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Thoroughbred Legends #20
Genuine Risk: Thoroughbred Legends
The author delivers an engrossing tale of a champion racehorse who inspired legions of female fans and proved her toughness both on and off the track.
168 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 21, 2015
Genuine Risk was one of the best fillies the American public has ever enjoyed. She had courage, talent, personality, and good looks to boot. After her career was over, she became popular with fans having fertility troubles, as she produced only two foals (both colts, neither of whom raced).
This book gives you all the details you could want about this gorgeous mare--and a few details you could do without. The controversies her owners, the Firestones, tended to get into were of no interest to me, and rather spoiled the image for me.
But anyway, this is a must for any horse racing fan--one of three fillies to win the Kentucky Derby!
This book gives you all the details you could want about this gorgeous mare--and a few details you could do without. The controversies her owners, the Firestones, tended to get into were of no interest to me, and rather spoiled the image for me.
But anyway, this is a must for any horse racing fan--one of three fillies to win the Kentucky Derby!
June 30, 2020
I've only read about 10 books in the Thoroughbred Legends series, but this is the shortest. Which is a shame, since Genuine Risk really deserved better. Unlike most of the other subjects of the series, "Genny" was still alive when this came out. She lived to the ripe old age of 31. Although the author got to interveiw some of the key humans involved in Genuine Risk's life, she does not write much about Genuine Risk's habits or personality.
The Kentucky Derby of 1980, Genuine Risk's best moment, is covered far too quickly. I remember that time and some quirks of the broadcast that were not mentioned in the book. I remember owner Diana Firestone running out onto the track to greet Genny with a hug. I do not have a video of the broadcast so I do not know if my memory was faulty. The hug was not mentioned in the book, so I don't know if it happened or not. Anybody know?
There is quite a lot about the controversial 1980 Preakness. McEvoy makes a good case that Genuine Risk should have been awarded the victory that day. It shows you how twisted and screwed-up horse racing in America can be.
There is a long introduction about the author betting on Genuine Risk's Derby. I guess this was to see how Genuine Risk touched people's lives, but the story fell flat. I would rather have heard from other fans than just the author.
There was a good section on Genuine Risk's trials and eventual late triumph as a broodmare. There wasn't much about the offspring, neither of which ever raced. She was described as a good mother who loved to show off her foals to her admiring public.
With her feminine good looks, powerful stretch drive and big blaze, I always wondered if Genuine risk was the horse that provided the inspiration for Ashleigh's Wonder, the star racer of the popular young adult fiction series Thoroughbred, created by Joanna Campbell.
The Kentucky Derby of 1980, Genuine Risk's best moment, is covered far too quickly. I remember that time and some quirks of the broadcast that were not mentioned in the book. I remember owner Diana Firestone running out onto the track to greet Genny with a hug. I do not have a video of the broadcast so I do not know if my memory was faulty. The hug was not mentioned in the book, so I don't know if it happened or not. Anybody know?
There is quite a lot about the controversial 1980 Preakness. McEvoy makes a good case that Genuine Risk should have been awarded the victory that day. It shows you how twisted and screwed-up horse racing in America can be.
There is a long introduction about the author betting on Genuine Risk's Derby. I guess this was to see how Genuine Risk touched people's lives, but the story fell flat. I would rather have heard from other fans than just the author.
There was a good section on Genuine Risk's trials and eventual late triumph as a broodmare. There wasn't much about the offspring, neither of which ever raced. She was described as a good mother who loved to show off her foals to her admiring public.
With her feminine good looks, powerful stretch drive and big blaze, I always wondered if Genuine risk was the horse that provided the inspiration for Ashleigh's Wonder, the star racer of the popular young adult fiction series Thoroughbred, created by Joanna Campbell.
May 31, 2018
This is another story in the Legends series. This is about a filly that won the Kentucky Derby and may have won the second race of the Triple Crown had she not been interfered with. As it was she placed second. In her 15 starts she was always win, place or show; an amazing feat for any horse. These books are all well written and as stated in other reviews cover the history of the time and the people surrounding the horses.
December 12, 2017
Genuine Risk Book Review
During the 1970’s, fans of horse racing witnessed many great horses. From Secretariat to Seattle Slew, people were engulfed by the new champions emerging in one of the most prolific eras of horse racing. In 1979, a filly named Genuine Risk captured the hearts of fans across the nation as she battled colts on her journey toward the Kentucky Derby. When the Kentucky Derby occurred on May 3rd, 1980, Genuine Risk secured her place in history as the second filly to ever win the historical race. Genuine Risk, written by Hallie McEvoy, follows the amazing and true story of the little filly that made history through the author’s own eyes.
Genuine Risk is a great read for anyone interested in horse racing. It is fairly short and provides pictures of Genuine Risk’s life. Hallie McEvoy does a fantastic job telling the heartwarming story of the chestnut mare. McEvoy includes many direct quotes and dialogue from the owners and family of Genuine Risk, which I appreciated a lot.
Hallie McEvoy excelled at keeping the story clear of confusion and unbiased. During Genuine Risk’s racing career, the horse became the victim of a bad call during the Preakness. While many people shared their thoughts on the matter, McEvoy kept to the story and left her opinion out of it.
While she kept to the story very well, the author explained her connection to Genuine Risk and what the horse meant to her. She did not take away from the story by including that, but I believe she made the story even better by showing how Genuine Risk affected people in so many ways.
Even though I thoroughly enjoyed reading Genuine Risk, I am giving it three out of five stars. The story was great but awfully short - if Hallie McEvoy had expanded on Genuine Risk’s whole life story and career, the book could have easily reached over 300 pages. The biggest part of Genuine Risk’s life I felt McEvoy left out was her racing career. While the author’s main focus is the Triple Crown races, she should have included descriptions of the nine other races Genuine Risk won because it would have emphasized how great of a racehorse she was. Despite all of this, I enjoyed reading Genuine Risk and recommend it to horse racing fans.
During the 1970’s, fans of horse racing witnessed many great horses. From Secretariat to Seattle Slew, people were engulfed by the new champions emerging in one of the most prolific eras of horse racing. In 1979, a filly named Genuine Risk captured the hearts of fans across the nation as she battled colts on her journey toward the Kentucky Derby. When the Kentucky Derby occurred on May 3rd, 1980, Genuine Risk secured her place in history as the second filly to ever win the historical race. Genuine Risk, written by Hallie McEvoy, follows the amazing and true story of the little filly that made history through the author’s own eyes.
Genuine Risk is a great read for anyone interested in horse racing. It is fairly short and provides pictures of Genuine Risk’s life. Hallie McEvoy does a fantastic job telling the heartwarming story of the chestnut mare. McEvoy includes many direct quotes and dialogue from the owners and family of Genuine Risk, which I appreciated a lot.
Hallie McEvoy excelled at keeping the story clear of confusion and unbiased. During Genuine Risk’s racing career, the horse became the victim of a bad call during the Preakness. While many people shared their thoughts on the matter, McEvoy kept to the story and left her opinion out of it.
While she kept to the story very well, the author explained her connection to Genuine Risk and what the horse meant to her. She did not take away from the story by including that, but I believe she made the story even better by showing how Genuine Risk affected people in so many ways.
Even though I thoroughly enjoyed reading Genuine Risk, I am giving it three out of five stars. The story was great but awfully short - if Hallie McEvoy had expanded on Genuine Risk’s whole life story and career, the book could have easily reached over 300 pages. The biggest part of Genuine Risk’s life I felt McEvoy left out was her racing career. While the author’s main focus is the Triple Crown races, she should have included descriptions of the nine other races Genuine Risk won because it would have emphasized how great of a racehorse she was. Despite all of this, I enjoyed reading Genuine Risk and recommend it to horse racing fans.
August 27, 2012
Another short book in the Thoroughbred Legends series - very much the same as the others in this series. Details the lineage of Genuine Risk and gives short bios of the folks involved in breeding, owning, racing, and maintaing her. Also includes short descriptions of her races. This one has a lot more on breeding efforts than other books on the colts, as to be expected. Could be a YA non-fiction book.
June 28, 2013
A short and easily read history of the famous mare. It was intersting to read about the controvsy regarding the Peakness.
March 16, 2020
A quick and very informative read as are all in this sadly ended series. (Tom Fool never got his due) Have revisited Genuine Risk's Derby run via YouTube and this book: HAS IT BEEN 40 YEARS!?! The post race years, the foal losses, especially the first are sad to read. Sadly I never saw this beauty in person. This volume brings it all back...the historic Derby, that controversial Preakness, and the names Codex, Jacklin Klugman, and the great Bold and Determined.
January 25, 2014
Nice horse but got sick of the girl power theme after awhile.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews