The Kentucky Derby: How the Run for the Roses Became America’s Premier Sporting Event

by James C. Nicholson

Each year on the first Saturday in May, the world turns its attention to the twin spires of Churchill Downs for the high-stakes excitement of the "greatest two minutes in sports," the Kentucky Derby. No American sporting event can claim the history, tradition, or pageantry that the Kentucky Derby holds. For more than 130 years, spectators have been fascinated by the magnificent horses that run the Louisville track. Thoroughbreds such as Secretariat and Barbaro have earned instant international fame, along with jockeys such as Isaac Murphy, Ron Turcotte, and Calvin Borel. The Kentucky How the Run for the Roses Became America's Premier Sporting Event calls this great tradition to post and illuminates its history and culture.

Rising from its humble beginnings as an American variation of England's Epsom Derby, the Kentucky Derby became a centerpiece of American sports and the racing industry, confirming Kentucky's status as the Horse Capital of the World. James C. Nicholson argues that the Derby, at its essence, is a celebration of a place, existing as a connection between Kentucky's mythic past and modern society. The Derby is more than just a horse race―it is an experience enhanced by familiar traditions, icons, and images that help Derby fans to understand Kentucky and define themselves as Americans. Today the Kentucky Derby continues to attract international attention from royalty, celebrities, racing fans, and those who simply enjoy an icy mint julep, a fabulous hat, and a wager on who will make it to the winner's circle.

Nicholson provides an intriguing and thorough history of the Kentucky Derby, examining the tradition, spectacle, culture, and evolution of the Kentucky Derby―the brightest jewel of the Triple Crown.

Genres: Nonfiction, Horse Racing, History, Sports, Horses

294 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2012

About the author

James C. Nicholson recently received a PhD in history from the University of Kentucky.

Reviews

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received from Netgalley for review, thank you.

Sports mean nothing in my life (unless you count jousting, which I do). I have watched part of one World Series – because I really, really wanted to see the Yankees lose – and one and an eighth Super Bowls (the offensive coordinator for the Giants was an old friend of the family and his late lamented mother-in-law was one of my favorite people in the universe), and that was plenty. But horse racing? Oh, that's different. That's horses. I have loved horses since before I could say "I want". I loved the Black Stallion novels; I knew horses backward and forward; of course I was going to watch the Triple Crown every year. (You might notice a certain connection between horseracing and jousting …)

I always pick a sentimental favorite. My horse always loses.

The only detraction for me following horse-racing was always that widespread television coverage of the sport concentrated, and concentrates, almost solely on the Triple Crown races, so each year's crop of three-year-olds appears on the first Saturday in May, race their hearts out three times over about a month, and exit, never to be heard of (by me) again. But when I watched every year the human personalities, especially the jockeys, were perennial, and I loved them. I learned how to pronounce Angel Cordero's name correctly. I came to hero-worship Bill Shoemaker. And owners and trainers like Bob Baffert and D. Wayne Lukas were part of my vocabulary - it's all of it in my system.

(My most favorite person associated with the races, though, was Jim McKay. I compare every on-air personality covering the race with the late great Jim McKay - all unfavorably. Very. I adored him, and was furious when ABC lost the Olympics AND the Derby. And then Jim. I loved Jim McKay.)

The Kentucky Derby is not a history of the horses who have run, or the jockeys who have ridden them or the breeders who oversaw their conception or the trainer who put them under saddle or the owners who paid for them. It is, as it says on the cover, a history of the race itself. It is the story of how and why it came to be in 1875, and of how it came to be what it is today – the story not only of the Derby but, in a way, Kentucky itself as it presents itself to the nation. The book spends a remarkable amount of time, especially early on, tracing Kentucky's image through whisky advertising – and rightly so: the imagery of Night Riders, belles, bourbon, horses, and pistols is inextricably linked with the Derby. From its first running the race never has been just a bunch of horses brought together to see which could run fastest – there have always been layers and politics and symbolism. The race has always been a microcosm of whatever issues are gipping the country at the time: racism, sexism, elitism; Prohibition, Depression, recession, war – it's all affected how the race has been staged, and now and then the race has affected the issue, if only as another stage for demonstration.

Along with the story of Lutie Clark and Aristides and Colonel Matt Winn, the Hart-Agnew law and the politics of racing during wartime, I finally learned what pari-mutuel betting is. I learned why billiards is called pool, and why incredibly un-PC lawn jockeys are black, and the dynamics of the Kentucky colonel. (And, in wandering about, that the black-eyed Susans for the Preakness are ... not; they're daisies, with the centers painted, because black-eyed Susans are not in bloom in May.) I still can't believe the song lyrics to "My Old Kentucky Home" weren't tweaked until 1986. I learned why Man O' War, one of the greatest racehorses who ever lived, passed on the Derby; exactly who a horse's breeder is (I confess I never knew it); and why you probably never want your horse featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

As is generally appropriate for a biography, the author's approach is journalistic, just-the-facts; any poetic flourish is left to occasional quotes. Any passion for the sport or the event is sublimated into painstaking research and reportage. The detail of information varies, from a satisfying depth on the early years of Matt Winn and on the turbulent sixties to a few years for which the winning horse was barely mentioned, the jockey not at all. (I also felt that the later coverage – yes, featuring Jim McKay – deserved note, but beyond discussion of very early broadcasts on radio and television there was nothing.) There were a tremendous number of trails glimpsed but not followed – so many tales of horses and riders and trainers and stables and patrons and even the silly tradition of ridiculous hats left untold here. As each new disappointment came up - but I would love to know more about that - I had to keep reminding myself that this was a biography of the Derby, not those involved. And as such it is very well done. Leave 'em wanting more – I think Colonel Matt Winn would endorse that style.

I think the only untouched subject I feel is something of a flaw is something I came face to face with a few years back. Not to sidetrack, but when the filly Eight Belles broke her leg and was put down on the track it sparked an all-out donnybrook a discussion about the ethics of horse racing, from drug use to the more hardcore PETA-esque issues. And while I truly believe that the majority of those involved in racing are there because they love the animals and the sport, there is undeniably abuse of all sorts within the sphere of racing as in all sports; I found it odd that this was never touched on at all.

In 1956 John Steinbeck wrote: "This Kentucky Derby, whatever it is - a race, an emotion, a turbulence, an explosion - is one of the most beautiful and violent and satisfying things I have ever experienced." And so it is. And it is largely – almost entirely – due to Colonel Matt Winn that the romance and spectacle, the Old South and America in microcosm, vice and high-mindedness are so synonymous with the Derby, and that the Derby is such an event for the whole country – the world. He issued an invitation: he made it desirable to see, to be part of it, to experience the "emotion…turbulence… explosion" enveloped in a warm and welcoming layer of Old South imagery and ingenuous romanticized pseudo-Confederatism.

I didn't watch the Super Bowl. I almost certainly won't watch the World Series or the World Cup or Wimbledon. But on the First Saturday In May, you can bet money (the minimum $2 bet, if you like) that I'll be in front of the TV. (Missing Jim McKay, as always.) And this year it the old familiar rituals will have a little more depth, a little more resonance: something I've always enjoyed will be a bit more enjoyable because of this book. Can't ask for much more than that.

ETA: On June 6, 2015 I broke a couple of speed limits to get home in time to see the Belmont Stakes, and just barely made it. But I was able to witness the first Triple Crown win since 1978. That's what horse racing is to me - that moment.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a split recommendation on this book. If you are a die-hard horse racing fan who cannot get enough of it (and by that I don't mean someone who bets a lot but otherwise doesn't care; nor do I mean someone who attends/watches the Kentucky Derby every year but otherwise can't name five other horse races), then you will probably find this book interesting, like I did. If, however, you are a casual fan, or you're only interested in betting, you may as well skip this one, because it will likely bore you.

There was a lot of interesting information and analysis, particularly in the beginning. I found out some things I didn't already know, which is always nice. The historical roots of the race are left rather hazy in most books, by virtue of being skimmed over to get to 'the good stuff', so it was nice to read a more detailed account of the beginning.

As we get toward the end, though, much of it is summed up as 'well, it's an American institution because it is.' The last chapter probably could've been left out, because it was well established as an important part of our culture, which was sort of the point of the book, so I feel like Nicholson kind of ran out of things to say. Repetition is never interesting.

He does repeat himself a lot, so be prepared for that. It can be grating at times, particularly when he digresses from a topic he hasn't talked about in order to reiterate something on a topic he'd already mentioned once or twice or even three times before. Continue with the thought you started! It was new and interesting! A lot of the repetition derives from the fact that each chapter (and the overall book) is structured like a research paper for a college class. (It makes sense when you realize Nicholson is an historian.)

So, to sum up: very interesting book if you're into horse racing and love all the details and whatnot, but it takes some dedication to get through it because of the structure. Still, it's a good book, and I do recommend it, just not for everyone.

[bethany m. planton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Kentucky Derby by James C. Nicholson is an interesting and enjoyable exploration of the history of the Kentucky Derby from the traditions of "My Old Kentucky Home", big hats, and mint juleps to the stories of the horses, owners, trainers, jockeys, administrators, politicians, and gamblers. This book is well researched and well executed.

[Leslie Goddard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m embarrassed to admit I was a bit leery when I read that the author grew up on a thoroughbred farm and has family members actively engaged in the racing industry. Uh oh, I thought, another book by someone who thinks personal experience alone qualifies you as an author. Happily, I was entirely wrong. Nicholson is an excellent researcher and thoughtful analyst. This book is full of wonderful insights (like how a certain “Old South” appeal fueled the Derby’s success in its early days while maintaining Kentucky’s appeal as a borderline state during the Civil War). He achieves that wonderful mix of being both informative and entertaining.

[Rebecca Graf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too often, we don’t know the history of an event that we are extremely familiar with. The Kentucky Derby is an annual event enjoyed across the country the first Saturday of each May. People from every walk of life, every economic level, and every race enjoy the tradition and excitement. The development of the event and the role it has played in American is largely forgotten. James C. Nicholson dives into the heart of the traditional horse racing event in his book, The Kentucky Derby: How the Run for the Roses Became America’s Premier Sporting Event.

Tracing the history of the derby to England, Nicholson explores the birth of the Kentucky Derby and the world it was born into. From the 1800s through 2010, the book does more than recite the history of the national event but also the culture of the world around it and how it influenced that world. Nicholson explores the social issues that were addressed throughout the history of the Derby and the major players who became a part of the tradition.

Too many history books can be dry with a slow pace to the reading. Nicholson does not fall into this rut as he moves over two centuries of horse history. He does not repeat himself needlessly and brings in enough peripheral history to keep the story lively and colorful.

Nicholson’s writing is easy to follow. It is entertaining and educational. The pictures that accompany the text help bring it to life and make the history real.

This book was especially special to me as I am from Kentucky and the Derby has been a part of my entire life. So much of the history that was mentioned in the book is a part of my own history being descendent from a coal miner, tobacco farmer, and World War II veteran. I read parts of the book aloud to my mother who remembered so much of the history. It brought back a lot of memories.
The book has an extensive bibliography and notes section. The book is not too long at just under 300 pages. The book I read and reviewed was a proof copy so that number could change at the final printing.

This is wonderful book for history enthusiasts, Kentucky Derby fans, Kentuckians, horse breeders, and anyone just interested in the book. Though the book might be too much for a ten year old, if they love horses they would still find it enjoyable. My ten year old daughter loved it.

Note: This book was provided to me by the publisher with no expectation of a positive review.

[Krystle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the perfect book to read seeing as how the Kentucky Derby is coming up this weekend. It sure gets you in the right mood and amps you up for it.

There is a ton of information in this book. It really helps build up the history of the track and the race and the leading figures behind it. Totally makes you understand what makes the race so special. The writing is dense but it’s never tedious. It’s just the right balance to keep you engaged and eager to read more. I loved finding all the little history bits that I never knew before.

There is also a wealth of pictures to help you understand the scope of things and the associated time periods as well. For such a short book it is jam packed with all sorts of good stuff. Definitely a book to read if you love horse racing and love watching the Kentucky Derby as much as I do.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicholson seeks to answer how the Kentucky Derby became the prominent horse race in the United States, by arguing that Kentucky’s dualism helps make it appeal to people across classes and races. Nicholson traced the history of the Derby through its early years as it quickly rose through a few bumps to become the dominant event in the early 20th century. While black jockeys dominated the early years of the derby, by the early 20th century, they had largely been forced out because of white interest in the money involved in the race, as well as the growing black migration over the 20th century to the urban centers away from horses. The race became increasingly one of plantation racial order, with blacks in support roles as exercise riders and stable workers. The Great Depression saw open conflict between the rich and the poor attending the event, while the 1960s saw mass commercialization of the event which gave rise to the current version of the race. Today the Kentucky Derby has international interest, such as Sheik Mohammad of Dubai being heavily involved, and national following of individual horses, like Smarty Jones in 2004.

Key Themes and Concepts:
-Kentucky Dualism: The Daniel Boone figure of being violent yet civilized. The Derby attracts the hedonist to the party area of the infield, where people across classes drink, smoke, wear little clothes, and party. At the same time, the wealthy are seen in the luxury boxes from across the country and the world.
-The perceived moderation of Jim Crowism in Kentucky, greatly promoted by Derby promoters, helped attract Northerners repelled by naked segregation, as blacks could vote, institutions were not segregated, and blacks attended the Derby on the lawn. At the same time, the imagery promoted that of the Old South plantationism which helped attract Southerners to the event. This dualism helped promote the event as a national American event, rather than a purely regional event. It invited participants to become temporary Kentuckians by experiencing bourbon and the Old South without its ugly elements.
-Kentucky, despite being a neutral border state and sending more men to fight for the Union than the Confederacy, positioned itself as promoting Gone With The Wind type Old South romanticism. Promotion of the state tended to also revolve around the Derby and bourbon sales (briefly surpassed by moonshine during Prohibition.
-Kentucky was a border state, with a reputation of “soft” Jim Crow compared to the Deep South. Yet it sought to distance itself from its reputation as a violent place made famous by the Hatfield & McCoy feud and other incidents. It branded itself during a period of rising romanticism of the Old South’s racial plantations, of the Kentucky Colonel, bourbon sales, and Southern Belles, all of which are still heavily featured in Derby imagery.

[Joe Schilp · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was probably written by an academic, and academics learn to write in college, writing papers to minimums by stretching and repeating themselves over and over and over again while exaggerating with little context. This book is only 219 pages with many pictures if reading just the text (Bibliography, index, and end notes make it about 40 pages longer) and could've easily been edited down by 50 pages. That would have left the author with room to expand on the few things he actually wrote about.

Other than mentioning the year the present grandstand and spires were built, there is nothing in here about the various grandstand additions that have doubled and tripled the seating capacity. When did they take place? What were the stages over the years? I know Churchill Downs track expansion isn't specifically the Derby itself, but those expansions didn't take place because management needed seating for 80,000 for Friday night races in August. And there should be a mention of the fact that over 125+ years, those running Downs have kept the integrity of the original grandstand and spires as they've always been, which makes it so iconic.

Instead we get the authors overstated opinion on how the Derby reflected the times as the culture or morals of America have changed and how the Derby has the uber wealthy in the suites and the drinking debauchery of youth on the infield, which somehow makes the Derby unique.

But does it? Of course not. The regular Joe's have been in Yankee Stadium's bleachers while the wealth has been on the mezzanine behind home plate for nearly a century. The Derby is no different. Same as cruise ships - uber wealth on top deck, poor in steerage.

The author also drones on about the old south, but I gotta be honest, having been to two of the last three Derby's; the people of Kentucky (and the South) ARE different. They are slower-paced but happier and more pleasant. Southern hospitality isn't merely a saying; it's real. These are the people Obama railed against for "cling(ing) to their God and their guns." They have a far less urban existence in the south. More natural. More relaxed. More outdoors. I thoroughly enjoy being in Kentucky (and Savannah, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and everywhere else I've been in the south). It's so much different than my home in the northeast.

Yes, I did learn some interesting facts about the early history of the Derby, but there could've been so much more, but the author chose to drone on and on and on about the same thing over and over and over again.

[Paul Lunger · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are very few sporting events in America that evoke the pagentry and wonder of the Kentucky Derby which for a Saturday in May turns into the racing capital of the world. This event which is now 150 years old has a history that is a bit more checkered than this reader and fan was aware of something that is described beautifully by James C Nicholson in "The Kentucky Derby: How the Run for the Roses Became America's Premier Sporting Event". This well written and easy to read novel goes through how the derby came into existence and also how the derby through the various crises that the US and the world faced learned to adapt and survive in the face of turmoil and chaos. What makes the book enjoyable as well is we the reader get to understand over time the various traditions that are a part of this event as well as even seeing how they have had to change over the years as well. This book is one that anyone who has a love of this sport or the race in general will absolutely enjoy.

[Julia Valletti]

Such a great telling of the rich history that has made the Derby into what it is today. This has been one of my favorite sporting events since my teenage years and I can definitely say I have an even greater respect and understanding of the “Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” and the Thoroughbred industry in general. Also a comfort book to make me feel closer to my poppy with whom I would bond with over racing because for a large part of his life he would race as well. 💛🐎🌹

[Emily Bingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far the best one-volume of the world's most important horse race

[James Kerr · Rating 2 out of 5]

boring

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got an ARC from Netgalley.


In 1986, I watched my first Kentucky Derby. What I knew about horse racing at that time was what was in the Black Stallion novels and the true stories related in the magnificent book Champion Horses. I picked Ferdinand to win, not because I thought his odds were good (he was the long shot), but because I recognized his blood line. Ferdinand won. Years later, I still watch the Derby, even though I prefer eventing and show jumping. I like horse racing, though I view it with mixed emotions (why can’t we Americans use turf, can we please stop the inbreeding), yet I still get a thrill watching the horse go down the stretch, even the annoying coverage that exists today can’t ruin that.
It’s not surprising, therefore, that I greatly enjoyed The Kentucky Derby by James C. Nicholson. After all, it’s about horses and racing, written by someone who admits in the beginning that he enjoys racing. Yet to simply say this book is about racing would do both the book and the author a huge disservice.
The subtitle for this volume is “How the Run for the Roses Became America’s Premier Sporting Event” and even this does the book a slight disservice. In relating the history of America’s most famous race, Nicholson also relates how America could be seen in the race itself – not only in the horses and trainers that the public rooted for, but in how the Derby was marketed, who worked where, and who came to the race. It isn’t really surprising, either, but I never really thought about before reading this book, that the Run for the Roses also ties into how Americans view racial issues. In fact, those sections of the book, and there are quite few, tend to be the most interesting, even more engrossing than the descriptions of the horse racing itself. The connection goes beyond the shift from African America jockeys to white jockeys (a thoughtful analysis) but also in terms of the Civil Rights movement, including a protest where people ran onto the race track. I didn’t know about the connection of a Derby winner to Martin Luther King Jr, and Nicholson relates that story with a great amount of detail and pathos. This theme of horse race and racism runs though most of the book, for Nicholson connects it how Kentucky saw itself (and how other saw it) – a Union state that had slaves and that feels Southern. Though the horse race, Nicholson looks at racism in the country. It is a brilliant use of a micro chasm, especially when comparing how the white owners and African-American grooms saw the race.
This isn’t to suggest that Nicholson focuses solely on race – he doesn’t. There is plenty here for the lover of horse racing. While I found the discussion of betting a bit uninteresting, Nicholson does an excellent of job of describing the race and looking at the background of some of the prominent players. He does this to tie the race to the American mind. Smarty Jones, Funny Cide, Affirmed, Secretariat were all popular for different reasons. The defeat of foreign horses takes on a degree of –isms after September the 11th.
Nicholson also writes extremely well when relating how the race was marketed. He looks at the impact of radio and television. He discusses what changes caused War Admiral to be entered in the Derby when Man O’War (War Admiral’s sire) wasn’t.
The great thing about this book, though, is the fact that even when he comes close to sounding like a he’s running off a list, Nicholson makes it interesting. Whether this is due to his passion for his subject (something that comes across) or because of his writing skill, I’m not sure. It most likely is a combination of the two. While there are many books about Derby, this is one that no one should miss. It is far more than biographies of the horses, trainers, and owners. It is more than a simple history of the race. Yet, it is accessible by the horse lover and the novice as well as the history student. This is a welcome addition to any library, and a must read for horse and history lovers.

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Kentucky Derby

Title: The Kentucky Derby: How the Run for the Roses Became America’s Premier Sporting Event

Author: James C. Nicholson

Genre: Nonfiction, history, horses, racing

Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky

Release date: May 5, 2012

Format Read & Source: eGalley from the publisher

ISBN: 9780813135762

Why I Read It: Like many others, I was horse obsessed as a young girl; I took riding lessons, collected model horses, gobbled up horse books, etc. As a teenager, I faithfully watched the Derby on TV every year. I still enjoy horses and while I don’t watch the Derby consistently anymore, I still have a fondness for it. A lot of what I knew about the Derby was from fiction books and movies so here was a chance to learn more and learn the real stories.

Book Blurb (from goodreads):

For more than 130 years, spectators have been fascinated by the magnificent horses that run the Louisville track. Thoroughbreds such as Secretariat and Barbaro have earned instant international fame, along with jockeys such as Isaac Murphy, Ron Turcotte, and Calvin Borel. This title calls this great tradition to post and illuminates its history and culture.

Review:

I’ve been a casual fan of The Kentucky Derby for many years, as have many other Americans. I don’t follow horse racing, though I did as a teenager. But even now, if I’m around on the first Saturday in May, I watch the Derby on my tv. There’s just an appeal, a tug, about the race. When I saw this book available for review, I knew I had to read it. Now that I’ve finished, I’m glad I read but it’s definitely not for the casual reader or fan. Nicholson goes into extensive detail and has an equally extensive bibliography at the end. He clearly researched the race thoroughly, examining it from every angle.

The book is a mix of dry facts and anecdotes, and at times my attention wandered. Nicholson gives not just a history of the race but looks at it in cultural, racial, political and sociological terms, looking at the Derby from different perspectives. Particularly interesting to me was how the perspective and advertising of the race has changed over time, adapting and changing to state and national values and needs.

Thus, it is not the derby element of the Kentucky Derby that makes it unique; rather, the traditions and imagery associated with the Kentuckian roots of the event are responsible for its distinct flavor. These include, most notably, the singing of “My Old Kentucky Home”, the blanket of roses ceremonially draped upon the winning horse, mint juleps, ladies dressed as “southern belles,” and the wild cacophony of the infield that contrasts so markedly with the civility and refinement in the clubhouse. These aspects of the Kentucky Derby experience all have their roots in Kentucky’s unique and everchanging identity within American experience: It is Kentucky – and its associated history, imagery, and mythology – that gives the Kentucky Derby its distinct character and has allowed the event to remain culturally relevant despite myriad changes in American society since the race was first contested over 135 years ago.

If you are a fan of history and sociology this is a good book for you but for the casual fan of the race, but otherwise, you may want to skip this book. With all of the facts and in-depth explorations, the book is a dense read that requires your full attention and a significant chunk of your reading time. I recommend reading it in long stretches of time and not in bits and pieces.

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[Bap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Went to Louisville and ended up at the Kentucky Derby museum where I bought this book. Anyone who has never been to a horse race and knows nothing of the Derby, this is a great introduction. Kentucky is a border state that joined the confederacy after the war and reinvented itself as the epitome of the south with mint juleps, Bourbon, blue grass horse farms and Kentucky Colonels. The Derby was a big part of this redefinition. Part high society and part rabble. Horse racing was once the most popular sport in the country in the 1950's. It is in decline today but the Derby is still on top. Finishing the book I am ready to take a foray into the sport of Kings.

[Ellen Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fascinating and insightful look at the world that we as Americans know so little about but watch every May. Throughout the course of Nicholson's book, I not only learned more about how this integral part of history formed but more about Kentucky's history itself. For anyone who loves horse racing or even just the Kentucky Derby!!!

[Amy R · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit dry, but good read if you're looking for the history of horse racing in America, the Derby. and Churchill Downs.

[Jutta · Rating 3 out of 5]

ah, i love the derby....

[Vicki Luschek · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great book on the history of the Kentucky Derby.

[Nancy Varley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started out pretty interesting but author is quite repetitive and found myself struggling to finish