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Northern Dancer: The Legend And His Legacy
When Northern Dancer won the Kentucky Derby in the spring of 1964, Canadians poured into the streets to celebrate. Northern Dancer had not only waltzed off with North America's most cherished racing trophy, he had also run the Derby faster than any horse in history. The mayor of Toronto awarded him the key to the city, the country's sportswriters voted him Athlete of the Year, and he was deluged with fan mail. Yet the excitement generated by this remarkable animal had only just begun. The story of Northern Dancer is the stuff of legend. He was a little horse, dismissed time and again because of his size, and to many he appeared to be the antithesis of streamlined, thoroughbred elegance. Today, however, his descendants dominate racing the world over, and Northern Dancer is recognized as the greatest thoroughbred sire in modern history. To discover what made Northern Dancer so extraordinary, journalist Muriel Lennox takes us on a ride into the sport of kings and queens.
192 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 21, 2024
This was a very informative book about racing, horses and the people involved. Northern Dancer was a great horse with stamina and speed. He also had great heart. He produced many winners in his progeny. I enjoyed this book immensely!
May 31, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. I've always loved horses, though I wasn't a rider or even came close to many horses. I just liked reading books about them and experiencing them through the author's eyes and voice.
Northern Dancer is ultimately so remarkable because he was underrated from the outset by most racing pundits. His small size was considered a handicap for stamina in long races and his breeder and owner knew the likelihood of this happening.
Unfortunately, Northern Dancer often met with other impediments whenever he had a long race. In the Belmont after Kentucky Derby--in which he set a new record of 2.00 minutes--and Preakness wins, the jockey was instructed to hold him back a the beginning because of a tendon problem. The horse was then unable to release himself from the pack and came up short. However, he ran one more race, the Queen's Plate in Toronto, which he won.
Northern Dancer was then retired to stud. Of his more than 600 foals, eighty percent became racehorses, of which eighty percent were winners by the time the book was written.
Northern Dancer is ultimately so remarkable because he was underrated from the outset by most racing pundits. His small size was considered a handicap for stamina in long races and his breeder and owner knew the likelihood of this happening.
Unfortunately, Northern Dancer often met with other impediments whenever he had a long race. In the Belmont after Kentucky Derby--in which he set a new record of 2.00 minutes--and Preakness wins, the jockey was instructed to hold him back a the beginning because of a tendon problem. The horse was then unable to release himself from the pack and came up short. However, he ran one more race, the Queen's Plate in Toronto, which he won.
Northern Dancer was then retired to stud. Of his more than 600 foals, eighty percent became racehorses, of which eighty percent were winners by the time the book was written.
March 9, 2015
Superb book about the racehorse and the stallion.
March 13, 2016
An awesome book by a very nice lady! A must for any horse lover!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews