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Thoroughbred #59
Star's Inspiration
Do Christina and Star have what it takes to win the third jewel in the Triple Crown? As the third race in the Triple Crown approaches, the competition for Christina Reese and her horse, Wonder's Star, is getting tougher. Christina is nervous and she's afraid the pressure is affecting Star's concentration. But the tension unexpectedly eases when Christina meets a jockey familiar with the legendary 1977 Triple Crown winner, Seattle Slew. It seems Star and Seattle Slew have lots in common. Buoyed by the jockey's invaluable advice – and the support of her family and friends – Christina feels ready to win at Belmont! The question is will Star come through? Ages 8+
163 pages, Paperback
First published May 27, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 26, 2024
Thoroughbred had a tradition of really bad titles for most of the books. The hands-down worst was Parker's Passion, but Star's Inspiration is pretty close. Why? Because it's completely illogical. Star the horse doesn't need any inspiration. It's Christina, his brain-dead jockey, that does. She meets one of Seattle Slew's owners, and his jockey. Slew had just died the year before this book was published, so no meeting the mighty Slew.
The title does give the impression that the ghost of Slew gives Star a pep talk before the Belmont, but that never happens. If it did, it might've made for a more interesting book. This has happened before in the series, although the stud was still alive. Either Glory or Champion met his Triple Crown winning grand sire, and had a short race with him. That helped sort the horse out ... because ... Thoroughbred.
Anyway, the book focuses on just one race in Star's eternal three year old campaign, the Belmont Stakes. It's the usual crap from Mary Newhall Anderson. At this point in the series, the back story is so complicated that Anderson takes at least ten pages going into it. Hey, that's ten pages where she didn't actually need to try and come up with anything original! Because writing an original book hurts.
One of the main competitors, Speed.com is horseknapped from Belmont Park. Brad goes into a major rant at the head of Belmont security, even though it wasn't his horse that was stolen. Mary Newhall Anderson treats this rant as outlandish and completely inappropriate.
Which shows you effing stupid Mary Newhall Anderson is. Brad's rant was COMPLETELY justified. A Grade 1 racehorse was stolen from the damn track! In the real world, not only would ALL of the owners be raising a stink, but so would the racing press and possibly almighty NYRA (New York Racing Association.) What kind of world does Newhall Anderson live in where stealing a horse worth millions is a ho-hum event?
Alexis reappears, and basically goes bug-fucking nuts. She had got away with around a million dollars of Frederica's money -- and suddenly decides to be a racehorse trainer. Real criminals can be stupid -- but they're not this stupid. A really good baddie in the series meets an inexplicably ludicrous end.
Other horses that appear include Gratis, Wild 'n' Free, Celtic Mist and Charisma.
The title does give the impression that the ghost of Slew gives Star a pep talk before the Belmont, but that never happens. If it did, it might've made for a more interesting book. This has happened before in the series, although the stud was still alive. Either Glory or Champion met his Triple Crown winning grand sire, and had a short race with him. That helped sort the horse out ... because ... Thoroughbred.
Anyway, the book focuses on just one race in Star's eternal three year old campaign, the Belmont Stakes. It's the usual crap from Mary Newhall Anderson. At this point in the series, the back story is so complicated that Anderson takes at least ten pages going into it. Hey, that's ten pages where she didn't actually need to try and come up with anything original! Because writing an original book hurts.
One of the main competitors, Speed.com is horseknapped from Belmont Park. Brad goes into a major rant at the head of Belmont security, even though it wasn't his horse that was stolen. Mary Newhall Anderson treats this rant as outlandish and completely inappropriate.
Which shows you effing stupid Mary Newhall Anderson is. Brad's rant was COMPLETELY justified. A Grade 1 racehorse was stolen from the damn track! In the real world, not only would ALL of the owners be raising a stink, but so would the racing press and possibly almighty NYRA (New York Racing Association.) What kind of world does Newhall Anderson live in where stealing a horse worth millions is a ho-hum event?
Alexis reappears, and basically goes bug-fucking nuts. She had got away with around a million dollars of Frederica's money -- and suddenly decides to be a racehorse trainer. Real criminals can be stupid -- but they're not this stupid. A really good baddie in the series meets an inexplicably ludicrous end.
Other horses that appear include Gratis, Wild 'n' Free, Celtic Mist and Charisma.
June 9, 2024
Oh the memories. B-
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews