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Thoroughbred #51
Distance Runner
A competitive bug is sweeping through Whitebrook Farm. Image, Star, and Gratis are all contenders for the Triple Crown races, which begins with the Kentucky Derby, a little over a month away.
Christina can‘t stand the pressure. So, when she is given the chance to leave Kentucky for a little while and ride for another farm in California, where Derby fever isn't quite as intense, she packs her bags and takes Star with her. There, Chris focuses on making the most of Star's running style. He's always been a come-from-behind-horse, but he sometimes misses his chance to beat the leaders. Christina is going to try to change that in time for the Derby. But it may not be as easy as she thinks.
Christina can‘t stand the pressure. So, when she is given the chance to leave Kentucky for a little while and ride for another farm in California, where Derby fever isn't quite as intense, she packs her bags and takes Star with her. There, Chris focuses on making the most of Star's running style. He's always been a come-from-behind-horse, but he sometimes misses his chance to beat the leaders. Christina is going to try to change that in time for the Derby. But it may not be as easy as she thinks.
176 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2002
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January 9, 2025
Out of all the writers in the Thoroughbred series, the best by far was Jennifer Chu. (I have no idea if that was her real name.) She was even better than the original writer, Joanna Campbell (real name Jo Ann Simon). This was because Chu was a fan of the series, reading her first Thoroughbred book at age 12. She was the only writer who:
* got the continuity right (she recounts problems about Fleet Goddess and Sterling Dream accurately.)
* actually liked Christina, by not making her seem like a brainless idiot (she even states that her parents are Star's trainers, not herself.)
* consistently inserted harsh realities of racing breakdowns.
Unfortunately, Chu only got to write three Thoroughbred books, of which this is the first. Perhaps she realized that even she couldn't keep this Titanic from sinking. As the old saying goes, "A chef is only as good as his ingredients."
Chu was clearly trying to get the Thoroughbred series back on track (so to speak.) The focus here clearly is on Christina as a jockey, not just Star's jockey. She meets new friends at Santa Anita, including an interesting character named Aaron. Unfortunately, none of the other ghostwriters picked up on these new characters and situations. Or even that Christina didn't have to be a completely selfish dimwit.
Horses included here include Raven, Something Wicked, Blue Streak, Perfect Image, Whitebrook's Comet, Gratis, Pocket Money and introduces Calm Before the Storm or Callie. Actually, the colt's name is too long for acceptance by the Jockey Club, which only allows eighteen characters. I wouldn't be surprised if Chu wrote the name as Calmbforethestorm, and the "editors" at HarperCollins screwed it up.
Not sure if that is supposed to be Star Christina is riding on the cover, as the silks are the wrong colors ... in keeping with the piss-poor tradition of Thoroughbred covers. At least the horse looks like a Thoroughbred.
* got the continuity right (she recounts problems about Fleet Goddess and Sterling Dream accurately.)
* actually liked Christina, by not making her seem like a brainless idiot (she even states that her parents are Star's trainers, not herself.)
* consistently inserted harsh realities of racing breakdowns.
Unfortunately, Chu only got to write three Thoroughbred books, of which this is the first. Perhaps she realized that even she couldn't keep this Titanic from sinking. As the old saying goes, "A chef is only as good as his ingredients."
Chu was clearly trying to get the Thoroughbred series back on track (so to speak.) The focus here clearly is on Christina as a jockey, not just Star's jockey. She meets new friends at Santa Anita, including an interesting character named Aaron. Unfortunately, none of the other ghostwriters picked up on these new characters and situations. Or even that Christina didn't have to be a completely selfish dimwit.
Horses included here include Raven, Something Wicked, Blue Streak, Perfect Image, Whitebrook's Comet, Gratis, Pocket Money and introduces Calm Before the Storm or Callie. Actually, the colt's name is too long for acceptance by the Jockey Club, which only allows eighteen characters. I wouldn't be surprised if Chu wrote the name as Calmbforethestorm, and the "editors" at HarperCollins screwed it up.
Not sure if that is supposed to be Star Christina is riding on the cover, as the silks are the wrong colors ... in keeping with the piss-poor tradition of Thoroughbred covers. At least the horse looks like a Thoroughbred.
Displaying 1 of 1 review