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Luck of the Draw
Luck of the Draw is the story of Lucky, one of the slowest racehorses the world has ever known. Even though Lucky gives racing his all, he never manages to win a race, and soon finds himself working as a jumper and dressage horse. No matter how hard he tries, Lucky seems to fail at all disciplines. Despite his lack of success, Lucky remains upbeat and hopeful. He is determined to find his life’s purpose, and eventually learns that succeeding in life doesn’t always involve winning trophies and ribbons.
Luck of the Draw is a Story Monsters Approved! winner in Middle Grade Fiction and received an Honorable Mention at the 2021 EQUUS Film and Arts Fest.
Diana Tuorto has been writing fiction and poetry since the age of ten. Luck of the Draw is her third novel, which she began writing at age 17.
Luck of the Draw is a Story Monsters Approved! winner in Middle Grade Fiction and received an Honorable Mention at the 2021 EQUUS Film and Arts Fest.
Diana Tuorto has been writing fiction and poetry since the age of ten. Luck of the Draw is her third novel, which she began writing at age 17.
54 pages, Paperback
First published July 29, 2008
1 person want to read
About the author
Diana Tuorto
9 books2 followersDiana Tuorto has been writing fiction, poetry and creative non-fiction since the age of ten. Her novels, poetry, and short stories often focus on issues such as animal abuse and neglect, love (lost and gained), and the struggle for freedom and individuality in today's changing world.
A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in English Writing and History, Diana remains a dedicated writer and resides in New Jersey. She has other creative interests in Marketing and Web Design, and is an active volunteer with various local and worldwide non-profit organizations.
In March 2006, Diana self-published her first collection of poems, entitled Let The Horses Die: Poems of Longing, Love, and Loss from 1997-2005.
In March 2008, Diana self-published her second children's novel, Janie's New Legs. It is a story of friendship between a young paralyzed girl and a pony recovering from the emotional and physical scars of abuse.
In July 2008, Diana self-published her third novel, Luck of the Draw, the story of an unsuccessful racehorse searching for his life's purpose.
In Summer 2009, Diana will re-release My Desert Sun, her first children's novel. It is the story of Cayuse, a young, free-spirited mustang who is captured and determined to regain his freedom, no matter what the cost.
Visit http://cayuse.8k.com for more information and updates."
A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in English Writing and History, Diana remains a dedicated writer and resides in New Jersey. She has other creative interests in Marketing and Web Design, and is an active volunteer with various local and worldwide non-profit organizations.
In March 2006, Diana self-published her first collection of poems, entitled Let The Horses Die: Poems of Longing, Love, and Loss from 1997-2005.
In March 2008, Diana self-published her second children's novel, Janie's New Legs. It is a story of friendship between a young paralyzed girl and a pony recovering from the emotional and physical scars of abuse.
In July 2008, Diana self-published her third novel, Luck of the Draw, the story of an unsuccessful racehorse searching for his life's purpose.
In Summer 2009, Diana will re-release My Desert Sun, her first children's novel. It is the story of Cayuse, a young, free-spirited mustang who is captured and determined to regain his freedom, no matter what the cost.
Visit http://cayuse.8k.com for more information and updates."
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 11, 2025
Luck of the Draw is told from the perspective of Lucky, a dark brown colt who often finds himself trailing behind and overlooked when it comes to proving himself as a racehorse. Diana Tuorto has crafted a story of willpower, never giving up, and finding happiness.
Living on Jill and Lucien’s farm, Lucky learned that he was not born to be a racehorse like the other horses. During this time, he met his handler, Freddie, who was kind and a little scary. Lucky’s mom was his role model, and the best advice she gave him was “Always obey your rider or handlers and you’ll get along and live a good life like I have.” (pg.3) Suddenly, the next day, he was taken away from his mother to train, and he never saw her again. Not long after, Lucky was soon introduced to Cannonball, a Triple Crown hopeful, and his journey began.
Excited to start learning to train and race the other horses, Lucky is thrown into several workouts. In one of his first races, he was racing and almost to the finish line when another horse took a tumble. He realized that everything could be taken away without warning.
Following Lucky onto the farms, training facilities, and stalls brought it all to life for me. I enjoyed all the different characters of Platinum Blond, Ivory Black, and Sea Eagle. They all have different personalities that match their breed. Watching them interact with Lucky shows how every horse has its own place in the racing world, just like people. It reminded me of how friendship and rivalries can shape not only a horse’s career but also the way we connect with them as readers.
I like how Luck of the Draw is laid out into chapters. I plan to use Lucky as an inspirational lesson for my classroom. We will discuss how the story is in first person, the responsibilities of animals, and introduce what dressage is and what it looks like in a show ring. The best age group for reading would be emergent readers, but younger children would enjoy it being read to them.
The pacing and ending feel natural, carrying the story to a close without ever feeling rushed. I also appreciated that Diane Tuorto dedicated this book to two of her special horses, Puppy and Barbaro. That adds a special and meaningful touch for readers. It shows how deeply connected she is to the world she writes about. I would love to collect her other horse books and add them to my library.
Living on Jill and Lucien’s farm, Lucky learned that he was not born to be a racehorse like the other horses. During this time, he met his handler, Freddie, who was kind and a little scary. Lucky’s mom was his role model, and the best advice she gave him was “Always obey your rider or handlers and you’ll get along and live a good life like I have.” (pg.3) Suddenly, the next day, he was taken away from his mother to train, and he never saw her again. Not long after, Lucky was soon introduced to Cannonball, a Triple Crown hopeful, and his journey began.
Excited to start learning to train and race the other horses, Lucky is thrown into several workouts. In one of his first races, he was racing and almost to the finish line when another horse took a tumble. He realized that everything could be taken away without warning.
Following Lucky onto the farms, training facilities, and stalls brought it all to life for me. I enjoyed all the different characters of Platinum Blond, Ivory Black, and Sea Eagle. They all have different personalities that match their breed. Watching them interact with Lucky shows how every horse has its own place in the racing world, just like people. It reminded me of how friendship and rivalries can shape not only a horse’s career but also the way we connect with them as readers.
I like how Luck of the Draw is laid out into chapters. I plan to use Lucky as an inspirational lesson for my classroom. We will discuss how the story is in first person, the responsibilities of animals, and introduce what dressage is and what it looks like in a show ring. The best age group for reading would be emergent readers, but younger children would enjoy it being read to them.
The pacing and ending feel natural, carrying the story to a close without ever feeling rushed. I also appreciated that Diane Tuorto dedicated this book to two of her special horses, Puppy and Barbaro. That adds a special and meaningful touch for readers. It shows how deeply connected she is to the world she writes about. I would love to collect her other horse books and add them to my library.
May 11, 2009
We cannot all be Michael Phelps. For some of us, no matter how high we dream, no matter how hard we try, our fate is not to win gold medals, trophies, or ribbons. This encouraging story will inspire the young person who will not be a future Michael Phelps that their happiness depends on the way they embrace life, on the positive attitude they give to every circumstance. I fell in love with Luck of the Draw.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews