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Thoroughbred #34
On the Track
Another tough choice... Ever since Melanie Graham came to live with her cousin Christina Reese, she's had her eye on the track. She wants to be an exercise rider, and maybe one day, a winning jockey. With her aunt Ashleigh's Thoroughbreds. And she loves it. Finally, she's discovered her calling. But Christina is jealous. She's been acting weird ever since Melanie began working with Ashleigh. Melanie desperately wants to continue her training, but is it worth losing her cousin's friendship?
176 pages, Paperback
First published April 7, 1999
280 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 24, 2015
really good
October 24, 2025
Childhood favourite series, giving all four stars unless it was a favourite.
November 26, 2024
This was the first, and I think only, book in the series written by Lois Szymanski. I have a non-fiction book that she wrote about Chincoteague ponies that was miles better than this. She juggles far too many human and equine characters here to keep track of.
The Saddle Club phase ended in the last book. This is far more focused on racing, told from Melanie's point of view. I had hoped that the books would alternate with racing/Melanie and eventing/Christina. This book kept the hope alive, but it's clear Christina is getting more interested in the goings-on at the excerise track, and at Thoroughbred auctions.
However, Christina's hair is still blond in this book, and her world still revolves around riding in the Olympics. She states she never wanted to exercise ride ... and yet did just that way back in The Horse of Her Dreams. Funny how no one ever mentions that fact in this book.
Melanie's father is upset that she is riding racehorses -- including two-year-olds. The book treats Melanie's father as being a bad guy here, but he is ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. No twelve year old should be riding racing Thoroughbreds. Period. Now, granted, the series is a fantasy series on many levels. Ashleigh began her training to be an exercise rider when she was about 12. However, she trained on retired racers, and horses older than five.
But in Thoroughbred series logic, special girls have the magic touch riding half ton, million dollar Thoroughbreds, so Ashleigh is going to let them.
Christina decides to switch riding schools, which means she no longer rides with Dylan, Katie, and Cassidy. Cassidy's story line is still unresolved. Christina does not want to talk about Dylan with Melanie, and seems embarrassed by Dylan's playful actions at times. The gang we got to know for 10 books does not show up much here. It's like a wake.
Parker just happens to be riding in Christina's new class. Christina doesn't want to talk about Parker, either.
The most interesting part of the book was that a Whitebrook mare named Perfect Heart was about to foal. Just who the sire of her foal is, is never made clear. First, the sire is a son of Wonder's Pride that has never been mentioned before ... then later on, the sire is Pride himself. Not sure how that works.
I've got to dig up my copy The Horse of Her Dreams, because I think there was ANOTHER continuity error. Leap of Faith plays a big part here. She's described as a grey here. I swear she used to be a chestnut.
Not sure how that works, either.
Yes, chestnut foals can turn grey as they mature. Gem Twist, the best jumper I ever saw, was about the most famous Thoroughbreds to do that. However, the color change happens when the foal is between 6 to 12 months old. Leap of Faith was bought at an auction when she was at least a yearling.
God DAMN my head hurts from trying to figure all of this out.
Other horses mentioned are Pirate, Trib the pony, Thunder (described as an old gelding), Jasper (Kevin's neglected Anglo-Arb), Finn, Heart of Stone and Pride's Perfection. I'm not sure these last two horses, Whitebrook racers, ever appear again.
Ashleigh invites this gaggle of 12 year old kids to Keeneland's prestigious yearling sale, because ... well ... Thoroughbred series logic. We mere mortals are not meant to understand.
The covers in Thoroughbred books are usually good for laughs, as there's almost always something seriously wrong with them. Here, Melanie is wearing a sweatshirt bearing the name Whitebrook Farm in colors of yellow and black. Whitebrook's colors are blue and white.
No idea what horse that's supposed to be. Probably Leap of Faith.
The Saddle Club phase ended in the last book. This is far more focused on racing, told from Melanie's point of view. I had hoped that the books would alternate with racing/Melanie and eventing/Christina. This book kept the hope alive, but it's clear Christina is getting more interested in the goings-on at the excerise track, and at Thoroughbred auctions.
However, Christina's hair is still blond in this book, and her world still revolves around riding in the Olympics. She states she never wanted to exercise ride ... and yet did just that way back in The Horse of Her Dreams. Funny how no one ever mentions that fact in this book.
Melanie's father is upset that she is riding racehorses -- including two-year-olds. The book treats Melanie's father as being a bad guy here, but he is ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. No twelve year old should be riding racing Thoroughbreds. Period. Now, granted, the series is a fantasy series on many levels. Ashleigh began her training to be an exercise rider when she was about 12. However, she trained on retired racers, and horses older than five.
But in Thoroughbred series logic, special girls have the magic touch riding half ton, million dollar Thoroughbreds, so Ashleigh is going to let them.
Christina decides to switch riding schools, which means she no longer rides with Dylan, Katie, and Cassidy. Cassidy's story line is still unresolved. Christina does not want to talk about Dylan with Melanie, and seems embarrassed by Dylan's playful actions at times. The gang we got to know for 10 books does not show up much here. It's like a wake.
Parker just happens to be riding in Christina's new class. Christina doesn't want to talk about Parker, either.
The most interesting part of the book was that a Whitebrook mare named Perfect Heart was about to foal. Just who the sire of her foal is, is never made clear. First, the sire is a son of Wonder's Pride that has never been mentioned before ... then later on, the sire is Pride himself. Not sure how that works.
I've got to dig up my copy The Horse of Her Dreams, because I think there was ANOTHER continuity error. Leap of Faith plays a big part here. She's described as a grey here. I swear she used to be a chestnut.
Not sure how that works, either.
Yes, chestnut foals can turn grey as they mature. Gem Twist, the best jumper I ever saw, was about the most famous Thoroughbreds to do that. However, the color change happens when the foal is between 6 to 12 months old. Leap of Faith was bought at an auction when she was at least a yearling.
God DAMN my head hurts from trying to figure all of this out.
Other horses mentioned are Pirate, Trib the pony, Thunder (described as an old gelding), Jasper (Kevin's neglected Anglo-Arb), Finn, Heart of Stone and Pride's Perfection. I'm not sure these last two horses, Whitebrook racers, ever appear again.
Ashleigh invites this gaggle of 12 year old kids to Keeneland's prestigious yearling sale, because ... well ... Thoroughbred series logic. We mere mortals are not meant to understand.
The covers in Thoroughbred books are usually good for laughs, as there's almost always something seriously wrong with them. Here, Melanie is wearing a sweatshirt bearing the name Whitebrook Farm in colors of yellow and black. Whitebrook's colors are blue and white.
No idea what horse that's supposed to be. Probably Leap of Faith.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2015
Grade: B-
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews