What do you think?
Rate this book
The Black Stallion #12
The Black Stallion's Courage
When Hopeful Farm burns down, Alec’s dreams for the future go up in smoke. How can he get the money to rebuild? To make matters worse, a strong young colt named Eclipse has taken the racing world by storm, threatening to replace the Black in the hearts of racing fans. Against all odds, Alec sets out to save the farm and prove that the Black is still the greatest race horse of all time!
“Everyone loves a champion. And when the champion is a gallant horse, when his story is told by a champion writer of horse stories, every reader is a winner.”—The New York Times
“Everyone loves a champion. And when the champion is a gallant horse, when his story is told by a champion writer of horse stories, every reader is a winner.”—The New York Times
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1956
30 people are currently reading
1169 people want to read
About the author
Walter Farley
169 books1,035 followersWalter Farley's love for horses began when he was a small boy living in Syracuse, New York, and continued as he grew up in New York City, where his family moved. Young Walter never owned a horse. But unlike most city children, he had little trouble gaining firsthand experience with horses-his uncle was a professional horseman, and Walter spent much of his time at the stables with him.
"He wasn't the most successful trainer of race horses," Mr. Farley recalled, "and in a way I profited by it. He switched from runners to jumpers to show horses to trotters and pacers, then back to runners again. Consequently, I received a good background in different kinds of horse training and the people associated with each."
Walter Farley began to write his first book, THE BLACK STALLION, while he was a student at Brooklyn's Erasmus Hall High School and Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, and
finished it while he was an undergraduate at Columbia University. It was published by Random House when he was 26. He used his first advance to go traveling and after that hardly stopped longer than it took him to write another book. He traveled and lived in Mexico, Hawaii, the South Seas, most of the South American countries, the Caribbean Islands, and Europe.
The appearance of THE BLACK STALLION in 1941 was hailed by enthusiastic boys and girls all over the country. An avalanche of mail urged Mr. Farley to write more about Alec Ramsey and the Black. But World War II intervened. Mr. Farley went into the US Army, where he spent the next five years. Most of the time he was assigned to Yank, the army weekly magazine, and he was also trained in the Fourth Armored Division.
After the war Walter Farley resumed the adventures of Alec and the Black with THE BLACK STALLION RETURNS. This was followed by SON OF THE BLACK STALLION. Then Mr. Farley tried his hand at a story about a new boy, Steve Duncan, and a new horse, Flame, in THE ISLAND STALLION. Mr. Farley's readers were just as delighted with this book as his others.
Mr. Farley went on to write many more stories about the two stallions, and about other horses as well. Children of all ages have found Farley titles to enjoy, since many of the later stories were written for Mr. Farley's own children when they were too young to read his Stallion novels. And older readers and adults have been gripped by his fictionalized biography of America's greatest Thoroughbred, Man O'War. Walter Farley's titles reached a grand total of 34. The 21 Black Stallion and Island Stallion stories are still in print and selling steadily. His readers respond with passion, writing him thousands of letters and emails every year. In May 1949, the first Black Stallion Club was founded, in Kentucky. Mr. Farley designed a membership button for it; the button was in constant demand among his readers for years. The Black Stallion books were so popular in the late 1940s and '50s that they York Times annual list of best-selling children's books. Three nationwide Black Stallion contests were held. Walter Farley's books have been published abroad in more than 20 countries, including Austria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, England, Israel, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaya, Norway, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, and Switzerland, as well as in the United States and Canada.
All his life Walter Farley remained a keen spectator of the racing scene, and he enjoyed nothing more than hobnobbing with horse trainers and other professional horsemen. It is thanks to these people that his books are so full of authentic details of raising and training horses. When not busy working or traveling, Mr. Farley liked to ride dressage and high school Lippizaner horses. He also sailed and sometimes raced his 35-foot auxiliary sloop "Circe."
Mr. Farley and his wife Rosemary, had four children: Pam, Alice, Steve, and Tim, whom they raised on a farm in Pennsylvania and in a beach house in Florida. In addit
"He wasn't the most successful trainer of race horses," Mr. Farley recalled, "and in a way I profited by it. He switched from runners to jumpers to show horses to trotters and pacers, then back to runners again. Consequently, I received a good background in different kinds of horse training and the people associated with each."
Walter Farley began to write his first book, THE BLACK STALLION, while he was a student at Brooklyn's Erasmus Hall High School and Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, and
finished it while he was an undergraduate at Columbia University. It was published by Random House when he was 26. He used his first advance to go traveling and after that hardly stopped longer than it took him to write another book. He traveled and lived in Mexico, Hawaii, the South Seas, most of the South American countries, the Caribbean Islands, and Europe.
The appearance of THE BLACK STALLION in 1941 was hailed by enthusiastic boys and girls all over the country. An avalanche of mail urged Mr. Farley to write more about Alec Ramsey and the Black. But World War II intervened. Mr. Farley went into the US Army, where he spent the next five years. Most of the time he was assigned to Yank, the army weekly magazine, and he was also trained in the Fourth Armored Division.
After the war Walter Farley resumed the adventures of Alec and the Black with THE BLACK STALLION RETURNS. This was followed by SON OF THE BLACK STALLION. Then Mr. Farley tried his hand at a story about a new boy, Steve Duncan, and a new horse, Flame, in THE ISLAND STALLION. Mr. Farley's readers were just as delighted with this book as his others.
Mr. Farley went on to write many more stories about the two stallions, and about other horses as well. Children of all ages have found Farley titles to enjoy, since many of the later stories were written for Mr. Farley's own children when they were too young to read his Stallion novels. And older readers and adults have been gripped by his fictionalized biography of America's greatest Thoroughbred, Man O'War. Walter Farley's titles reached a grand total of 34. The 21 Black Stallion and Island Stallion stories are still in print and selling steadily. His readers respond with passion, writing him thousands of letters and emails every year. In May 1949, the first Black Stallion Club was founded, in Kentucky. Mr. Farley designed a membership button for it; the button was in constant demand among his readers for years. The Black Stallion books were so popular in the late 1940s and '50s that they York Times annual list of best-selling children's books. Three nationwide Black Stallion contests were held. Walter Farley's books have been published abroad in more than 20 countries, including Austria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, England, Israel, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaya, Norway, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, and Switzerland, as well as in the United States and Canada.
All his life Walter Farley remained a keen spectator of the racing scene, and he enjoyed nothing more than hobnobbing with horse trainers and other professional horsemen. It is thanks to these people that his books are so full of authentic details of raising and training horses. When not busy working or traveling, Mr. Farley liked to ride dressage and high school Lippizaner horses. He also sailed and sometimes raced his 35-foot auxiliary sloop "Circe."
Mr. Farley and his wife Rosemary, had four children: Pam, Alice, Steve, and Tim, whom they raised on a farm in Pennsylvania and in a beach house in Florida. In addit
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
July 15, 2018
July 2018: I'm pretty sure this is my favorite Walter Farley novel. The excitement manages to surpass that first race in The Black Stallion, when the Black was unknown and only got into a match race because of that newspaper guy - was it Jim Neville? That was a great race. This is a better one.
It might be interesting to see that nascent, almost gentle sports commentary in more books; instead, we get these aggressive reporters needling Henry. (Which is probably more accurate!) Henry's media tactics are great: he leans into his dramatic persona to make his points, but he has no problem coming across as sincere when he needs to.
March 2014: Sure, this is a Walter Farley formula novel, but Walter Farley formula has always worked for me. This one has always been memorable because it has the handicapper:
It might be interesting to see that nascent, almost gentle sports commentary in more books; instead, we get these aggressive reporters needling Henry. (Which is probably more accurate!) Henry's media tactics are great: he leans into his dramatic persona to make his points, but he has no problem coming across as sincere when he needs to.
"You're as sensitive to weight as an apothecary's scale," a reporter in the back shouted.Lol. I love it.
"I better be," Henry answered gruffly through the screen door. "No one else is or we wouldn't be assigned more pounds than ever before in the Carter."
"Maybe he's more horse than ever raced in the Carter," someone suggested. "After all, Henry, it's the handicapper's job to try to bring all horses down to the wire together."
"And it's my job and privilege to withdraw my entry from a race when I think the weight assignment is excessive!" Henry bellowed at the top of his voice...
"You mean you're going to start the Black in the Carter?" Alec asked... "Then why'd you make such a fuss?"
"You wouldn't want anyone to think I was satisfied with the weights, would you?" Henry asked impatiently.
March 2014: Sure, this is a Walter Farley formula novel, but Walter Farley formula has always worked for me. This one has always been memorable because it has the handicapper:
"The Old One in the office," as Michael Costello had referred to the track handicapper, was truly old. His hair, what there was of it, was snow-white and his hands shook involuntarily when he carefully figured out his weight assignments. But he wore no glasses and believed his eyes to be as keen as ever. They'd helped make his weighted ratings of horses one of the best guides of true champions or those on their way to the top. Usually when he packed a high impost upon a horse his judgement proved to be sound. Usually but not always.There's more, too: there's the conversations between the jockeys, and their tactics, and real desperation on Alec and Henry's parts. But the handicapper will always be my favorite. His chapter (which continues from the excerpt above) is one of the most compelling Farley ever wrote.
The Old One hadn't liked the way Casey had won the Carter Handicap the preceding Monday. At 135 pounds the chestnut horse had cut down the others in the stretch as if they'd been just play for him. It must never happen again. Not that he sympathized with the underdog. No, it was simply that there never should be a badly beaten underdog. He had failed utterly to give every horse a chance at first money.
Was he perhaps getting too old, as a few of the newspapers had intimated? Were his eyes as keen as he believed them to be?
September 3, 2012
Not the strongest entry in the series. Everyone is angry in this book. There's more shouting than usual. Henry shouts his way from the first page to the last. There are some races, which are wonderful. Is it a spoiler if I say that The Black wins most of 'em?
I wish I could travel in time to one of the races Farley was basing these on- I want to see the scrum of reporters elbowing each other to get to the jockey, I want to see the trainers shutting the top stall door in their faces. And I want everyone to be wearing a fedora.
I wish I could travel in time to one of the races Farley was basing these on- I want to see the scrum of reporters elbowing each other to get to the jockey, I want to see the trainers shutting the top stall door in their faces. And I want everyone to be wearing a fedora.
February 1, 2023
plotline: 5/5
writing: slightly less than 4/5
average of plotline & writing: slightly less than 4.5 :)
writing: slightly less than 4/5
average of plotline & writing: slightly less than 4.5 :)
July 19, 2024
I didn't get really invested until chapter 7, but then I was really invested. These books are so odd, because they straddle the line between "amateur" and "great". You either have writing that's reminiscent of The Hardy Boys, or you have writing where you can tell that the author is really trying and really enjoying himself. It's fascinating. This whole series is honestly great.
May 16, 2020
I read this entire series when I was a kid. 💕
July 20, 2024
Decades ago, I read this book in a few hours. That was the fastest I had ever read a book without pictures (it was the late 1970s paperback edition) that was over 100 pages.
My brother couldn't believe I'd read the book so fast. This probably should've given me a hint that he'd grow up to be a teacher, but it was still a shock when he made the announcement years later. Anyway, he settled into Mom's green and black plaid rocking chair and proceeded to drill me with question after question about the book.
I got every answer right.
(Surprise, surprise.)
I sold all of my Black Stallion books on a brand new website called eBay decades later. I'd fallen out of love with horse racing, and this is a racing book. Some books in the series are entirely about horse racing, such as this one. I'd read it so many times, I'd practically memorized it, anyway.
Flash forward a decade or so, and I'm at my local library book sale. They had an old hardback for a dollar. I usually don't like the illustrated editions, since they never matched the scenes in my head. However, for this book, I made the exception.
This is the sequel to The Black Stallion's Filly. Now, Farley clearly messed up the order of the series. He wrote a couple of other books before realizing that he should finish up Black Minx's crack at the Triple Crown. That made me originally give this book four stars here are Goodreads, but I caved in and just couldn't give my old friend anything less than five stars.
Well, racing is better read than actually done. Back when this was originally published, Thoroughbreds were stronger because they weren't quite so inbred, and there weren't quite so many drugs. But that's an argument for another day.
In one sense, Farley gives a nod to The Black Stallion by ending this book in the same way -- with a three horse race. He gives this race as much attention and care as in the previous book. Casey seems to be based on many older racers that improved over age 3, such as Exterminator.
Eclipse is a puzzle. I've never heard of a Thoroughbred with his strange white markings, although sabino Thoroughbreds exist. No American Thoroughbred was ever or could ever be named Eclipse (although there was an American Eclipse) because of the fame of the original, English Thoroughbred named Eclipse, because he was born under one. Farley did tend to name his race horses using names that often would not be allowed by the Jockey Club in order to prevent confusion with a real horse. That three year old Thoroughbreds often improve after mid-May is painfully common, which makes you wonder why on earth the Kentucky Derby is the first Saturday of May.
At the time this book was published, winner-take-all races still occurred, but had vanished by the 1970s.
Best bit in the book? Hard to choose, but I'll go with when the Black is seen by reporters arriving at a track. I'm gonna paraphrase here. One reporter comments, "Look at all of the scars on him! What kind of a place is Hopeful Farm?"
"Where have you been?" Snaps a veteran turf writer in reply.
My brother couldn't believe I'd read the book so fast. This probably should've given me a hint that he'd grow up to be a teacher, but it was still a shock when he made the announcement years later. Anyway, he settled into Mom's green and black plaid rocking chair and proceeded to drill me with question after question about the book.
I got every answer right.
(Surprise, surprise.)
I sold all of my Black Stallion books on a brand new website called eBay decades later. I'd fallen out of love with horse racing, and this is a racing book. Some books in the series are entirely about horse racing, such as this one. I'd read it so many times, I'd practically memorized it, anyway.
Flash forward a decade or so, and I'm at my local library book sale. They had an old hardback for a dollar. I usually don't like the illustrated editions, since they never matched the scenes in my head. However, for this book, I made the exception.
This is the sequel to The Black Stallion's Filly. Now, Farley clearly messed up the order of the series. He wrote a couple of other books before realizing that he should finish up Black Minx's crack at the Triple Crown. That made me originally give this book four stars here are Goodreads, but I caved in and just couldn't give my old friend anything less than five stars.
Well, racing is better read than actually done. Back when this was originally published, Thoroughbreds were stronger because they weren't quite so inbred, and there weren't quite so many drugs. But that's an argument for another day.
In one sense, Farley gives a nod to The Black Stallion by ending this book in the same way -- with a three horse race. He gives this race as much attention and care as in the previous book. Casey seems to be based on many older racers that improved over age 3, such as Exterminator.
Eclipse is a puzzle. I've never heard of a Thoroughbred with his strange white markings, although sabino Thoroughbreds exist. No American Thoroughbred was ever or could ever be named Eclipse (although there was an American Eclipse) because of the fame of the original, English Thoroughbred named Eclipse, because he was born under one. Farley did tend to name his race horses using names that often would not be allowed by the Jockey Club in order to prevent confusion with a real horse. That three year old Thoroughbreds often improve after mid-May is painfully common, which makes you wonder why on earth the Kentucky Derby is the first Saturday of May.
At the time this book was published, winner-take-all races still occurred, but had vanished by the 1970s.
Best bit in the book? Hard to choose, but I'll go with when the Black is seen by reporters arriving at a track. I'm gonna paraphrase here. One reporter comments, "Look at all of the scars on him! What kind of a place is Hopeful Farm?"
"Where have you been?" Snaps a veteran turf writer in reply.
February 1, 2015
The Black Stallion's Courage is one of the better entries in the series of stories by Walter Farley. Upon rereading this for the first time in over two decades, I discovered some parts of it that I hadn't noticed as a kid.
This story wasn't written exclusively for kids. It ages well, once you get into it. Granted, it banks on the childlike wonder about horses that all kids share to some extent, but as an adult, there were elements that I appreciated that I (I'm not sure, I don't remember for sure) don't think I did as a kid.
The sense of fear of death in racing horses, the serious business end of the horse business, the sadness over getting older and thinking about lost loved ones, so on. All of these themes were touched on, and in a way that as an adult I have a new appreciation for.
The story was a simple enough one. Alec Ramsay forgets to renew the insurance policy on Hopeful Farm's buildings, and so when a barn is destroyed in a fire, now they must raise the $100,000.00 dollars to rebuild it in lieu of the money they would have received had the policy not lapsed.
To help raise this money, Alec is taking no chances and deciding to bring the Black out of his rest at the farm and actually attempt to race the temperamental stallion. Of course, despite the Black's speed, this won't be an easy feat, as new horses are rising up that are rivals to the Black in speed and endurance in their own right.
One thing I liked about the book was that, although it is an unrealistic series in how the horses act, it admits this. Farley lampshades how unrealistic both speed and endurance in the same horse can be. The book makes clear that this shouldn't happen.
I enjoyed this story, but in a different way than when I was a kid. At first, the story crawled and dragged a bit, but once it gets into full-swing, it is quite enjoyable, to both kids and adults. Albeit, for different reasons.
This story wasn't written exclusively for kids. It ages well, once you get into it. Granted, it banks on the childlike wonder about horses that all kids share to some extent, but as an adult, there were elements that I appreciated that I (I'm not sure, I don't remember for sure) don't think I did as a kid.
The sense of fear of death in racing horses, the serious business end of the horse business, the sadness over getting older and thinking about lost loved ones, so on. All of these themes were touched on, and in a way that as an adult I have a new appreciation for.
The story was a simple enough one. Alec Ramsay forgets to renew the insurance policy on Hopeful Farm's buildings, and so when a barn is destroyed in a fire, now they must raise the $100,000.00 dollars to rebuild it in lieu of the money they would have received had the policy not lapsed.
To help raise this money, Alec is taking no chances and deciding to bring the Black out of his rest at the farm and actually attempt to race the temperamental stallion. Of course, despite the Black's speed, this won't be an easy feat, as new horses are rising up that are rivals to the Black in speed and endurance in their own right.
One thing I liked about the book was that, although it is an unrealistic series in how the horses act, it admits this. Farley lampshades how unrealistic both speed and endurance in the same horse can be. The book makes clear that this shouldn't happen.
I enjoyed this story, but in a different way than when I was a kid. At first, the story crawled and dragged a bit, but once it gets into full-swing, it is quite enjoyable, to both kids and adults. Albeit, for different reasons.
October 7, 2011
I might not have liked Courage so much if it hadn't been for a not really liking a few that came before it. It has quite a few things happen that I find pretty unlikely, but after the last few books, it was actually pretty good and helped me become reinvested in my reading of the series.
Like so many others, it's really just okay, but it's more fun than some others, and I think most people will enjoy it.
Like so many others, it's really just okay, but it's more fun than some others, and I think most people will enjoy it.
July 15, 2016
The Black Stallion's Courage is the best of the series since The Black Stallion and Satan. In a return to what made this series great, Walter Farley brings us back to basics with Alec Ramsey and The Black Stallion set to return to racing. Memories of the race in the desert, coupled with a challenge that only The Black could meet, make this an exciting read to the finish.
September 25, 2021
I remember this being the best of the bunch and my favorite when I was a kid. It still is. A truly great book. Despite its short length it delves into jockeys trying to make weight and the trials of handicapping horses. It is everything I remember from my youth.
July 2, 2015
An edge of your seat, hope against hope story. If ever I had a hero, The Black and Alec Ramsey are it!
August 25, 2017
The Black Stallion’s Courage, by Walter Farley*****
I’ve always loved the Black Stallion series, and am still working my way through it from years ago when I read the first and was hooked. Though a few have been boring in the past (I don’t really like it when Alec and the Black aren’t in the story), I’ve still found them to be enjoyable and easy to read.
This one was a return to the racetrack with the Black, and was a fast-paced, interesting book. Alec loses his big brood mare barn in a fire and must find a way to raise the money to rebuild it before the winter comes. So, he takes Black Minx and the Black to some big name races in the East.
One of my favorite things about this particular book is that we spend a lot of time living the life of a jockey, which I am intrigued by. Walter Farley adds just the right amount of detail to make you feel like you’re really there at the stands, or in the dressing rooms, or heading to the post. The atmosphere is almost light-hearted, like a fair, but at the same time, we’re dealing with horses with a lot of spirit who, if they lose, may never want to race again.
Black Minx, the Black’s daughter, is unpredictable and thus kept my attention. I never knew if she was going to pull off a race or not, just because she bores of things and has her own ideas. I found the side story concerning her and Wintertime a good contrast to the financial stress Alec and Henry are experiencing, and the return of the Black to the track.
Because there was more than one big race in the story, I was more intent on finding out what the outcomes would be. I knew that Alec and the Black couldn’t win every time, and I kept an eye out, watching them as the field came into the homestretch. Things stayed exciting because of the unknowns. There were some beautiful, big-hearted horses running those races.
I was going to say some of the cons about the book, but I just can’t seem to come up with any.
This was a strong addition to the series, and though I don’t love it as much as The Black Stallion, or The Black Stallion Revolts, it’s pretty close up there at the top.
I’ve always loved the Black Stallion series, and am still working my way through it from years ago when I read the first and was hooked. Though a few have been boring in the past (I don’t really like it when Alec and the Black aren’t in the story), I’ve still found them to be enjoyable and easy to read.
This one was a return to the racetrack with the Black, and was a fast-paced, interesting book. Alec loses his big brood mare barn in a fire and must find a way to raise the money to rebuild it before the winter comes. So, he takes Black Minx and the Black to some big name races in the East.
One of my favorite things about this particular book is that we spend a lot of time living the life of a jockey, which I am intrigued by. Walter Farley adds just the right amount of detail to make you feel like you’re really there at the stands, or in the dressing rooms, or heading to the post. The atmosphere is almost light-hearted, like a fair, but at the same time, we’re dealing with horses with a lot of spirit who, if they lose, may never want to race again.
Black Minx, the Black’s daughter, is unpredictable and thus kept my attention. I never knew if she was going to pull off a race or not, just because she bores of things and has her own ideas. I found the side story concerning her and Wintertime a good contrast to the financial stress Alec and Henry are experiencing, and the return of the Black to the track.
Because there was more than one big race in the story, I was more intent on finding out what the outcomes would be. I knew that Alec and the Black couldn’t win every time, and I kept an eye out, watching them as the field came into the homestretch. Things stayed exciting because of the unknowns. There were some beautiful, big-hearted horses running those races.
I was going to say some of the cons about the book, but I just can’t seem to come up with any.
This was a strong addition to the series, and though I don’t love it as much as The Black Stallion, or The Black Stallion Revolts, it’s pretty close up there at the top.
July 3, 2021
Nachdem ein vermeidbarer Unfall dafür gesorgt hat, dass der Stutenstall der Farm der Hoffnung niederbrennt, entscheiden sich Henry und Alec dafür nicht nur Black Minx wieder ins Rennen zu schicken sondern auch Blitz.
Nachdem ich dieses Buch als Kind schon einmal gelesen habe, lese ich aktuell alle Geschichten über Blitz und seinen Reiter Alec noch einmal und leider habe ich das Gefühl, dass es sich bei diesem Buch um eines der schwächeren Bücher der Reihe handelt. Das Buch ist zwar gut geschrieben, aber nach dem zweiten oder dritten Rennen wird es ein wenig eintönig. Henrys ständiger Kampf gegen das Handycap, das Blizt auferlegt wird, die plötzlichen Geschehnisse, die stets dafür sorgen, dass der schwarze Hengst daran gehindert wird zu siegen und das seltsame Verhalten von Black Minx, wirken gekünstelt und aus den Fingern gesogen.
Da es sich um ein Jugendbuch handelt, ist von vornherein klar, dass Alec das benötigte Geld für den Wiederaufbau des Stalls gewinnen wird, wodurch das Buch auch nicht unbedingt interessanter wird. Alles in allem war zum Beispiel "Blitz bricht aus" oder auch "Blitz und Vulkan" deutlich spannender als "Blitz legt los".
Nachdem ich dieses Buch als Kind schon einmal gelesen habe, lese ich aktuell alle Geschichten über Blitz und seinen Reiter Alec noch einmal und leider habe ich das Gefühl, dass es sich bei diesem Buch um eines der schwächeren Bücher der Reihe handelt. Das Buch ist zwar gut geschrieben, aber nach dem zweiten oder dritten Rennen wird es ein wenig eintönig. Henrys ständiger Kampf gegen das Handycap, das Blizt auferlegt wird, die plötzlichen Geschehnisse, die stets dafür sorgen, dass der schwarze Hengst daran gehindert wird zu siegen und das seltsame Verhalten von Black Minx, wirken gekünstelt und aus den Fingern gesogen.
Da es sich um ein Jugendbuch handelt, ist von vornherein klar, dass Alec das benötigte Geld für den Wiederaufbau des Stalls gewinnen wird, wodurch das Buch auch nicht unbedingt interessanter wird. Alles in allem war zum Beispiel "Blitz bricht aus" oder auch "Blitz und Vulkan" deutlich spannender als "Blitz legt los".
October 25, 2017
When an accident burns down some of the buildings at Hopeful Farm, Alec is horrified to realize that his insurance has lapsed, and he doesn't have enough money to rebuild. (I hate insurance companies. You pay out wads and wads of money, and then when you have something happen, they always wiggle out of it... With your money in their pockets)
His one hope is taking the Black out of retirement and winning enough money to keep them going.
Ok, this actually doesn't sound quite right to me, regardless of the fact that I want to see Black winning tons of money and whipping the tar out of all the Thoroughbred racers. Most of the money that is made by horse owners is in stud fees and foal sales. To my understanding, the actual racing is more or less advertising your stud or broodmare.
But hey, it's a story. And what a great story it is!! Definitely not one to miss if you love horses, sports, thrills or mature young people.
His one hope is taking the Black out of retirement and winning enough money to keep them going.
Ok, this actually doesn't sound quite right to me, regardless of the fact that I want to see Black winning tons of money and whipping the tar out of all the Thoroughbred racers. Most of the money that is made by horse owners is in stud fees and foal sales. To my understanding, the actual racing is more or less advertising your stud or broodmare.
But hey, it's a story. And what a great story it is!! Definitely not one to miss if you love horses, sports, thrills or mature young people.
August 28, 2023
I really enjoyed this book! It was back to basics, and what I love most about the series. The Black is such a compelling story, and while the set-up was a little silly, I enjoyed it all just the same. Farley is truly gifted at writing a horse race and his love for horses shines through in his writing as well.
Henry was as prickly as ever, and I FINALLY learned what happened to Henry's wife, Clara!
This was a great read!
I recommend to all fans of the story, horse literature, or a fun story for young readers.
Henry was as prickly as ever, and I FINALLY learned what happened to Henry's wife, Clara!
This was a great read!
I recommend to all fans of the story, horse literature, or a fun story for young readers.
December 1, 2022
An epic adventure leaving you lost in the Black Stallion world— more than recommended
Summary:
When the broodmare barn at hopeful farm burns down, Alec Ramsay must raise 100,000 dollars to fix it. Racing the Black and Black Minx is the only option. Black Minx refuses too race without another racehorse, Wintertime, and when he received an injury that ended his racing career, Black Minx refused to race, ending hers. Can the black win the Brooklyn handicap, and win Alec his 100,000?
Summary:
When the broodmare barn at hopeful farm burns down, Alec Ramsay must raise 100,000 dollars to fix it. Racing the Black and Black Minx is the only option. Black Minx refuses too race without another racehorse, Wintertime, and when he received an injury that ended his racing career, Black Minx refused to race, ending hers. Can the black win the Brooklyn handicap, and win Alec his 100,000?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2017
"Here was gold that glistened as well as whinnied!"
After coming off the strangeness of The Island Stallion Races, I'm really glad to get back to the normalcy of the basic of Farley.
And the Black is back on the track - which is amazing.
So we've go good, old fashioned horse racing: rivalry, friendship, victory, defeat, and a trio of amazing racehorses going head to head to head!
After coming off the strangeness of The Island Stallion Races, I'm really glad to get back to the normalcy of the basic of Farley.
And the Black is back on the track - which is amazing.
So we've go good, old fashioned horse racing: rivalry, friendship, victory, defeat, and a trio of amazing racehorses going head to head to head!
March 4, 2022
This book was so sad to me. Hopeful Farm burns down. Alec is devasted and tries to figure out the best way to care for all of the horses, including the Black. Following Alec's journey to recovery and rebuilding had me completely invested. This was just one of the best series I read as a fifth grader.
February 8, 2024
The kids liked it! For me, it was full of excitement but not a ton in the way of substance. We have been reading Black Beauty recently also, and I feel that of two books about black stallions, there are far more good ideas to glean in Black Beauty than there are in The Black Stallion. Still a fun book, though.
May 12, 2017
loved every book in this series....my best friend Laura and I couldn't read them fast enough
March 21, 2018
A good read for kids.
November 8, 2020
Alot of racing. I like that.
February 7, 2021
A must read for Black Stallion fans! One of the best of the series with several exciting races
Read
July 26, 2023SKW to BHW
October 5, 2023
Read this when I was really young and loved it. One of my personal childhood classics.
May 10, 2025
Love it.
Another great series. Can't wait to read the next one. I could read this book again. I love reading about horses.
Another great series. Can't wait to read the next one. I could read this book again. I love reading about horses.
June 24, 2025
Good story.
February 8, 2017
The Black Stallion’s Courage, the twelfth in the series, is not technically a stand-alone book, since it’s a direct sequel to the events of The Black Stallion’s Filly, but it’s not entirely necessary to have read that book before this one. I chose this book because it’s the Black Stallion book I remember liking the most beyond the original—and now having reread it, I might even like it more!
One of the things I like the most about the Black Stallion books is that they’re so predictable—of course the Black will win the race!—but Farley delivers on the tension and the obstacles so that in the moment, you’re feeling the anxiety of the characters enough that the predictability flies to the back of your mind. The race in The Black Stallion’s Courage is fantastic, as are all the races before the grand finale.
These books also teach a lot about horse racing, and Courage spends a great deal of time stressing the nature of handicap races. And Farley does it well enough that when the time comes, we know why the different weights carried by the different horses is so important and we feel the tension with Alec and Henry about the weight the Black has to carry versus the rest of the field’s. It’s a quality of writing that I love, that ability to communicate something and get the audience to feel with the characters as they experience it. Farley is not necessarily the best writer in terms of style, but he is an effective one.
Simply put, I eat up The Black Stallion’s Courage every time I read it. I think I like it even more than I like The Black Stallion. To put it in perspective, I’ve read this book four or five times, whereas I’ve read the “prequel,” The Black Stallion’s Filly, maybe twice. It’s a fast-paced, heart-racing adventure and even with the number of times I’ve read it and its predictability, I still wonder, every time, if the Black, with all that weight, beat the two best horses in a race.
(Also, funny story to end: I wondered while reading if Eclipse was really fast enough to beat Secretariat’s record (described as the Preakness/Belmont record in the book)—then realized this book was written some twenty years before Secretariat raced. Oops.)
One of the things I like the most about the Black Stallion books is that they’re so predictable—of course the Black will win the race!—but Farley delivers on the tension and the obstacles so that in the moment, you’re feeling the anxiety of the characters enough that the predictability flies to the back of your mind. The race in The Black Stallion’s Courage is fantastic, as are all the races before the grand finale.
These books also teach a lot about horse racing, and Courage spends a great deal of time stressing the nature of handicap races. And Farley does it well enough that when the time comes, we know why the different weights carried by the different horses is so important and we feel the tension with Alec and Henry about the weight the Black has to carry versus the rest of the field’s. It’s a quality of writing that I love, that ability to communicate something and get the audience to feel with the characters as they experience it. Farley is not necessarily the best writer in terms of style, but he is an effective one.
Simply put, I eat up The Black Stallion’s Courage every time I read it. I think I like it even more than I like The Black Stallion. To put it in perspective, I’ve read this book four or five times, whereas I’ve read the “prequel,” The Black Stallion’s Filly, maybe twice. It’s a fast-paced, heart-racing adventure and even with the number of times I’ve read it and its predictability, I still wonder, every time, if the Black, with all that weight, beat the two best horses in a race.
(Also, funny story to end: I wondered while reading if Eclipse was really fast enough to beat Secretariat’s record (described as the Preakness/Belmont record in the book)—then realized this book was written some twenty years before Secretariat raced. Oops.)
October 19, 2021
Es geht halt wirklich nur um Pferderennen und Spekulationen, wer wohl gewinnt, obwohl der Autor ja genau weiß wer gewinnt. Blitz war okay, aber ich mochte die Geschite um Black Minx nicht. Die Charaktere waren langweilig. Ich habe nicht das besser-als-alle-anderen-feeling bekommen.
July 26, 2011
The Black Stallion's Sulky Colt
The Island Stallion Races
The Black Stallion's Courage
The Black Stallion Mystery
The Horse-Tamer (all by Walter Farley)
I stepped away from my re-read of this series as I just knew the two books listed first were coming up. Even as a child I never cared for the books without Alec and the Black. These two (Sulky Colt and Island Stallion Races) were even worse than I remembered. I wonder if The Island Stallion Races is what turned me off of sci-fi. The Black Stallion's Courage was one of my faves in the series and I still liked it a lot, even if I found some of it pretty implausible. I actually enjoyed The Black Stallion Mystery a bit more this time around. The Horse-Tamer isn't really part of the series but is about the Black's trainer Henry Dailey as a boy. Kind of bland, really.
The Island Stallion Races
The Black Stallion's Courage
The Black Stallion Mystery
The Horse-Tamer (all by Walter Farley)
I stepped away from my re-read of this series as I just knew the two books listed first were coming up. Even as a child I never cared for the books without Alec and the Black. These two (Sulky Colt and Island Stallion Races) were even worse than I remembered. I wonder if The Island Stallion Races is what turned me off of sci-fi. The Black Stallion's Courage was one of my faves in the series and I still liked it a lot, even if I found some of it pretty implausible. I actually enjoyed The Black Stallion Mystery a bit more this time around. The Horse-Tamer isn't really part of the series but is about the Black's trainer Henry Dailey as a boy. Kind of bland, really.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews