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Black Deuce
Haunted by the memory of a murdered father, Sam Jack struggles with a failing marriage and a failing career as a thoroughbred trainer. Enter Emily Brandt. Driven to near madness over losing her husband and son in a devastating barn fire, Emily involves Sam in an intricate plot to save her farm that begins the day her lone-surviving broodmare gives birth. Enter Black Deuce. And enter jockeys and grooms. Enter mob bookmakers and gamblers. Enter horse owners, race track officials and an extraordinary number of other characters who join to tell the story of a racehorse and a man determined not to give up his dream.
In Black Deuce Stan D. Jensen uses his intimate knowledge of horse racing to tell an exciting, tension-filled story, a story in which good and evil engage in their eternal duel to the sound of thundering hooves.
“I loved this book! The author nailed it! You speak to a race horse through your hands!”
Randy Meier, Chicago Hall of Fame jockey
“After over forty years in racing, I can say the author has left no stone unturned, he tells his story dark side and all, and in a meticulously detailed way even the layman can understand. Great writing!”
Charles Chiple, Clerk of Scales Hawthorne Racecourse
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About the Author
Stan D. Jensen received his bachelor’s degree in history and his master’s degree in education from the University of Northern Iowa. He has owned racehorses, and spent the 1980s as a jockey’s agent. His short stories have been published in the magazine “The Backstretch.” Black Deuce is his third novel. Mr. Jensen lives in Clinton, Iowa, and continues to write.
Also by Stan D. Jensen
Red Otter
Ethan’s Peach Tree
In Black Deuce Stan D. Jensen uses his intimate knowledge of horse racing to tell an exciting, tension-filled story, a story in which good and evil engage in their eternal duel to the sound of thundering hooves.
“I loved this book! The author nailed it! You speak to a race horse through your hands!”
Randy Meier, Chicago Hall of Fame jockey
“After over forty years in racing, I can say the author has left no stone unturned, he tells his story dark side and all, and in a meticulously detailed way even the layman can understand. Great writing!”
Charles Chiple, Clerk of Scales Hawthorne Racecourse
Visit Facebook page & click "Like." https://www.facebook.com/BlackDeuce.A...
About the Author
Stan D. Jensen received his bachelor’s degree in history and his master’s degree in education from the University of Northern Iowa. He has owned racehorses, and spent the 1980s as a jockey’s agent. His short stories have been published in the magazine “The Backstretch.” Black Deuce is his third novel. Mr. Jensen lives in Clinton, Iowa, and continues to write.
Also by Stan D. Jensen
Red Otter
Ethan’s Peach Tree
Print & Kindle
Published June 16, 2017
64 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Stan D. Jensen
8 books10 followersStan D. Jensen received his bachelor's degree in history and his master's degree in education from the University of Northern Iowa. His short stories have been published in the magazine The Backstretch. "Red Otter" is his second historical novel. "Ethan's Peach Tree," a novel of the Civil War, was published in 2012. Mr. Jensen lives in Clinton, Iowa, and continues to write.
Visit Facebook page & click "Like!" https://www.facebook.com/BlackDeuce.A...
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 15, 2017
Excellent book of life on the Backstretch of a thoroughbred racetrack..
Absolutely enjoyed this wonderful,real to life, story of a racehorse and the people who work with him. The backstretch is like a city, where people work and live hard. This story is delightful, and right on the money about the love many have for the horses, and the feelings you get when your horse is running. The author does a wonderful job with a good main plot and several smaller that are interesting. The characters are well described, you care what happens! Any who loves horse stories needs to read this book, but also has a nice mystery about family, the past, and doing things for those you love
Absolutely enjoyed this wonderful,real to life, story of a racehorse and the people who work with him. The backstretch is like a city, where people work and live hard. This story is delightful, and right on the money about the love many have for the horses, and the feelings you get when your horse is running. The author does a wonderful job with a good main plot and several smaller that are interesting. The characters are well described, you care what happens! Any who loves horse stories needs to read this book, but also has a nice mystery about family, the past, and doing things for those you love
October 25, 2021
I grew up loving Walter Farley's Black Stallion series, especially the books set at the track or that involved racing, like The Black Stallion's Courage and The Black Stallion's Filly or even his fictional biography of Man O'War. (I read my copies of those books until quite literally the bindings broke and they fell apart!)
That's why I was excited to find Stan Jensen's First Time Starter trilogy, which led me to Black Deuce. As an adult, I've looked for something similar to Farley's stories but for a more mature audience -- but it seems like most "horse racing" books are mysteries or thrillers where the story is indeed set at the track but the horse racing parts of the story are relatively tangential versus the focus. In other words, I guess what I was looking for was what Black Deuce is: a book about a racehorse and the people around him. I loved this novel -- it was exactly the type of story I was hoping for where the racing and horses were the real focus of the story.
(And as a bonus being a Civil War buff, I love how the author slips in little Civil War references through the names of some of the other horses in both this book and in the First Time Starter trilogy.)
I highly recommend this novel. I loved it.
That's why I was excited to find Stan Jensen's First Time Starter trilogy, which led me to Black Deuce. As an adult, I've looked for something similar to Farley's stories but for a more mature audience -- but it seems like most "horse racing" books are mysteries or thrillers where the story is indeed set at the track but the horse racing parts of the story are relatively tangential versus the focus. In other words, I guess what I was looking for was what Black Deuce is: a book about a racehorse and the people around him. I loved this novel -- it was exactly the type of story I was hoping for where the racing and horses were the real focus of the story.
(And as a bonus being a Civil War buff, I love how the author slips in little Civil War references through the names of some of the other horses in both this book and in the First Time Starter trilogy.)
I highly recommend this novel. I loved it.
September 29, 2021
A very entertaining and quick read. Focused around the story of a great 3 year old thoroughbred rewriting the history books around American racing. It's woven in with stories of gambling, murder, sex, relationships and the circles of life. Highly recommend, especially if you enjoy the horses.
May 17, 2022
Wonderful story
The author brings to life the horse racing world. Everything from the lowly hot walker to the ginger Tom cat to the great horses- it comes alive with authenticity. I especially like the banter between the jocks and valets. Nicely done. If you are tired of books where there is violence, greed, sex and darkness on every page, this story will stand as a breath of fresh air. The characters are very human and down to earth but they are also people who rise to the challenges life gives everyone and don't allow it to defeat them. This is a much needed message today.
The author brings to life the horse racing world. Everything from the lowly hot walker to the ginger Tom cat to the great horses- it comes alive with authenticity. I especially like the banter between the jocks and valets. Nicely done. If you are tired of books where there is violence, greed, sex and darkness on every page, this story will stand as a breath of fresh air. The characters are very human and down to earth but they are also people who rise to the challenges life gives everyone and don't allow it to defeat them. This is a much needed message today.
April 13, 2020
A great ride!
Having read a number of adventure books about horse racing in England, I found it hard to get into this novel, and actually put it aside to read something else. But, I do not like being defeated by books, and went back to Black Deuce. The characters grew on me, as did the story.
By the start of the Match Race, I was racing towards the finish line myself, needing to know the result.
A happy ending, but I have to admit that I got a bit emotional when the cab pulled up at Southern Oaks.
A highly recommended read!
Having read a number of adventure books about horse racing in England, I found it hard to get into this novel, and actually put it aside to read something else. But, I do not like being defeated by books, and went back to Black Deuce. The characters grew on me, as did the story.
By the start of the Match Race, I was racing towards the finish line myself, needing to know the result.
A happy ending, but I have to admit that I got a bit emotional when the cab pulled up at Southern Oaks.
A highly recommended read!
February 5, 2018
Racing to the finish line.
Thrilling tale of how many lives change and grow due to the talent of a single horse. Love and kindness win in the end as we ride along a great story line.
Thrilling tale of how many lives change and grow due to the talent of a single horse. Love and kindness win in the end as we ride along a great story line.
December 19, 2019
A great horseracing story ...
Written by a man who has been there/done that. Lots of well developed characters. A plot with new angles. A satisfing ending. I read it twice, that's how much I liked it.
Written by a man who has been there/done that. Lots of well developed characters. A plot with new angles. A satisfing ending. I read it twice, that's how much I liked it.
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May 27, 2020 awesome story I'm missing the track
This was an excellent book. Well written easy to follow and a page turner. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a great story,and horses,of course.
This was an excellent book. Well written easy to follow and a page turner. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a great story,and horses,of course.
August 12, 2017
Great read!
If you love horse racing, you'll love this book. It offers a little of everything; a murder/romance, touch of comedy, history, and a little tearjerker at times.
If you love horse racing, you'll love this book. It offers a little of everything; a murder/romance, touch of comedy, history, and a little tearjerker at times.
November 28, 2019
Great book!
Good, happy book with no horse tragedies. Kept my interest and couldn't put the book down! Black Duece captured my heart!
Good, happy book with no horse tragedies. Kept my interest and couldn't put the book down! Black Duece captured my heart!
May 23, 2022
I've been enjoying reading books by this author and had the highest hopes for this novel. Jensen does a wonderful exhilarating job of drawing the reader into the horse racing world. I would have loved to have been at the horse parks when Black Deuce raced, but even more, I would have loved to watch how the horse and his caretakers interacted with each other back at the shedrow/barn. If you've ever owned a pet, you've probably felt a similar connection. The reason for only giving 4 out of 5 stars is due to the graphic nature of the early part of this novel. It was a bit much for me and, in my opinion, not necessary as it didn't play out much later in the story.
November 26, 2022
Champion indeed
I really enjoyed this story that predates the First Time Starters Novella Series. I like how the author moves the story along and fleshed out the characters without detracting from the main thing which was the training and development of an undefeated Champion. This horse made a lot of people a lot of money but also affected positively the lives of the humans around him. Great job!
I really enjoyed this story that predates the First Time Starters Novella Series. I like how the author moves the story along and fleshed out the characters without detracting from the main thing which was the training and development of an undefeated Champion. This horse made a lot of people a lot of money but also affected positively the lives of the humans around him. Great job!
March 16, 2024
Dick Francis. With Horses Point View
I've been reading Dick Francis stories for years
I only recently started reading stories by Stan Jensen
His writing about the mind of his horse was new twist
Most enjoyable I hope there are as many other stories as Dick Francis stories i
I've been reading Dick Francis stories for years
I only recently started reading stories by Stan Jensen
His writing about the mind of his horse was new twist
Most enjoyable I hope there are as many other stories as Dick Francis stories i
March 24, 2024
Good story
Well paced,holds your interest with living characters and the horses opinion.pulled me away from politics,westerns and space Marines.Not a bad thing
Well paced,holds your interest with living characters and the horses opinion.pulled me away from politics,westerns and space Marines.Not a bad thing
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews