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Coley Killebrew #1
Stalking Horse
Straight from the Winner's Circle, the greatest jockey of all time draws on his vast experience on and off the track to spin one of the most suspenseful mysteries of the year....
Coley Killebrew was one of the best jockeys in the business—until a race-fixing scandal got him barred from the track. Now the man responsible for blackening his name, racing steward Raymond Starbuck, offers Coley a chance to redeem his reputation. All Coley has to do is investigate some underworld characters who are muscling in on a track in New Orleans, resist the irresistible redhead he loved and lost, Francie Dorn, and reckon with Lea, Starbuck's leggy blonde daughter, who's as adept at seducing men as she is at blowing them away....
Coley Killebrew was one of the best jockeys in the business—until a race-fixing scandal got him barred from the track. Now the man responsible for blackening his name, racing steward Raymond Starbuck, offers Coley a chance to redeem his reputation. All Coley has to do is investigate some underworld characters who are muscling in on a track in New Orleans, resist the irresistible redhead he loved and lost, Francie Dorn, and reckon with Lea, Starbuck's leggy blonde daughter, who's as adept at seducing men as she is at blowing them away....
- GenresMystery
339 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 8, 1994
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About the author
Bill Shoemaker
14 books7 followersA jockey who raced professionally from 1949 until 1990. He won 8,833 races.
After retiring as a jockey, Shoemaker turned to training horses. His horses won 90 races from 714 starts.
After retiring as a jockey, Shoemaker turned to training horses. His horses won 90 races from 714 starts.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 17, 2019
Bill ("Willie") Shoemaker, whose autobiography is modestly entitled "America's Greatest Jockey," followed in the hoof marks of England's Dick Francis in 1994 by authoring a series of mystery novels featuring (involuntarily) retired jockey Cory Killebrew as the detective.
As a jockey, Willie Shoemaker won 8833 flat races. Dick Francis, won 350 steeplechase (jump) races and was jockey to the Queen Mum, retiring from racing at age 36 after a mishap in the 1956 Grand National. Clearly Willie had the better racing record.
As a novelist, Dick Francis authored over 40 novels and won the Poe Award three times. This is Shoemaker's debut novel, the first of three in the series. Clearly Francis has the better writing record.
One of the strengths of the Francis novels in that they are permeated with horse racing even though the protagonists are not necessarily jockeys. While Shoemaker's Cory Killebrew is a former jockey, this novel strayed too far from the track for my taste. Too many human characters, not enough horses.
As a jockey, Willie Shoemaker won 8833 flat races. Dick Francis, won 350 steeplechase (jump) races and was jockey to the Queen Mum, retiring from racing at age 36 after a mishap in the 1956 Grand National. Clearly Willie had the better racing record.
As a novelist, Dick Francis authored over 40 novels and won the Poe Award three times. This is Shoemaker's debut novel, the first of three in the series. Clearly Francis has the better writing record.
One of the strengths of the Francis novels in that they are permeated with horse racing even though the protagonists are not necessarily jockeys. While Shoemaker's Cory Killebrew is a former jockey, this novel strayed too far from the track for my taste. Too many human characters, not enough horses.
January 16, 2008
Stalking Horse - G
Shoemaker, Bill
Ex-jockey Coley Killebrew, barred from his sport in a scandal seven years ago when Raymond Starbuck was head of the Racing Commission, is now "co-owner" (with a Vegas big shot) of an L.A. restaurant. Urged on by Starbuck's tall, blonde, gorgeous daughter Lea, Coley agrees when Starbuck asks him to investigate a rural Louisiana racetrack that may have come under the control of a group that he knows is trying to take over a California track owned by a respected racing figure.
Not Dick Francis, but good and fun.
Shoemaker, Bill
Ex-jockey Coley Killebrew, barred from his sport in a scandal seven years ago when Raymond Starbuck was head of the Racing Commission, is now "co-owner" (with a Vegas big shot) of an L.A. restaurant. Urged on by Starbuck's tall, blonde, gorgeous daughter Lea, Coley agrees when Starbuck asks him to investigate a rural Louisiana racetrack that may have come under the control of a group that he knows is trying to take over a California track owned by a respected racing figure.
Not Dick Francis, but good and fun.
January 24, 2011
I just re-read this as I read it MANY years ago. I enjoyed the novel. Willie (The Shoe) was not as good as Dick Francis was but still a good read. There was a lot 'going on' in the story plot. I will probably re-read his other novels.
August 2, 2011
I was going to go with "superbly average" until the last 30 pages or so. I've changed that to "superbly average with a superbly cheesy ending." I should know better than to expect much out of a horse-themed novel at this point. I'm always disappointed.
December 21, 2014
Amazingly bad. Ridiculous scenarios. The narration suddenly shifts from first person to third person without warning. Too much trying to be like Dick Francis here and not succeeding. Some nice passages with horses -- but they are few and far between.
October 25, 2014
This is the fiction debut of the great jockey Willie Shoemaker. The hero of the story is an ex-jockeywho is asked to foul up a racing scam in New Orleans. This is an enjoyable read.
January 8, 2013
Much like Dick Francis. Very fun intertwining of horse facts and mystery.
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October 22, 2014Stalking Horse 05102004
Author: Bill Shoemaker
Author: Bill Shoemaker
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews