Frankel: The Greatest Racehorse of All Time and the Sport That Made Him

by Simon Cooper

In horse racing greatness is defined by speed. Being the second fastest counts for little. You have to win. And win. And keep winning until every challenger of your generation is put to the sword. Of the twelve horses lined up on Newmarket Heath that 2011 day, one would do just that. And more. To become the greatest racehorse that has ever lived.

Frankel was born on 11 February 2008, with four white socks and a blaze, from impressive equine lines on both his parents’ sides. Simon Cooper revisits the whole of the horse’s life, giving readers an inside tour of the calm oasis that is life a stud farm, where a foal will live with his mother for the first year of his life. Next, the atmosphere of heady possibility that marks the early days of training. Roadwork. Gallops. Trials. Turning raw potential into something more. Frankel begins to set himself apart.

A detailed and fast-paced narrative breathlessly recounts the racing career of the horse who, by his retirement to stud at the age of 4, would be rated the greatest of all time. Cooper weaves the horse’s tale with those of his trainer, battling cancer, the stablehands who coped with his explosive nature, the work rider who tamed him, the the jockey who rode in all fourteen of his races, and the owner who saw his potential from the very beginning. The result is a rich and multifaceted tale of modern horse racing, the lives of everyone involved, human and equine, and the unadulterated glory of winning. And winning everything.

Genres: Biography, Horses, Nonfiction

343 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 14, 2020

Reviews

[A.M. Swink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simon Cooper's research is exhaustive and the story of the world's greatest racehorse is presented in an almost cinematic, easy-to-read format. That is refreshing and made the book a very quick read, as too often books can get bogged down in numbers and minutiae. Frankel's story is rendered in an extremely lifelike, Seabiscuit-esque manner that is extremely readable for the layperson. Horse racing terminology, which can seem a bit of a barrier to the uninitiated, is patiently explained for non horse-people to keep up.

As someone very familiar with the terminology, I did find the explanations a bit wearisome though I appreciated that this is an excellent first read for the new horse racing fan or general horse geek. If you know little to nothing about horse racing and are grabbed by the sport, THIS is the first horse racing book you should read!

That being said, for as well-connected as the author became with experts and Frankel's inner circle, I was surprised to pick up on a couple of errors within the 'also-rans' addenda at the end of the book. This portion of the book, ostensibly about the other 11 horses who contested Frankel's maiden race, ends up really as a repository for exhaustive elements of the author's research that he couldn't fit naturally into the Frankel narrative - how racehorses travel by air, how horses are sold at auction, what/how are geldings, etc. - and for all the vet expertise that went into this book, horses are grouped in with goats (during a discussion on companion animals) as 'ruminants.' I just feel the need to point out that horses are NON-ruminant (i.e. simple-stomached) herbivores. This is one of the first (and most important) things you learn about horse nutrition because it is the reason why they colic so often and their diets have to be so carefully managed. Additionally, as a US native I need to correct that California is NOT the 'sunshine state' - that would be Florida.

All in all, an excellent and dramatic rendering of Frankel's story for horse racing fans both old and new!

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read. Knowing nothing about horses and racing this was a great introduction. The story unfolds at a trot and then at key points rises to a gallop taking your feelings with it. Bursts of acceleration are exhilerating as any keen car driver will tell you. That Frankel had that extra gear took you on that ride.

The story of life at the stables and how bad tempered Frankel could be despite him being 'no trouble'. Then near the end you learn of the differences between a gelded and an ungelded horse, Frankel being ungelded.

As a bonus the last few chapters are about the fate of the horses Frankel beat in that maiden race. 'Maiden' race, a term I now know the meaning of. Those last few chapters are a run through the different lives of horses which brings out several other features of racing such as the all weather tracks, hurdles and the 'stakes' races.

Brilliant book. I now need to go to my first race which wasn't helped by them wanting my address and birth date to buy a ticket on line, so I'm looking for a course that just sells tickets few questions. Seems a good photographic opportunity at least.

[Philip Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sporting greats aren't always human. Frankel, during his racing career, was an athlete in the truest sense of the word. He seemed to have endless gears which he could use to power himself onwards to almost unfeasible speeds. He didn't just win: he trounced the opposition.

This is a very well written book, and it is not just directed at 'horse people.' The lay reader can easily enjoy this too. Any technical areas concerning such things as coverings, horses in utero, stabling and vet issues are explained in terms anyone could understand. There are also lots of very well taken photographs in the plate-section.

This is an excellent book about a sporting great. Definitely worth a read.

[Stephen Swan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, not only for the facts on Frankel but the way the author goes off on tangents to provide great detail on the inner workings of the breeding and training sides of the racing industries. As a long term racing lover I learned so much about what goes on behind the scenes before and after raceday

One criticism is that Frankel‘s standing as the ‚greatest racehorse ever‘ is taken as fact….this deserved exploration given the reliance on Timeform which, as an English system, may inherently favour English horses. Fans of Secretariat May have a problem with this! Sectional times would have been useful for comparison, without necessarily overcomplicating the book (these were used successfully in the story of Seabiscuit to demonstrate that horse’s speed and excellence)

[Robert J. Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

well written and an inspiring read

A great primer for people like me who find the history and romance of horses so engaging. I so enjoyed the writers passion for the subject and his humor

[Lawrie Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book

The biography and true story of Frankel, the greatest racehorse there has been.

The book also takes into account the people around him and their life’s and the impact he made

A truly fascinating read which I loved every page

[Steven Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really interesting read, whatever knowledge of horse racing you might have. In particular the breeding part of the book is fascinating and an area often overlooked by racegoers.