Rereading: THE BLACK STALLION’S COURAGE by Walter Farley

Growing up, I loved animals and was fascinated by horses and the idea of riding, though the only chances I had for that were occasional pony rides at a fair or party. Likewise, I knew nothing about horse racing other than what I read in Walter Farley’s books, I didn’t attend any actual races until decades later. Despite that, I think I know quite a bit about the subject thanks to books like this.

Alec Ramsey and Henry Dailey’s main barn at their farm has burned down, and due to a mistake by Alec, the insurance had lapsed. They need $100,000 to build a new one, and the only way to get it is to race. They have Black Minx, daughter of The Black, preparing for The Preakness after her win at The Kentucky Derby, but “Baby” as she’s nicknamed, is temperamental and hard to predict. In case she doesn’t come through, Alec decides to put The Black back into racing form and try him at the New York tracks. Will the former champion be able to make that comeback? The Black must enter handicap races, where a track’s handicapper adds weight to each horse attempting to get them all equal and at the finish line together. Whether The Black can succeed depends on how much weight he’s asked to carry, and how long the race is. He must also compete against the best young horses in the field today, years after his previous success. Alec knows he has the heart, but will his body hold up?

These books are all well written and recommended.

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