part VI: War horses. "All their young men are killed" ; A day at the races: Epsom, 6 June 1923 ; "I have no method. Method is imitation. I invent." -- Part VII: Raising the stakes. "Chuck, what I tol' you?" ; A day at the races: Churchill Downs, 2 May 1964 ; "Bang him on the nose early, Bobby. Make his eyes water." ; "They'd run through a wall for you." ; "I'd be surprised if there's ever been a better horse." |
| Subject |
Horse racing -- History.
|
|
Thoroughbred horse -- Breeding -- History.
|
|
Thoroughbred horse -- Breeding.
(OCoLC)fst01150239
|
|
Horse racing. (OCoLC)fst00960488
|
|
SPORTS & RECREATION / Equestrian.
|
|
SPORTS & RECREATION / History.
|
| Genre/Form |
History. (OCoLC)fst01411628
|
| Added Title |
Mister Darley's Arabian |
|
History of racing in twenty-five horses |
| ISBN |
9781681773384 |
|
1681773384 |
|
